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Honouring chaplains at the third annual Governor's Chaplaincy Awards

Posted on:

November 3, 2025

3.11.25

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Each year, the Governor’s Chaplaincy Awards honours the tremendous service of chaplains across Western Australia, shining a light on profound stories of impact that often go unnoticed. At this year’s awards on October 7th, nine YouthCARE Chaplains were recognised for their contributions to metro and regional communities, with four overall winners from YouthCARE across eight categories. Congratulations to YouthCARE Chaplains Beverley Hanrahan, Desiré Atkinson, Linda Liddelow, and Allison Nixon!

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Join YouthCARE in honouring the following recipients:

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Community Connection Award — Brian Newing

Brian has been a constant at Bunbury Regional Prison for over two decades, serving the community as chaplain with loyalty and empathy. In a complex and emotionally demanding environment, Brian facilitates Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, supports grieving families, and walks alongside both prisoners and staff through trauma, loss, and hope. This care extends well beyond the prison walls as he embraces prisoners’ loved ones and the staff who support them. At 86 years of age, Brian’s loyal service makes him well-respected by prison staff and prisoners alike.

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Certificate of Commendation - Outstanding Response to a Critical Incident Category — Clare Muller, Naomi Warth, Beverley Hanrahan, Peter Hanrahan

Clare, Naomi, Beverley Hanrahan, and Peter Hanrahan were deployed in response to a deeply distressing series of incidents at the Geraldton Residential College earlier this year. The scale and intensity of what unfolded demanded not just experience, but teamwork, courage, and deep compassion. Recognising that a standard response would not be enough, these four chaplains offered more than support – they offered presence. Working in coordinated pairs, they attended the college every evening for two full weeks.

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Outstanding Response to a Critical Incident Award — Allison Nixon

Allison has served as a YouthCARE Chaplain at Mukinbudin District High School for over a decade. When the school community was rocked by the tragic loss of a school father, Allison became a pillar of calm, compassion, and coordination, holding the community together. She comforted grieving students and staff, creating safe spaces for difficult conversations. Ensuring the mother and children were not left to face their grief alone, Allison provided ongoing support, including simple acts of kindness like doing their hair and providing childcare.

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Cultural Capability Award — Janelle Butler

At Nulsen Primary School, chaplain Janelle meets each challenge with strength and extraordinary cultural sensitivity. When a family at Nulsen Primary could not proceed with purchasing school photos, Janelle discovered these children had no family photos at all, due to years of transient living. Janelle quietly arranged for staff to take and print sibling photos.

Janelle’s care extends beyond pastoral presence as she actively removes barriers to learning by sourcing essentials such as uniforms, transport, and even hearing aids, ensuring every child can thrive. Her personal experiences as a foster carer and volunteer with children of incarcerated parents have deeply shaped her empathy, resilience, and insight.

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Chaplaincy Leadership and Innovation Award — Linda Liddelow

Linda joined YouthCARE in 2015 as a chaplain at Gilmore College. There she founded G.A.P. (Gilmore Activity Place), a supportive space for students to spend time during school breaks. She also spearheaded Life Skills Centre for students sleeping rough, offering access to showers, clean uniforms, and pastoral support.

In her current role as a YouthCARE Pastoral Care Manager (PCM), Linda oversees over 30 schools in Rockingham and Mandurah, supporting over 20 chaplains as they care for communities. One of Linda’s standout innovations is the pilot Group Supervision program, a framework helping chaplains feel more connected, less isolated, and better equipped for the emotional weight of their roles.

“I love what I do,” says Linda. “I see it as a local mission, connecting churches, schools, and community services together for the children who are the core of our next generation.”

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Chaplaincy Impact Award — Desiré Atkinson

As a YouthCARE Chaplain at Clifton Hills Primary School, Desiré is a steady and trusted presence. Her service in the face of hardship and trauma truly sets her apart. When a student was missing school for fear of her mother’s safety in a violent home, Desiré walked alongside the family to provide food hampers, counselling referrals, and regular check-ins. Today, the child has returned to school, the mother has found safety, and the family is rebuilding their lives.

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Chaplaincy Partnership Award — Sarina Elder and Kwinana Early Years Services (KEYS)

Every week, chaplains across Kwinana confidently refer families to Kwinana Early Years Services (KEYS), knowing that they will be met not only with professional support but also with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and practical solutions. Through free, community-based services including counselling, family support, parenting workshops, playgroups, and early childhood transition programs, KEYS has become a trusted pillar of support, helping children thrive by building up the families around them. KEYS truly stands out for its compassion, consistency, and collaboration.

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Certificate of Commendation - Regional Chaplain of the Year Category – Phillip Gossop

Phil has spent 14 years serving students at John Forrest Secondary College. In the last two years, his role has taken on an entirely new dimension. As Western Australia’s first Drive-In, Drive-Out chaplain for the Wheatbelt and Midwest regions, Phil travels thousands of kilometres each year, supporting six regional schools that would otherwise go without any chaplaincy services at all. In small communities where support is often limited, Phil’s calm, steady, and compassionate approach has made a powerful impact on students, staff, and families alike.

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Regional Chaplain of the Year Award — Beverely Hanrahan

Beverley brings extraordinary commitment, compassion, and care to her two-fold role as the School Chaplain at Holland Street School, a Geraldton-based education support school, and as the Principals Chaplain for the entire Midwest region, where she supports the emotional and professional wellbeing of school leaders across 46 schools.

At Holland Street School, she engages students through play, art, and calm conversation, building trust and resilience one relationship at a time. As Chaplain to Principals throughout the Midwest, where isolation, pressure, and leadership fatigue can weigh heavily, Beverley is a steady and supportive force. “There is so much pressure on Principals,” says. Beverley. “I hear some amazing stories from Principals, but I also hear the heartbreak. It is really important for them to have a confidential, independent person to speak to.”

Beverley’s impact is felt through the consistency of her presence, her genuine empathy, and her unwavering commitment to showing up every day for those who need her.

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Chaplain of the Year Award — Aimee-Clare Oudman

As Coordinator of Pastoral Care Services at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Aimee-Clare cares for a workforce of over 15,000. She is a trusted voice, strategic leader, and passionate advocate for humanising healthcare from the inside out, helping reshape how pastoral care is understood and valued within a large and complex healthcare system.

At the heart of Aimee-Clare’s impact is Soul Space, an initiative for front-line care staff offering wellbeing sessions using mindfulness, movement, and narrative reflection. Aimee-Clare also established How to Catch, a peer support initiative for doctors and clinical staff.

Aimee’s service has driven a 43% increase in chaplaincy referrals, shifted culture, and most importantly, helped people feel human again in high-pressure environments. She has redefined what chaplaincy can be, not a service on the sidelines, but a vital part of how we care for each other.

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Together, these chaplains offer a glimpse into the vibrant community making a deep and wide impact in diverse spaces. Our hope is that every person in Western Australia, from every region and industry, would be impacted by a chaplain.

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Congratulations to the chaplains and partners nominated for awards across these categories, including many YouthCARE Chaplains and Pastoral Care Managers . Thank you for your service!

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