Winners of Palliative Care in WA Awards announced at gala dinner – congratulations!

The palliative care sector came together last night to recognise and celebrate the winners of the Palliative Care in WA Awards 2025 sponsored by Silverchain.

The very high-quality of nominations in all categories highlighted the amazing efforts of those who provide holistic and compassionate care and who support Western Australians at the end of their lives.

The award winners are:

Outstanding Palliative Care Professional – Individual – sponsored by Parkinson’s WA

🧡 Shelly Skinner

(Finalists were Professor Davina Porock, Dr Laura Buters, Shelly Skinner) 

Outstanding Palliative Care Volunteer – Individual – sponsored by Brightwater Care Group

🧡 Dr Margaret Sealey

(Finalists were Jenny Vivian, Helen Bolton, Dr Margaret Sealey) 

Outstanding Palliative Care Volunteer – Team – sponsored by Brightwater Care Group

🧡 Busselton Hospice Care Volunteer Team

(Finalists were Ambulance Wish, Busselton Hospice Volunteer Team, Albany Hospice Volunteer Team) 

Outstanding Work by a Team Delivering Palliative Care – Team – sponsored by Bethesda Health Care

🧡 Fiona Stanley Hospital Palliative Care Team

(Finalists were Kalamunda Palliative Care Centre of Excellence, Albany Hospice – Clinical team, Fiona Stanley Hospital Palliative Care team, Raw to Roar Grief Pathway team – Lionheart) 

Outstanding Achievement in Palliative Care for Aboriginal Communities – Individual or Team – sponsored by St John of God Health Care

🧡 Pilbara Palliative Care Project Team, WACHS and Bethesda Health Care

(Finalists were Pilbara Palliative Care Project Team, WACHS and Bethesda Health Care; AHLOs – WACHS Specialist Palliative Care) 

Emerging Leader in Palliative Care – Professional or Volunteer – sponsored by Cares Communities

🧡 Mthokozisi (Tho) Swotwa

(Finalists were Aroha Lucas, Mthokozisi (Tho) Swotwa) 

Outstanding Organisation Delivering Holistic Palliative Care Award (Douglas MacAdam Perpetual Trophy for Excellence in Palliative Care) – sponsored by Carers WA

🧡 Albany Community Hospice

(Finalists were Busselton Hospice Care Inc, Ambulance Wish, Silverchain, Albany Community Hospice) 

CEO’s Special Mention Award

🧡 Greater Choices team, WAPHA

Honorary Lifetime Membership

Honorary Life Membership to Palliative Care WA was awarded to Dr Mary McNulty who has given outstanding service to the cause of palliative care in Western Australia. Over the past 30 years, Dr McNulty has dedicated her career to providing exceptional palliative care services, both as a general practitioner and within the Silverchain Specialist Palliative Care Service. Dr McNulty’s remarkable contributions to palliative care and her unwavering commitment to patient-centred care make her a deserving recipient of Honorary Life Membership.

Sponsors and supporters

Thank you to our incredibly generous sponsors and supporters: Major Sponsor Silverchain; Sponsors – Parkinson’s WA, Brightwater Care Group, Bethesda Health Care, St John of God Health Care, Cares Communities, Carers WA, Edith Cowan University (event dinner sponsor); and Supporters – WA Department of Health, Richard Lockwood and Lotterywest.

Winners received a trophy, certificate and a monetary contribution towards professional development thanks to our very generous Major Sponsor Silverchain and our category sponsors.

Thanks also go to Como the Treasury, The Westin Perth, Paywise Salary Packaging, QT Hotel Perth, Venues Live, and HESTA for kindly donating prizes for the Havana Nights Awards and Gala Dinner.