NDS acknowledges and congratulates all nominees, finalists and winners in the 2021 WA Disability Support Awards.

The finalists and winners were announced at a gala dinner held at Crown Perth on Friday 3 September, hosting a record number of more than 840 people including the Honourable Don Punch, Minister for Disability Services.

NDS is extremely proud to present the Awards each year, recognising the achievements of people who demonstrate excellence, passion, vision and commitment to supporting people with disability.

The awards recognise those who go beyond ordinary standards of service and have a profound impact on the lives of the people they work with and support.

This year’s winners are:

• Excellence in Regional Support Award – Jeffrey McMahon, Cam Can
• Excellence in Supporting Employment Outcomes Award – Kylie Blakemore, InterchangeWA
• Excellence in Home and Family Support Award – Team Murphy: Dianne Murphy, Valued Lives Foundation and Microboards Australia
• Excellence in Innovation Award – Peer-to-Peer Networks WA, Valued Lives Foundation
• Excellence in Rights Promotion: Supporting Choice, Control and Capacity Building Award – Rebecca Eddy, Directions Disability Support
• Services Excellence in Supporting Inclusion and Citizenship Award – Andrea Holden, At Home Care
• Emerging Leader Award – Hamish Wilkinson, Access Plus WA Deaf

NDS State Manager WA, Julie Waylen, said the Awards played an important role in building a sustainable, quality disability workforce, showcasing best practice in support work and promoting the sector as a great place for a rewarding career.

“The WA Disability Support Awards celebrate the significant contribution of individuals and teams who support people with disability to achieve their goals. They demonstrate the very real difference that people working this sector can make to the lives of people with disability and the communities we live in,” Ms Waylen said.

The importance of this contribution was highlighted more than ever in the past year, with disability support workers playing an essential and valued role during COVID-19 to provide services and support to people with disability in our community.

Winners’ names and nominee stories have been published in the WA Disability Support Awards Liftout in today’s West Australian newspaper.

NDS proudly hosts the WA Disability Support Awards in partnership with the Department of Communities.

We sincerely thank Lotterywest, who supported people with disability to attend the event alongside the support workers they nominated.

We also acknowledge and thank our sponsors for their significant support.

Gold sponsors: At Home Care, atWork Australia, HESTA, Insurance Commission of WA and Therapy Focus.

Silver sponsors: Arch Recruitment, Early Start Australia and Zenith Insurance Services.