2026 Excellence in Primary, Public & Community Nursing
Martin Clark
Martin is a Clinical Nurse at the North Metropolitan Community Alcohol and Drug Service Joondalup where his practice embodies dignity, safety and hope for people experiencing substance use disorders and complex comorbidities. In partnership with Cyrenian House and a small multidisciplinary team, he provides holistic case management, acts as a consistent point of contact, and advocates tirelessly to remove barriers to care for some of the community’s most vulnerable people.
A respected driver of innovation, Martin led the design and implementation of Brief Medical Interventions (BMI) and Rapid Alcohol Assessment streamlining pathways. This improved accessibility and measurably reducing wait times from three weeks to six days for initial assessment. He backs initiatives with governance, reflective practice and practical tools, strengthening workforce capability and engagement. His Monday “stand‑up” huddles and nurse‑led quality improvements (including tobacco cessation and FibroScan screening) have lifted clarity, morale and teamwork across the service.
Colleagues describe Martin as calm, insightful and unfailingly compassionate. His mentorship builds confidence among junior staff, while his collaborative BMI clinics extend medical support to non-government organisations counselling clients who may have gone years without.
Consumers remember his humour, humanity and steady presence. The impact is personal and profound with unsolicited thank‑you years later, embraces in shopping centres, and simple words like “you saved my life.”
For Martin, success is measured in safer lives, restored relationships and sustained recovery. By translating clinical insight into practical, sustainable models, he has improved patient flow, reduced risk and enhanced outcomes across Joondalup and the broader alcohol and drug sector. His leadership, integrity and advocacy set a high bar for community‑based nursing, proof that compassionate, person‑centred care can transform services as surely as it transforms lives
Sarah Smith
Sarah is a Child Health Nurse with Child and Adolescent Community Health who brings clinical excellence, cultural humility and deep compassion to families from birth to school age. She delivers free, community‑based care that builds lifelong wellbeing. This includes completing developmental assessments, providing practical parenting support and ensuring seamless transitions between hospital and community services. Grounded in the social determinants of health, her practice reduces barriers and empowers parents with accessible, evidence‑based guidance.
A collaborative leader, Sarah strengthened 1‑ and 2‑year check attendance in Kwinana by establishing a proactive monthly allocation and outreach system. She steps in to support Aboriginal Health Team colleagues during surges, and partners creatively. She brings Royal Life Saving WA resources to Early Parenting Groups and shares them across teams. Her role‑modelling fosters a culture of kindness, accountability and shared purpose that uplifts colleagues and improves outcomes.
Sarah’s advocacy shines in complex situations. Responding through the Birth Notification pathway, she identified urgent risks for a single mother and her baby. With courage and care, she coordinated services and secured a safe placement within 24 hours, an intervention that changed a family’s trajectory. She continues to stand with families through follow‑up, health education and reassurance, keeping the child’s interests at the centre of every decision.
Her proudest achievements are quiet and human. A parent newly confident in breastfeeding, a toddler reaching developmental milestones, a family feeling seen and supported. Colleagues praise her inclusive practice and steady leadership. Families praise her warmth and trustworthiness. Sarah’s work embodies the heart of community nursing – early intervention, health promotion and partnerships that help children and communities thrive
Sue James
Sue is a School Health Nurse serving a richly diverse secondary‑school community that includes many newly settled refugee families. She partners with students, caregivers, staff and agencies to deliver health education, brief interventions, mental‑health support, immunisation coordination and care planning. She creates psychologically safe spaces where young people feel heard, respected and empowered.
A generous mentor and steady collaborator, Sue strengthens systems as well as individuals. She builds interagency partnerships, leads clear care plans and champions evidence‑based strategies that improve attendance, wellbeing and access to care. Her contributions have been recognised by the South East Education Community Network, and by her school, which describes her as a “high‑energy, high‑care practitioner” who cultivates belonging and lifts the culture through programs such as Your Move, Act Belong Commit, and Respectful Relationships.
Sue’s leadership is practical, creative and compassionate. She secures grants for healthy‑living initiatives, designs resources addressing sexual health and intimate‑partner violence, and advocates tirelessly for students with complex needs. Through calm presence and wise action, she guides colleagues in risk assessment and best practice, modelling the family‑centred approach that distinguishes outstanding community nursing.
The moments that mean the most to Sue are the quiet ones, such as the graduate who returned to say Sue had saved her life. Those words capture the essence of her work, relational care that changes outcomes and, sometimes, futures. By combining clinical skill with advocacy and innovation, Sue elevates school health and leaves a lasting imprint on the lives of young people and the communities that support them.
