General News
6 August, 2025
North West Hospital and Health Service honours staff
The awards recognised some of the quiet achievers in the organisation.
North West Hospital and Health Service recently hosted its annual staff awards night – a special evening dedicated to recognising the people who go above and beyond to make a difference across the health service.
The event brought together staff, executives, and board members to celebrate the dedication, innovation, and excellence shown by teams and individuals across the North West in 2025.
NWHHS chair Cheryl Vardon congratulated all nominees and recipients.
“These awards reflect the extraordinary calibre of people across our region,” she said.
“Their dedication, cultural leadership, and service to our communities are deeply valued.”
NWHHS chief executive Sean Birgan also praised the outstanding efforts of staff across the region.
“Our people are the heart of this organisation,” he said.
“This night is about honouring their incredible work, their commitment to our values, and the positive impact they have on our communities.”
This year, a record 149 nominations were received, with award recipients honoured across multiple categories, across the organisation’s core values: Innovation, Respect, Engagement, Accountability, Caring, Honesty – with special honours also presented by the Executive Team and Board.
NWHHS Award Winners
Innovation
Winner: Cassandra Bailey.
Cassandra created and led the Remote Ready Program – a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to upskill staff before they work in remote settings. She also implemented a telehealth emergency simulation initiative now being adopted across the state.
Respect
Winner: Ally Manwaring.
A leader in medication safety, Ally champions respectful, open dialogue and quality improvement in clinical care.
Engagement
Winner: Mere Mock.
Mere has built strong, culturally safe partnerships with First Nations patients, families, and staff – delivering meaningful support throughout discharge planning.
Accountability
Winner: Claire Matthews.
Claire supports over 450 nurses and midwives with outstanding efficiency, organisation, and proactive HR support.
Caring
Winner: NWHHS Sexual Health Team.
The team nearly doubled service engagement through smarter triage systems, community partnerships, and bold outreach campaigns.
Honesty
Winner: Teri Loccisano.
Teri offers reliable, values-driven guidance in HR with a blend of transparency, empathy, and problem-solving savvy.
Volunteer Award
Winner: James Coghlan.
James ran 700km in honour of his late wife, raising $37,000 for the Mount Isa Cancer Care Unit in a tribute that touched the region.
First Nations Award
Winner: Charlotte Mullins.
A proud advocate for cultural safety, Charlotte brought Doomadgee cross-cultural training off-country and champions First Nations health in every aspect of her work.
Executive Leadership Team Award
Recipient: Sidony Miller-Waugh.
As acting Director of Pharmacy, Sidony transformed the department into a high-functioning, supportive, and values-led workplace admired across the service.
NWHHS Board Chair’s Excellence Award
Recipient: William Wilson.
Will is the heartbeat of Continued Care — a mentor, historian, and role model who brings humour, pride, and unwavering accountability to his team.