Unite & Ignite (U&I) Day 2026 – Service Award winners tell their stories
As part of our commitment to creating a ‘great place to work for great people’, we showed our appreciation and thanked our long-serving staff with our Koora-Yey-Benang (Service) Awards at this year’s U&I Day. A cohort of 24 staff members celebrated milestones for 5, 10 and 15 years of service at Richmind WA.
We interviewed six of our 10+ year, long-service award winners to find out more about their roles and why they love working at Richmind WA. Over the coming months, we’ll let you know a little bit about each award winner so you can read about their stories, share their personal journeys, and delve more deeply into their motivation to continue the incredible work they do
Month One: Focus on Shelley Dawson,
Shelley has spent 15 years helping ensure Richmind WA delivers the highest standards of care, quietly working behind the scenes to support best practice across the organisation.
- How did your journey at Richmind WA start, and can you remember your first day?
I don’t remember my first day, but I started in an HR/recruitment role in the old offices and learnt about the role with someone I’d worked with previously.
- Is this role something you thought you would be doing for 15 years?
No, well, I have changed roles a few times over 15 years, but never thought I’d be in a Quality and Compliance role.
- What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
My children! That’s the stage of life at the moment.
- What is the best part of your role?
Helping the organisation achieve best practice. Being involved in the audits and accreditations, and showing all the good work everyone does.
- What is the most challenging part of your role and what skills do you think you need to overcome these challenges?
A lot of people see us as the compliance police and just want them to tick boxes. We try to make people see the value in the work we do and what it leads to.
- What do you consider your proudest accomplishment or career highlight at Richmind WA?
Passing audits and accreditations with no required improvements.
- Why have you stayed at Richmind WA/what’s great about the organisation?
I think a more personal reason is that it’s always fitted in with where I am in life, whether pre-family or coming back part-time in different roles that have worked for me. Also, having the flexibility to be able to do the things I need to do. I like the trust that my work will still be done and that I am still valued.
- What is the key to finding a good work/life balance?
Having your own personal priorities and open communication to make sure they can work in the work environment. Boundaries!
- If you could change one thing about your role or Richmind WA, what would it be?
I don’t know if there is one! Nothing is ever perfect, but I can’t think of anything I would change.
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Having that shield so you can protect everyone you love.
Powerful Themes Emerged!
Interestingly, there were some key themes echoed by many of our award winners:
- Purpose in helping others
- Supportive teams and leadership
- Flexibility and work–life balance
- Opportunities to grow within the organisation
- Pride in meaningful client outcomes
- Commitment despite systemic challenges
Together, these paint a picture of an organisation where values, relationships and flexibility are central to long staff tenure.
And when asked what superpower they would choose, the answers ranged from shielding and healing people, to flying, to teleporting anywhere instantly. It’s reassuring to know our staff have big ambitions – even superhuman ones.
If you’d like to work alongside people like this, join Richmind WA. You’ll be part of an inclusive, values-driven team supporting recovery through innovation, diversity, and compassion.
