Excellence in strengthening partnerships

This award recognises teams that are building or strengthening relationships with our external community, partners and stakeholders to improve the delivery of health care. 

Voluntary assisted dying state-wide care navigator service – South Metropolitan Health Service

This customer-focused and nurse-led service advises and supports patients, families, networks and care providers on voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

Care is individualised to each person’s unique needs and the metropolitan-based service provides equitable care to consumers across WA.

Even before the VAD legislation was implemented in 2021, this service worked extensively to develop strong, collaborative, respectful and enduring relationships across public, private, aged-care and community-based providers. This resulted in a shared understanding of each organisation’s position in relation to VAD and a broad collective sense of understanding and trust.

The success of this relationship building was evidenced by the higher-than-expected levels of access to VAD. Within the first year of operations, over 700 contacts were received by the service and more than 170 Western Australians accessed this end-of-life choice, well above the modelling of 50-70 people.

Congratulations to our other 2022 finalists:

• Health Promotion: Breath of fresh air project – South Metropolitan Health Service
• Managing behavioural disturbance team – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

View our finalists

See other 2022 SMHS Excellence Award winners.

This award sponsored by HESTA.