WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards 2025.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is proud to congratulate staff and alumnae who were acknowledged at the 2025 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards (WANMEA).
The annual Awards celebrate and highlight the outstanding work of nurses and midwives across public, private and non-government health services in Western Australia.
ECU is a proud Platinum sponsor of WANMEA and this year marked 15 years of partnership.
Excellence in research
Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group, Nurse Director, Corporate Nursing, Joanne Reid and ECU School of Nursing and Midwifery Associate Professor Rosemary Saunders.
ECU's School of Nursing and Midwifery Associate Professor Rosemary Saunders was awarded the prestigious Excellence in Research award.
Associate Professor Saunders is a highly respected nurse researcher at ECU, Research Fellow at Hollywood Private Hospital (Ramsay Health Care) and Adjunct Research Officer in the Centre for Nursing Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group, who is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between academia and clinical practice. She exemplifies the qualities of mentorship, collaboration, and holds a deep commitment to advancing the nursing profession through high-quality research that improves patient outcomes.
Associate Professor Saunders said that it was an honour to receive the 2025 WANMEA Excellence in Research award.
"Receiving the award is also a recognition of how important a team approach is, and it's a privilege to work with dedicated nurses, other health professionals, researchers, and consumers, all working together to make a difference, not just in improving patient outcomes, but also in building the evidence base for nursing and health care," said Associate Professor Saunders.
"My research is primarily centred on improving care for older adults, particularly in the areas of frailty, pain assessment for those with cognitive impairment, nurse-led volunteer support, health care communication, and end-of-life care.
"This research is essential to ensure that older adults receive appropriate care and support, while also developing innovative approaches to enhance their overall well-being and prevent harm in healthcare."
ECU alumnae excellence
Amongst this year's winners, there were also three ECU alumnae who were awarded for their exceptional contributions to nursing and midwifery:
Dr Jennifer Prentice – Lifetime Achievement Honour Roll
Hall & Prior Health and Aged Care Group, previous Lifetime Achievement Honour Award recipient and a member of this year's judging panel, Jennifer Grieve and ECU alumna Dr Jennifer Prentice.
Dr Jennifer Prentice is a Nurse Consultant for the Wound Skin Ostomy Service at Hall & Prior Health and Aged Care Group.
She was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Honour, an induction based on her exceptional contributions to nursing and healthcare for nearly 50 years.
Widely known for her dedication to mentorship and patient care, Dr Prentice has led a highly impactful career deserving of an esteemed spot on the Honour Roll.
Jennifer completed a Bachelor of Nursing at ECU in 1997.
Francine Ocampo – Graduate of the Year
Murdoch University, Dean of the School of Nursing, Associate Professor Vicki Cope and ECU alumna Francine Ocampo.
Francine is a Graduate Registered Nurse working at Royal Perth Hospital, where she delivers compassionate, high-quality care to patients while contributing to the multidisciplinary team’s success.
Quite remarkably, Francine only commenced her nursing career in February 2024. Alongside her nursing role, she works as a Research Assistant on projects aimed to improve care for frail older adults (65+ years), particularly those undergoing chemotherapy.
Francine graduated from ECU in 2023 with a Master of Nursing and was one of the first interns in the School of Nursing and Midwifery's summer research internship program, mentored by Associate Professor Rosemary Saunders.
Noreen Elliott – Excellence in Education
Curtin School of Nursing, Head of School, Professor Tracey Moroney OAM and ECU alumna Noreen Elliott.
Noreen is a Staff Development Nurse (SDN) and Clinical Nurse in the ICU at Royal Perth Hospital where she feels privileged to care for patients and families. Her expertise enables her to deliver complex care at crucial moments, making a difference to a patient’s recovery and wellbeing. Noreen’s passion for nursing is reflected in her approach to teaching others.
Noreen completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing in 2002 and a Master of Clinical Nursing in 2006 at ECU.
Find out more about ECU's School of Nursing and Midwifery and the full list of winners available on the WANMEA website.
