St John of God Health Care nurses earn statewide recognition

18 May 2021

St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital Nurse Unit Manager Ashly Grabski and St John of God Social Outreach (Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network) Clinical Nurse Specialist Jupp Groenveld were winners in the Excellence in Registered Nursing and the Consumer Appreciation award categories respectively.

St John of God Health Care Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Shane Kelly congratulated both nurses for the significant impact they have had on their patients and clients.

“It is great to see our nurses recognised by their peers as providing exceptional care to our patients and clients in the hospital and at home,” Dr Kelly said.

“Both Ashly and Jupp show their dedication and commitment to putting the needs of our patients and clients first in providing the highest level of care in all that they do.”

Ashly earned her award as Nurse Unit Manager St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital’s Ursula Frayne Unit, an older adult mental health unit, for her work in improving processes in the unit to reflect best practice and improve patient care, as well as supporting her colleagues and clinicians with training and education.

“Winning this award is an enormously encouraging compliment to receive as a new leader,” Ashly said.

“I am passionate about ensuring that optimum and recovery-focused mental health care is provided to those experiencing mental health challenges. I am passionate about reducing the stigma associated with mental health and mental health nursing, and nurturing emerging mental health specialists so that we can continue to provide care to some of our community’s most vulnerable members.”

In winning the Consumer Appreciation Award, Jupp was singled out for recognition by a client she supported through DAWN, a program which assists people to reduce or stop their substance use by providing care and support at home.

“Being recognised by a client truly means the world to me. I do the best job I can each day, I put my heart and soul into helping our clients at DAWN,” she said.

“To receive this nomination, and now the award, is so special. However, it’s not just an award for me – it’s an award for the whole DAWN team, and an acknowledgment for Social Outreach and the wider St John of God Health Care group. The Sisters of St John of God saw a gap in the provision of services for homebased withdrawal some 20 years ago, and today we are still helping our communities and delivering our services with great passion - knowing that the work we do can improve the lives of others.”

The 2020 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award winners were announced on 15 May 2021.