The spirit of Richmind WA

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Feb 5, 2026

2 mins

At Richmind WA, we elevate and celebrate our people

We are immensely proud of the work we do in the field of mental health and the meaningful impact we have on the community each year. Our staff live and breathe recovery, and we work diligently to change the lives of Western Australians. In part, we do this by employing great people, many with lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, who are the true spirit of Richmind WA. Our values are the core of how we work. They inform every decision we make, shape our ways of working, and what people can expect from Richmind WA and what we can expect from each other.

Richmind WA rewards excellence with our Wirrin Awards

As part of our commitment to recognising and uplifting the contributions of our people, we launched ‘Elevate and Celebrate’. This is our reward and recognition program that honours excellence, values-driven practice and team spirit. This initiative introduced the Wirrin (Spirit) Awards to celebrate staff who embody our organisational values, and there were several exceptional people recognised for their efforts in 2025.

The Wirrin Awards are a cornerstone of Richmind WA’s Elevate and Celebrate recognition program, where we invite our staff to nominate their peers. Each award category panel (including winners from the previous year), had the important task of selecting finalists. This year, we received an overwhelming number of nominations from across the organisation. This is testament to the dedication, compassion and integrity of our team. The calibre of submissions made selecting finalists incredibly difficult, with so many people going above and beyond to support consumers, colleagues and community.

This year, we received over 200 nominations, highlighting the incredible talent, dedication and heart of our people across Richmind WA.
Adrian Munro, Richmind WA CEO.

Our 2025 finalists and winners across 8 categories

Live and Breathe Recovery Award

Recognising people who consistently support and advocate for recovery-focused practices in their roles. They inspire and motivate others to adopt a recovery-oriented mindset while actively seeking learning opportunities to enhance their practice.

Winner – Renee Van Riessen, Mental Health Recovery Practitioner

Finalists – Corinna Caulfield and Glenyis Ugle

Brave and Explore Award

Recognising people who show initiative by embracing new approaches and innovation in their roles. They demonstrate resilience and courage when faced with challenges and are not afraid to push boundaries.

Winner – Ben Aitken, Recovery Support Worker

Finalists – Cassidy McGrath and Padgett Rowell

Put People First Award

Recognising people who consistently prioritise the needs and wellbeing of their colleagues and the people accessing our services. They demonstrate empathy and compassion in every interaction. They create a nurturing and supportive environment for those around them.

Winner – Geri Martin, Recovery Support Worker

Finalists – Adrienne Summers and Naomi Golden

Inclusion and Belonging Award

Recognising people who foster an environment where everyone feels valued and included. They actively work to eliminate barriers to inclusion and promote cultural safety. They celebrate diversity and ensure that differences are respected and embraced in all aspects of their work.

Winner – Marnie Bell, Recovery Support Worker

Finalists – Casey Metcalf and Nikki Richardson

Listen Deeply and Learn Award

Recognising people who excel in active listening, consistently seeking to understand others’ perspectives. They embrace feedback as a tool for continuous improvement and are committed to personal and professional growth. They actively seek opportunities for learning and development and show a strong dedication to refining their skills and knowledge.

Winner – Jude Binnie, Recovery Worker

Finalists – Morgann Hedge and Sarah Anselmo

Wirrin Front Line All-Rounder Award

Recognising people who consistently demonstrate dedication and commitment to exceptional work serving the community we work with. Their work embodies Richmind WA values in all their work and practice.

Winner – Gemma Stanners, Mental Health Recovery Practitioner

Finalists – Andrew Tarrant and Clarisa Iarossi

Wirrin Leader Award

Recognising people who embody Richmind WA values and lead by example to positively influence those around them. They inspire and motivate people to achieve excellence, demonstrating sound decision-making and strategic thinking, and they support others to grow and develop.

Winner – Betel Tamerat, Senior Manager, Outreach and Individualised Services

Finalists – Gemma Graham and Nino Milenovich

Wirrin Team Award:

Recognising a team that collectively lives and breathes Richmind WA’s values. It celebrates collaboration, shared commitment and the way a team works together to create positive outcomes for the people we support and for each other. The team demonstrates strong connection, mutual respect and a shared drive to make a meaningful difference.

Winner – Bassendean Individualised Support

Finalists – Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Team, Ngulla Mia Team

Our heartfelt congratulations to all nominees, finalists and 2025 winners. Their contributions reflect the spirit of Richmind WA and the values that drive our work every day. Whether through quiet acts of kindness or bold leadership, each nominee has helped shape a culture of excellence and care. The Wirrin Awards remind us that it’s not just what we do, but how we do it – with heart, purpose and unwavering commitment to those we serve.

At Richmind WA we support you to thrive with:

Genuine flexibility and work-life balance
Two extra days off – your birthday and a wellbeing day, every year
Salary packaging of up to $18,640 to boost your take-home pay
Ongoing development – including LinkedIn Learning and core training
Supportive environment grounded in recovery and inclusion
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for your wellbeing
Recognition of lived experience and cultural diversity
Rainbow Tick accreditation and work with Aboriginal Elders
Real opportunities to grow and advance
Student placements to step into the real world
Volunteer opportunities to be part of a community

Join Richmind WA and be part of an inclusive, values-driven team supporting recovery through innovation, diversity and compassion.

It takes courage to care. It takes courage to lead change.

Explore our current vacancies and find your next courageous step below.

Read our Karratha Step Up/Step Down Service Recruitment Story.

Current Vacancies Karratha Recruitment Story

Employee Highlights

“I enjoy the hands-on nature of assisting clients in their daily lives, covering the full scope of support from appointments, hygiene, keywork and more. I revel in the unpredictability of this role. It allows for a wide variety day to day, whether it’s attending boxing with residents, running groups or conducting keywork, the role keeps you on your toes. I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to stifle who I am and can bring my authentic self to work. I feel comfortable knowing that I exist in a culture that works to accentuate your strengths and bring your passions to the fore.”

Tylen Keizer – Recovery Support Worker and acting Recovery Practitioner, Bassendean Individualised Support

“For me it’s about the feedback I get from the residents. This is really rewarding and through my relationships with residents, I know what I do is appreciated. Management also values what I do – hence taking on ‘acting’ roles, and this means a lot to me. It’s great that Management value my work and recognise the value I bring to the service.”

Ben Aitken – Recovery Support Worker and acting MH Recovery Practitioner, Community Supported Residential Unit Busselton