Volunteer of the Year
This award is for an exceptional volunteer who demonstrates dedication and commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients, carers, visitors and staff within SMHS.
Meet our 2026 finalists
Jane Pearce – South Metropolitan Health Service
Jane Pearce has made a lasting contribution to patient‑centred care by ensuring the consumer voice is heard, respected and harnessed to drive meaningful change. Through sustained volunteer leadership, she has helped shape how health services listen to and respond to the needs of patients and families.
Jane brings insight, structure and empathy to feedback processes, helping translate lived experiences into meaningful improvements in communication, safety and access to care.
Her extensive volunteer work spans advisory, research and improvement activities including the Consumer Advisory Council, SMHS Research Consumer Advisory Group, WA Clinical Senate and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.
Jane works collaboratively with staff, helping create safer, more responsive services that reflect patient experiences by championing respectful communication and shared understanding. Her contribution has had wide‑reaching impact, improving experiences for both patients and staff.
Rae Endersby – Rockingham Peel Group
For more than three decades, Rae has given her time, energy and leadership to support patients, families and staff in impactful and deeply caring ways. Her long‑standing commitment to the Murray District Hospital community has helped create welcoming, calming and meaningful environments for people during vulnerable moments.
Through fundraising, volunteer coordination and thoughtful community partnerships, Rae has supported initiatives that transform the patient experience by reducing anxiety, promoting comfort and helping people feel connected.
Rae’s leadership has ensured volunteers are well supported and able to respond to changing needs with compassion and reliability. Her impact extends beyond the hospital through her volunteer work with the Murray Health Group and Ladies with Heart, supporting people living with Alzheimer’s.
Rae’s sustained dedication has strengthened the connection between the health service and its community, enriching care through kindness, dignity and genuine human connection.
Sean Henley – South Metropolitan Health Service
Sean has made a significant impact by helping create safer digital environments for patients, staff and visitors across our health service.
Working alongside information security experts, Sean undertook meaningful and proactive action to improve awareness during Cyber Security Month. He engaged with staff, patients and visitors in a clear and approachable way to develop initiatives to increase understanding of how personal information is protected. This included accessible visual materials and speaking with people face-to-face to help demystify an often-overlooked area of health care.
By strengthening everyday practices that protect privacy and trust, Sean supported a healthcare experience where people can feel confident that their personal information is respected and safe. Sean’s proactive, people‑focused approach demonstrates how behind‑the‑scenes support plays a vital role in patient-centred care.
See other 2026 Excellence Award finalists and read about our sponsors.