2025 Excellence in Primary, Public & Community Nursing

Kelly O’Brien

Kelly’s is a Clinical Nurse working in Child and Adolescent Community Health where she has an unwavering commitment to improving service delivery, leading the way by demonstrating vigilant checking to build a proactive culture of safety and quality. She considers that if we all strive towards excellence, the outcome will be the best it can possibly be. Kelly demonstrates excellence in partnership by supporting collaborative relationships that enhance service delivery, improve health outcomes, and ensures every vaccine counts. She is innovative, caring, and compassionate while striving to deliver well-rounded and equitable care in a secure healthcare environment. One of Kelly’s most notable achievements was re-establishing the Bandyup Women’s Prison Immunisation Service for babies to enable accessible immunisation services. This allowed babies to stay with their mothers for their immunisations, alleviating distress for all.  Kelly also works with clients at the Boronia Prerelease Centre, a collaboration that ensures clients are informed about the community health clinics available to them, promoting access to free services and contributing to the development of health literacy. Kelly further demonstrates excellence in partnership by working alongside the Aboriginal Health Team to deliver culturally safe and accessible care to Aboriginal families. The integrated approach ensures Aboriginal clients are well supported and familiar with immunisation processes, building trust and relationships and facilitating opportunistic immunisations. With the recent introduction of RSV immunisation, Kelly recognised the potential impact on clinic operations, advocating for additional staff resources to prevent increased waiting times and staff burnout. Her foresight made it possible for eligible babies and children to receive this crucial immunisation. Kelly is humbled and proud when parents return to her clinic because they have felt comfortable and confident with her care.

Rhiannon Villiers

Rhiannon is a registered nurse at Homeless Healthcare where she displays an unwavering work ethic and service above self to coordinate liaising between the practice, and tertiary and public health sectors. Rhiannon demonstrates a passion for nursing and goes above and beyond to make a difference in her area of practice. One example is her open offer to assist the Boorloo Public Health Unit Syphilis Response Team in connecting or enabling treatment for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness and complex social circumstances, where she meets clients in parks and community centres offering support and treatment for medical conditions. Rhiannon has been touched by many moments where she has witnessed both the strength and fragility of the human spirit, and the grace and dignity with which people allow nurses into their lives during what is often their most vulnerable time. Rhiannon is actively involved in advancing professional practice. She has collaborated with academic colleagues to publish in the Medical Journal of Australia, raising awareness about health disparities for women experiencing homelessness and providing advice on how outcomes could be improved. Her commitment, dedication, and support for syphilis testing through outreach initiatives has ensured no cases are missed in the homeless community significantly decreasing case numbers in this demographic. Rhiannon is also passionate about mentoring other nurses and is seen by many as a go to person. She has a special talent for making a difference and her drive towards effective collaboration and continual contribution inspires others. Rhiannon is excellent at building partnerships as she actively contributes on many committees and forums, coordinating events and education to raise awareness and stimulate conversations about sexual health.

Samantha Fryer

Samantha (Sam) is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Health Navigator Pilot Program (HNPP) within Child and Adolescent Community Health driven to improve long-term health outcomes for WA’s most vulnerable children. Her role in this co-created groundbreaking initiative is to liaise with children, young people, and their carers and families to build health profiles and manage ongoing health planning responsive to individual needs. Sam’s contribution to the HNPP exemplifies innovative practice, particularly in addressing systemic healthcare gaps children in out-of-home care experience. She has been instrumental in the remarkable reduction of delays experienced to receive healthcare and is a key figure in ensuring timely and appropriate care for children overlooked by the traditional healthcare system. Sam demonstrates genuine compassion and clinical expertise to all children in her caseload and her ability to provide holistic care while collaborating and coordinating with case workers not only ensures these children receive the best possible health opportunities but is a shining example of her nursing excellence. Sam further demonstrates her dedication to collaborative working through her commitment to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal children demonstrated through cultural sensitivity while understanding the unique healthcare requirements of Aboriginal communities. One of Sam’s most significant achievements is the strong relationship she has built with the local Aboriginal Medical Service, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service. Through regular meetings and consistent communication, she has facilitated a streamlined process ensuring HNPP clients receive accessible quality health assessments, care and services needed to thrive, in a timely manner. This brings real, positive changes in the lives of vulnerable children and families.