2025 Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards - Excellence in Rural and Remote Nursing

Wheatbelt Clinical Nurse Manager Denise Hughes has been recognised as a finalist in the 2025 WA Nursing & Midwifery Excellence Awards for Excellence in Rural and Remote Nursing.

Denise is at the helm of a busy inpatient ward, where she consistently leads by example. Her leadership is deeply rooted in support, encouragement and teamwork. She inspires those around her to strive for excellence, creating a workplace culture that is compassionate and productive.

Her leadership is characterised by a deep commitment to teamwork and compassion, often going beyond her duties to initiate acts of kindness and support for her team. She fosters a positive, productive and compassionate workplace culture, ensuring that every team member feels valued and motivated.

Denise has developed strong partnerships with various stakeholders, leveraging these relationships to achieve the best outcomes for her patients and community. Her approach is centred on putting the patient and community at the heart of everything she does. By engaging with her team and other healthcare professionals, she ensures that everyone works together towards common goals.

She is a strong advocate for her team and patients, whether it’s securing additional resources, implementing new policies, or ensuring that patient care standards are upheld. Her leadership is driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact on both her colleagues and the patients they serve.

This is a well-deserved recognition of Denise’s contributions to country healthcare.