2026 Excellence in Residential Care

Mthokozisi Swotwa

Mthokozisi (Tho) is an outstanding Clinical Nurse with Metropolitan Palliative Care Consultancy Service (MPaCCS), the mobile specialist palliative care service supporting people living in aged care, disability facilities, mental health facilities and prisons across Perth. Her work ensures that some of the most vulnerable individuals receive high‑quality, compassionate palliative care in the place they call home, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and preserving comfort, dignity and familiarity at the end of life.

Tho’s journey to palliative care reflects extraordinary depth, resilience and dedication. After leading a busy emergency department in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe for more than a decade, she migrated to Australia in 2008, discovered her passion for end‑of‑life care in aged‑care settings, and pursued extensive postgraduate study including a Master of Palliative Care and a Graduate Diploma in Dementia Studies. Her advanced knowledge enriches every patient, family and service she supports.

Within MPaCCS, Tho is recognised as a compassionate leader, educator and role model. She builds capability across the aged‑care and disability sectors through mentoring, bedside teaching and tailored education, empowering staff to deliver safe, person‑centred palliative care long after her visits. Colleagues and facilities consistently describe her as warm, approachable and deeply knowledgeable, someone who uplifts teams through kindness, cultural awareness and calm leadership.

Tho embodies the heart of palliative care. Her expertise, humility and humanity leave a lasting impact on every patient, family and community she touches. Her proudest professional moment came in 2025 when she received the Emerging Leader in Palliative Care Award as recognition of her commitment to improving care, supporting families, and building sector-wide confidence in palliative practice. Yet her most meaningful moments are often quiet ones: sitting with families through grief, guiding difficult conversations, or helping a dying woman fulfil her wish to return to Country, an act of advocacy and love she describes as profoundly moving

Lee Ann Reyes 

Lee Ann is the heart and driving force behind Kinross Beach House, Amana Living’s transitional residential care service. As Service Manager, she leads with rare compassion, clarity and purpose, transforming a once task‑driven environment into a model of inclusive, person‑centred care. Through her leadership, the 50‑member multidisciplinary team now works with unity, confidence and shared purpose, supporting older people during one of the most vulnerable and uncertain phases of their lives.

Responsible for two short‑stay restorative programs – the 12‑week Transition Program and the State‑funded Time to Think Program – Lee Ann ensures high‑quality clinical care, seamless operations, and deeply supportive client experiences. She partners closely with the WA Health Department, hospital discharge teams and external providers to ensure each resident moves safely and smoothly into and out of the service. Her collaborative approach has strengthened end‑of‑month reporting, enhanced placement pathways, and helped establish the first Time to Think Program of its kind in Western Australia.

Under her leadership, Kinross Beach House achieved full compliance against all Transition Care and Aged Care Quality Standards, receiving an “Exceeding” rating for promoting emotional wellbeing. Staff credit this to Lee Ann’s culture‑changing leadership of regular team huddles, open communication, shared decision‑making, and heartfelt recognition of achievements both big and small.

Lee Ann’s compassion is most visible in her personal connections with residents and families. She takes time to sit with clients, listen deeply and understand their grief, hopes and goals. Her advocacy has created moments of immense dignity, such as ensuring a palliative resident could remain at the Beach House, his “heaven with angels in disguise”, until his peaceful passing.

Amid significant personal challenges, including supporting her husband through cancer and rehabilitation, Lee Ann continues to lead with strength, empathy and unwavering dedication. She is admired by colleagues, loved by families, and truly transformative in the lives of those she serves. 

Laura Currie

Laura is an exceptional Registered Nurse and the Director of Nursing at Emerald Life Aged Care, where she leads with deep compassion, clinical excellence, and an unwavering commitment to people living with advancing dementia. Having devoted her entire career to residential aged care in both Scotland and Western Australia, Laura views nursing as a calling – one that allows her to serve, advocate, and walk beside vulnerable people every day.

Since joining Emerald Life, Laura has transformed the home into a vibrant, person‑centred community grounded in dignity, choice and empowerment. Her leadership has shaped a team of “dementia care champions,” united by the philosophy that care is done with people, never to or for them. Through her gentle, consistent guidance, staff feel valued, confident and inspired to deliver the highest standard of dementia care.

Laura builds strong, trusting partnerships with residents, families and a wide network of health professionals. She collaborates closely with GPs, allied health clinicians, geriatricians, Dementia Support Australia, palliative specialists, community groups and external services to ensure holistic, coordinated care. Families describe her approach as transformative, restoring peace of mind, connection and hope during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Under her leadership, Emerald Life has shifted from task‑focused care to a community where residents flourish, families feel heard, and staff experience genuine professional growth. She has strengthened clinical standards, championed innovation, and fostered a culture of belonging, purpose and joy.

Among her proudest achievements is witnessing the profound change in residents’ quality of life, the confidence of families, and the growth of her team who say she “walks beside them every day” and has changed the narrative of what living with dementia can look like. Laura is a compassionate, visionary and servant‑hearted leader whose dedication continues to elevate aged care and inspire all who work with her.