This award recognises a health team or service that has delivered significant improvements to rural health outcomes through collaboration, innovation and excellence in care.
South West Aboriginal Medical Service – Child Health Team – Finalist
The SWAMS Child Health Team ensures that Aboriginal children and families receive coordinated, culturally secure and compassionate care across the South West. Their work extends well beyond appointments; they walk alongside families, helping them navigate complex systems with confidence and support.
Partnering with WACHS Child Development Services, Bunbury Regional Hospital, Koorliny Moort at Perth Children’s Hospital and visiting specialists, the team streamlines care and reduces stress while keeping families central to decision-making. Nurses coordinate referrals, appointments, transport and follow-up, improving timely access to local and metropolitan services while minimising travel.
Guided by community voice, they have built a culturally safe, multidisciplinary model incorporating paediatric, ENT, audiology, dermatology and child-health GP services. Outreach to Collie and Katanning extends access, contributing to stronger engagement, improved developmental outcomes and the South West’s highest Aboriginal childhood immunisation rates.
Juniper Guwardi Ngadu – Finalist
Grounded in respect, culture, and love, the close-knit team of carers, nurses, and support staff at Guwardi Ngadu sets the benchmark for delivering aged care in the Kimberley.
In one of the most remote regions of Western Australia, the team provides essential, compassionate care that enables Elders to remain connected to Country, surrounded by their community, culture, and identity. The centre is a vibrant hub where families are welcomed, laughter is shared, and programs such as gardening, art and karaoke nurture emotional, cultural, and social wellbeing.
Strong partnerships with Aboriginal Organisations, allied health providers, and local services ensure seamless Culturally Informed care. This collaborative approach creates wrap-around support that strengthens the whole community, proving that quality care is not just about health, it is about belonging.
WA Country Health Service – Older Person Complex Care Team – Winner
The Older Person Complex Care Team works in the challenging space where dignity of risk meets duty of care. A small but highly skilled team, it was established in 2019 to provide a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable older people across the South West. Their advocacy, collaboration, and unwavering commitment have improved the safety, wellbeing, and autonomy of more than 600 older people in the region.
The team coordinates care across a wide network of health, aged care, mental health, justice and community services. They support older adults in the community who are at significant risk of harm or hospital admission due to complex medical, social, cognitive, or environmental factors.
Providing support outside of traditional service pathways, the OACCT routinely prevents homelessness, abuse, medical deterioration, and crisis outcomes.
Health Team of the Year is sponsored by Crana+.