Anita Johnson's passion for community leads to Geraldton Nurse of the Year honour

In Geraldton, one nurse’s dedication and passion has left a lasting impact on her clients, families and her peers.

This year, the Nurse of the Year award for Geraldton Health Campus was given to Anita Johnson - a caregiver whose passion, humility and long-standing service to local families is helping shape her community’s future.

The honour came as a shock to the Clinical Nurse working in the Community Health Team.

“I like to do good, quietly. So, it was a great surprise—and a very humbling one.”

The award, nominated by peers and colleagues, recognises not just clinical excellence, but a consistent and meaningful contribution to healthcare in the Midwest.

For over a decade, Anita has supported families through the highs and lows of early parenthood—performing developmental health checks, running early parenting groups, and offering vital lactation, feeding and sleep support.

“It’s beautiful work,” she said.

“Meeting people where they’re at, helping them feel confident in their parenting—it’s such a valuable space.”

Her journey into community nursing followed an early career pathway in emergency departments, and a major life shift - becoming a mum herself.

“I was working in ED before I moved into child and family health. When I had my babies, it really changed my whole perspective,” she reflected.

“It just made sense to support families the way I wanted to be supported.”

Originally from rural New South Wales, it was a road trip around Australia which ultimately led Anita and her family west.

What started as a one-year exploration became something more permanent after they discovered Geraldton—a place she describes as the farmlands by the sea.

“We just fell in love with WA,” she said.

“Geraldton has this amazing mix.

“It’s well-resourced, it’s beautiful, it’s got a strong sense of community, and it’s a great place to raise a family. The pace of life here is what we were looking for.”

That connection to community runs deep in her work, too.

As a child and family health nurse, she’s often supporting second or third children in a family, watching young parents grow in confidence—and watching their children grow alongside them.

“You really get to know the families. You see little brothers and sisters coming through. It’s a privilege to be part of that journey.”

Anita did not hesitate to encourage anyone considering a nursing career in regional WA to pursue it.

“There’s so much flexibility in nursing—you can shape your career however you like. But if you’ve got that pull toward the regions, you’ll find so much opportunity here,” she said.

“The Geraldton team is supportive and open to professional growth and development. We’ve got a fantastic management team who really back us, and there’s always demand in child and family health.