Matilda are Finalists at the WA Innovator of the Year Awards! Celebrating Innovative Endometriosis Care
Last week, some of the small but mighty team from Matilda attended the prestigious Western Australia Innovator of the Year awards (WAIOTY). One of the nights of nights on the WA calendar, we were proud to fly the endometriosis care and women’s health flag whilst sharing the stage with a number of other wonderful innovators, from other health organisations, to mining companies, and more!
As part of the awards, we had a video produced about our world first digital prehab and rehab program for endometriosis surgery. All the finalisists had their video shared, and we’ve shared that with you all below.
Our message in the video is simple: endometriosis (and pelvic pain) surgery patients deserve better support. Many feel unprepared and alone heading into surgery. Our 8-week digital program (4 weeks prehab + 4 weeks rehab, with 12 months access) delivers expert guidance, exercises, mental wellbeing support, group coaching, and peer connection, so people can heal better, and clinicians can deliver better care.
“As someone who has had an endometriosis related surgery without access to this program, I felt very alone and unsupported, and I think this program would've completely changed my life” Said Alyssa in the video, one of our lived experience co-designers and community champions.
We’ve since felt privileged to have the opportunity to support over 250 people undergoing endometriosis related surgery from more than 50 gynaecologists all over the world (particularly Australia and New Zealand). And it’s been heartwarming to see the community support each other and receive some phenomenal feedback in our post-surgery program surveys:
“Matilda has helped me feel so much less alone in my endo surgery journey. It connected me to a community of experts and peers who have truly made all the difference. I feel empowered by the skills and knowledge I’ve received and now feel genuinely optimistic about my future.”
A Moment of Pride (and Gratitude)
Whilst we ultimately didn’t win the award (a well deserved congratulations to Michael Winlo and the team from Emyria), we feel proud of what we achieved. We had to write an acceptance speech regardless, so we’ve shared a little bit of Jo’s acceptance speech below:
“If you told me as a physiotherapist that when Kev and I met in a physiotherapy clinic eight years ago we would be standing here at the WAIOTY alongside these incredible nominees, I would’ve asked you what the WAIOTY awards were… some kind of mining thing?
As two clinicians who are now helping people with endometriosis and their surgeons around the world, we feel deeply proud of what we have and are achieving”
Some of the small but mighty Matilda Health team at the 2025 WA Innovators of the Year awards. Matilda was finalists in the Wesfarmers Wellbeing Category
We’d also like to acknowledge the village of people who have supported us along the way! (not an exhaustive list!)
Perth BioDesign (Richard Macliver and Oliver Bazzani) for encouraging us to dream bigger
Minister Stephen Dawson, DEED - The Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (formerly JTSI), and Lotterywest for early grant support
The FHRI Fund from the WA Department of Health for enabling us to build and validate our pre/post-surgery program
Mentors Derek & Kylie Gerrard and Adam Yap for honest, energising guidance
Maaike Doyer from Epic Angels (the worlds largest female only investment collective) for believing in us and leading the first Australian investment from her network
And of course our small but mighty Matilda team, for showing up with heart and advocating for our patients every day
But perhaps most importantly:
“To the women and people living with endometriosis: your stories are the reason we don’t stop when things get tricky. We see you. Recognition like this show that women’s health isn’t niche, it’s vital.” - Joanna Morris, Pelvic Health Physiotheraist, CEO, and Co-founder of Matilda Health
Why It Matters
Programs like Matilda are reshaping what it means to prepare for surgery, recover smoothly, and live well with endometriosis in the long term. We hope that the 1 in 7 women, girls, and people diagnosed with endometriosis have a different, more positive and supported journey because of Matilda.
We're beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to share our story on this stage, and more determined than ever to keep building something that makes recovery smoother, safer, and more supported.
💛 Thank you for believing in better.
