2023 Excellence in Primary, Public, and Community Care
Amanda Whittle – WA Country Health Service, Bunbury
Amanda is the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) in the Southwest Public Health Unit’s Communicable diseases team. Amanda leads the team ensuring all disease notifications are responded to in a timely and appropriate fashion. She is committed to leading in a consultative and charismatic fashion and works to grow her staff and encourage them to seek new opportunities.
Amanda’s positive energy and “can do” attitude is reflected in her team which is harmonious and motivated to achieve the best outcomes for the Southwest community. Amanda is driven to reduce inequities in rural Western Australia by creating programs that focus on delivering health services.
Amanda was nominated for the 2019 Nursing and Midwifery Nurse of the Year Awards, won the Healthy Partnerships category in the Healthy WA Awards, and was a finalist in the Overcoming Inequities category in the Healthy WA Awards. She was also appointed the inaugural Nurse Educator at the Geraldton Regional College of TAFE Enrolled Nursing Program and was a committee member for the ANRAC National Competencies Committee consultative process in 1990.
Sandra Vinciguerra – North Metropolitan Health Service Public Health, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sandra commenced working with the North Metropolitan Health Service COVID-19 Vaccination Program in September 2021 as a casual vaccinator. She was quickly identified as an excellent clinician who fostered a special rapport with vulnerable clients at risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Her responsibilities included delivery of COVID-19, Influenza and Monkeypox vaccinations to vulnerable, hard to reach and diverse populations including Aboriginal people, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people, LGBTIQ people, persons in custody, those at risk of homelessness and those living with mental health.
The success of these outreach programs was related to Sandra’s ability to instil trust and respect in her work colleagues and from the people she delivered care to. She is recognised as a positive person who invests time to develop relationships. Sandra has broken down barriers to vaccination ensuring her clients are informed of the risks and benefits and delivers the vaccine in a safe and non-threatening environment. She is a recognised Aboriginal Health Champion and has provided over 600 vaccinations to Aboriginal people sleeping rough in the Perth CBD.
Cathy Kirby – WA Country Health Service, Wheatbelt
Cathy is a well-respected Clinical Nurse Manager who has worked in nursing and midwifery for 35 years, 25 of which were in Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS) Wheatbelt as a regional child and school health nurse. Cathy is a compassionate practitioner who strives for clinical excellence and provides high quality and person-centred care to the 6,900 families living across the 12 shires of the Eastern Wheatbelt.
Cathy is a member of the WACHS Senior Community Nurse Best practice group, driving strategic development of child, school, and immunisation services. She has been instrumental in initiating and supporting policy review and clinical governance in Child and Community Nursing and clinicians across the state seek her expertise in rural health.
Cathy is approachable taking time to build a strong rapport with clients and colleagues to achieve the best possible outcomes being a strong advocate for families to access care in a timely manner. She coordinates the Clients of Concern register, facilitates multi-disciplinary case conferences, and provides clinical leadership in the submission of Child at Risk alerts.
Cathy is a true leader with a passion for clinical governance having developed an immense knowledge and understanding of the policies and procedures in community health.
