RFDS WA Head of Nursing Paul Ingram has been named Clinical Leader of the Year at the WA Rural Health Awards.
The awards recognise and acknowledge health professionals who have dedicated their careers to caring for rural communities, as well as celebrate the achievements of clinicians who have enhanced the range and quality of medical care available in rural locations.
Paul has been a much-loved and respected member of the RFDS WA family for over 25 years. He was a Retrieval Nurse for 15 years before moving into a management role, and now oversees approximately 70 nurses at five bases across WA.
“My team work days, nights, weekends and public holidays and are often there for people on the worst day of their lives,” said Paul. “This is an individual award, but it really is reflective of the work that all of our nurses do.”
Paul is a registered nurse and midwife and holds additional paediatric qualifications. He is also on the faculty of Charles Darwin University and teaches on Graduate Certificate in Aeromedical Retrieval course.
One of Paul's many notable achievements include enhancing blood transport bags with Bluetooth technology, extending blood stock usability significantly to 72 hours.
Paul leads the RFDS Workforce Retention and Attraction Strategy, collaborating with universities to attract students. He also coordinates two annual RFDS midwifery scholarships. His advocacy for the RFDS at university and community events highlights its vital contributions to the community.
He played a crucial role in the successful COVID vaccination rollout in remote Aboriginal communities and hosts regular training sessions for the RFDS Clinical Educational Team. As a member of the RFDS working group, he actively participated in implementing a new Fatigue Management System.
Paul is a true leader in the organisation and a well deserving winner.
