We are thrilled to announce the winners for the State Palliative Care Awards 2024.
These awards honour outstanding teamwork, community engagement, volunteering and individual achievement in the palliative care sector throughout South Australia.
Scroll down to read about our award winners.
Outstanding work by a Team in Palliative Care Awards
| This amazing team cover the entire Eyre Peninsula as well as Coober Pedy. They are a team of three and care for over 100 palliative patients. They have started working closely with SAAS Port Lincoln in order to provide them with the skills to assist patients when they are covering other areas. They provide Homecare packs to all patients whether at home or in hospital. Blankets, lip balm, soaps and aromatherapy sprays etc. little things that make a huge difference to people in need. |
Outstanding achievement in Palliative Care Volunteering Awards
| Helen has been a palliative care Volunteer for 9 years and has supported countless patients, carers and families in this time. With her experience, skills and compassion, Helen is a very trusted Volunteer who supports people in their most vulnerable times. Helen is also a leader in the Volunteer team, where she assists in the training and guidance of new Volunteers, as well as being a vital presence in Volunteer team meetings and education sessions. Helen is generous with her time and knowledge and her commitment to palliative care as a Volunteer is admirable. Although Helen has been a palliative care Volunteer for close to a decade, she shares that she still learns new things from each patient she meets and cherishes each connection. |
Outstanding achievement in Palliative Care Community Engagement Awards
| Since 2020, Southern Vales Compassionate Communities have been committed to building and strengthening community support for living and dying well, by encouraging compassionate community action. Community engagement activities include: Death Cafes, art Groups, nurture baskets, Willunga Farmers Market, VR, movie nights. |
Outstanding achievement by an Individual in Palliative Care Awards
| Lisa has been employed in Palliative Care since 2007 and endorsed as a Nurse Practitioner in 2016. She currently works for Eldercare, providing Palliative Care consultancy across their 13 Residential Aged Care Facilities in South Australia. Her willingness to provide education and mentoring enables her passion to be shared and improves the care of individuals and their significant others who require the services of palliative care. |
Lifetime achievement award
Palliative Care South Australia is honoured to share the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Lawrie Palmer.
| Dr Lawrie Palmer, as Medical Head of Unit, has led and grown the Northern Adelaide Palliative Service (NAPS) over 16 years, establishing a workplace culture that values and supports patients and families. Collaboratively, his leadership has both modelled and emphasised patient care through team development and encouragement.
His inclusivity is demonstrated in patient care and developing an egalitarian team. Bringing LMH and Modbury palliative care teams together to form NAPS in 2013 with a new shared identity, exemplifies his service building ability. NAPS has expanded in inpatient, acute hospital, community and country support areas allowing for smooth transitions of patient care with NALHN. His leadership has trialled the first community electronic patient record in the state. His philosophy of care for patients and staff is exemplified in the return of attached medical students coming back as interns, RMO’s and Registrars. |
All staff are celebrated and Dr Palmer actively demonstrates his ability to memorise name and story and connection of each staff member. In addition he encourages all to maximise their potential through creating opportunity and space to try new skills in a non judgemental environment.
In terms of staff, universal regard and support is the hallmark of Dr Palmer’s approach. Every junior doctor on leaving the service receives a book, a card and a personalised speech of thanks, tailored to and demonstrating genuine warmth and knowledge of the individual concerned.
Congratulations on this milestone achievement.