A Curtin University academic and registered mental health nurse has been presented the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Honour at the Western Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards (WANMEA).
Professor Dianne Wynaden is a Professor of Mental Health from Curtin’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine with more than 40 years of experience in the field. She is a fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and was named the Australian Mental Health Nurse of the Year in 2013.
From 2011 to 2018, she was a member of the Western Australian Mental Health Advisory Council appointed by the Minister for Mental Health to provide independent advice to the Western Australian Mental Health Commissioner.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry congratulated Professor Wynaden on receiving the prestigious award, which recognised her achievement as a trailblazer in mental health nursing.
“Professor Wynaden’s research and leadership has had a tremendous impact in the field of mental health and helped improve the physical health outcomes of people living with a mental illness,” Professor Terry said.
“Professor Wynaden has demonstrated her commitment to the profession over a 40-year career, having held joint appointments within the WA public mental health sector and translating research findings into nursing practice while also mentoring students who will become the nurses and midwives of the future.
“The awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise nurses and midwives in WA who work to improve the lives of people living in the community. I would like to formally congratulate Professor Wynaden on being recognised as a leader in this field.”
Professor Wynaden said she was honoured to be recognised at the prestigious awards.
“The mental health sector is a huge passion of mine and something I have spent my whole professional career trying to improve. Being recognised for my work alongside other influential nurses and midwives in WA is a tremendous honour,” Professor Wynaden said.
Associate Professor Karen Heslop and Dr Robyn Rayner, also from Curtin University, were short-listed for the Excellence in Research award.
The winners were announced at a gala dinner on May 11 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, hosted by WA Health Minister, the Honourable Roger Cook.
A full list of winners can be found online here.
