Exceptional workforce and achievements celebrated at 2026 WNSWLHD Awards
The many achievements and commitment of Western NSW Local Health District’s exceptional workforce have been recognised at its annual awards ceremony, held at the Dubbo Rhino Lodge on the evening of Thursday 13 August.
The 2026 awards acknowledge and celebrate the hard work of teams, projects and individual health professionals from across the region, also promoting innovation in the provision of safe, high-quality care and patient experience.
This year’s awards were presented across 19 different categories, following the District’s annual Symposium that afternoon, which featured presentations from all of the finalists in the program’s 11 project-based categories.
Western NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Mark Spittal said the awards, importantly, don’t just provide an opportunity to celebrate dedicated healthcare staff, but allow the chance to do so together as a District.
Every year this event gives us all a great reminder of the exceptional work being done across our District every single day. It’s not just a celebration, it’s our chance to come together to recognise the many achievements of our staff,
WNSWLHD Chief Executive Mark Spittal
“Being able to hear from all our award finalists at the Symposium really is a privilege. Their passion, commitment, drive and creativity in the way they innovate and care for our communities is astounding. It will never cease to impress me.
“Once again, as it is every year, the quality of projects, teams and people submitted for consideration speaks volumes of the talent and dedication across our District. I know judging panels had an incredibly difficult time selecting recipients.
“Our entire District is so proud of the work our staff do and the care they provide. We are so fortunate to have the workforce we do. I wholeheartedly congratulate all of the award recipients and finalists, and thank everyone for making submissions.”
Warren Williams (WNSWLHD Cultural Capability Manager) was announced as the 2026 Staff Member of the Year, accepting the award with an emotional speech after Mr Spittal presented his trophy amid huge celebrations.
Warren is vital part of the transformation of cultural capability across the entire region, working tirelessly to help embed Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing into the District’s learning, reflection and practice.
He has personally delivered more than 350 cultural capability sessions, providing a profound contribution to the District’s ‘Respecting the Difference – Be The Difference’ cultural training and competency initiative.
His use of ancient traditions of story-telling combined with modern technologies like virtual reality has inspired an immersive cultural learning experience, built on his outlook, foundation of identity and connection to Country.
Donna Cain (Lachlan Health Service) was announced as the 2026 Volunteer of the Year, for her immense contribution, commitment and professionalism since joining the service seven years ago, which has benefitted hundreds of people.
Donna has introduced multiple innovations to improve awareness of health and wellbeing programs, has been a long-time supporter of programs like Aqua Fitness, and has played a vital role in childhood a range of clinics for childhood vaccinations and audiometry.
A further 15 individuals, teams and projects were recognised among the remaining 17 award categories, including Dr Marco Metelo (Bathurst Health Service, Director of Medical Services), who was announced as the 2026 Senior Leader of the Year.
The Building Healthy Communities Challenge and Dancing Towards Healthy Ageing Across Western NSW were also both celebrated as dual recipients, both received project-based awards as well as the 2026 Board and People’s Choice awards, respectively.
2026 Western NSW Local Health District Award recipients:
- Staff Member of the Year: Warren Williams (WNSWLHD Manager, Aboriginal Cultural Capability)
- Volunteer of the Year:Donna Cain (Lachlan Health Service)
- Chief Executive’s Award: Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol State-wide Transition to Professional Practice
- Board Award: Building Healthy Communities Challenge: Empowering Rural Communities, Delivering Local Change
- People’s Choice Award: Dancing Towards Healthy Ageing Across Western NSW
- Senior Leader of the Year: Dr Marco Metelo (Director of Medical Services, Bathurst Health Service)
- ACI Rural Innovation Award: Virtual Support: Proactive Monitoring for Safer Rural Care
- Inspiring Team of the Year Award: Pregnancy Options Care and Support Service
- Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare Award: The First Welcome Matters: Cultural Awareness Training for Volunteers
- Environmental Sustainability Award:One Million Pieces
- Keeping People Healthy Award: Dancing Towards Healthy Ageing Across Western NSW
- Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services Award: Virtual Psychiatry Hub
- Transforming Patient Experience Award:Listening Beyond the Vitals: Person-centred Care in the ED
- Patient Safety First Award: Safe Ultrasound Guided Cannulation Program
- People and Culture Award: Ways of Working: Creating Options for an Agile and Responsive Radiation Oncology Workforce
- Health Research Award:Improving D-Dimer Stewardship in Rural Emergency Medicine
- Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare Award:One Stop Model for Remote Multicultural Health
- Health Equity Award:Building Healthy Communities Challenge: Empowering Rural Communities, Delivering Local Change
- Health Innovation Award: Virtual Support: Proactive Monitoring for Safer Rural Care
More information, including profiles and details on all award recipients and finalists, is available on the Awards and Recognition section of the Western NSW Local Health District website.