Moorditj Dookoorniny Award

In Noongar language Moorditj Dookoorniny means to make well and this award, chosen by the SMHS Chief Executive and Board, recognises an employee who goes above and beyond their normal duties to embody the organisation’s values and proactively works to improve outcomes. This category is open to all staff working across SMHS.

Meet our 2026 winner

Dr Daniela Vecchio – Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Service for Mental Health at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Cockburn Health

Dr Daniela Vecchio’s commitment to patient-centred mental health care is as respected as her ability to build outstanding teams through learning, collaboration and continuous improvement.

A renowned clinician, Daniela engages compassionately with consumers and their families and advocates strongly for coordinated, practical support across the care continuum.

Her exceptional strategic leadership is demonstrated through the delivery of three complex services – Western Australia’s first specialist assessment and treatment service for consumers experiencing co-occurring mental health and addiction difficulties, an Australian-first gaming addiction clinic, and the State’s only woman’s inpatient mental health service. These services enable access to high standards of safe, trauma-informed holistic mental health care while achieving sustainable cost efficiencies.

Daniela also champions investing in those who deliver this care. An active mentor, she develops and maintains a skilled and patient-focused workforce through careful recruitment, ongoing learning, quality <

Congratulations to our other finalists:

• Dr Rafiq Hemani – Head of Department Paediatric and Neonatal services, Rockingham Peel Group
• Wesley Serrano – Team Lead, CoNeCT Mental Health Expansion, South Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health

This award sponsored by

See other 2026 Excellence Award winners.

Read about our 2026 SMHS Excellence Award sponsors.