2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards finalist: Dr Jacinta Cover
Bunbury General Surgeon Dr Jacinta Cover has been named a finalist in the 2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards for her invaluable work in reshaping healthcare delivery in the South West.
One of 17 WA Country Health Service finalists, Dr Cover is in the running for the Specialist (Non-GP) of the Year award.
Raised in Karratha, Dr Cover graduated from The University of Western Australia in 2004 and trained at Bunbury Regional Hospital, where she completed her first year as a Registrar.
“The remainder of my training was Perth-based and I came to Bunbury following a year-long Fellowship at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital attached to the Colorectal and Abdominal Sarcoma Unit,” she said.
“My plan at the start of that year was to move to Bologna, Italy for further colorectal training, but I was encouraged by another surgeon from Bunbury to move my family to Bunbury instead, and I’ve never looked back.”
On top of being a national leader in rural surgery, Dr Cover is recognised for her strategic, collaborative approach to governance, safety and workforce sustainability as Medical Co-Director Stream B and Head of Surgical Specialties for WA Country Health Service South West.
2026 will be her 11th year as a General Surgeon at Bunbury, where she has driven service improvements including implementing a 24/7 surgical registrar roster and leading the development of a new Acute Surgical Unit model to strengthen emergency surgical care for regional patients.
Dr Cover is also a respected educator who has served as a Senior Medical Lecturer with the Rural Clinical School of WA and received General Surgery Australia’s 2022 WA Excellence in Surgical Teaching Award.
In addition, she has contributed extensively to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons through audit, research, college committees and conference leadership.
Her leadership and commitment to equitable surgical access continue to benefit patients and clinicians throughout regional WA.
Hosted by WA Country Health Service and Rural Health West, the WA Rural Health Excellence Awards celebrate the dedication, compassion, skills and ingenuity of outstanding health professionals.
Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony during the WA Rural Health Conference on Saturday, 14 March 2026.