HESTA reveals 2020 Nursing & Midwifery Awards finalists

HESTA has announced 10 finalists for the 2020 HESTA Nursing & Midwifery Awards. The event highlights the exceptional leadership and work taking place in the healthcare sector, across the award categories of Nurse of the Year, Midwife of the Year and Outstanding Organisation.

The finalists were revealed as HESTA also announced changes to the planned May awards ceremony, which will be presented via video due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said the organisation is working on a way to recognise the achievements of Australia’s nurses and midwives in the safest way possible.

“We want to celebrate the incredible work our nurses and midwives are doing in the safest and most respectful way possible,” Blakey said.

“The unprecedented events of this year — first with bushfires and now with coronavirus — have only demonstrated how incredibly important these professions are in protecting our communities and providing outstanding care to all Australians.

“This year’s finalists have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment to improving patient care in Australia, and we are honoured to continue putting a spotlight on their contributions and achievements through these awards.”

Long-time awards sponsor ME Bank has contributed the generous $30,000 prize pool, $10,000 of which will be awarded to each of the three winners to further education or team development.

ME CEO Jamie McPhee said the bank, which has supported the awards since 2007, was proud to continue recognising the phenomenal work being done in the sector.

“Each year ME is proud to support and be witness to the countless waves of nurses and midwives who display exceptional leadership and pave the way for further innovations in their respective fields,” McPhee said.

“The finalists in this year’s Nursing and Midwifery Awards hail from all around the country and underline the incredible commitment nurses and midwives have towards improving the wellbeing of everyday Australians. We’re extremely proud to be the longstanding awards sponsor.”

2020 finalists

Nurse of the Year

Kate Weger, Southern Cross Care (SA, NT and VIC) Inc
Glenside SA

Recognised for her work to deliver better wound prevention and care through the creation of the Wound Champions program at Southern Cross Care that’s improving the lives of older people.

Rafael Serrano, Real Royal Children’s Hospital
Parkville VIC

Recognised for his work as Australia’s leading paediatric oncofertility coordinator to improve fertility care for families of children undergoing cancer treatment.

Tania Green, Plastic Surgery Unit, Monash Health
Clayton VIC

Recognised for her work as a clinical nurse coordinator improving treatment and care for patients with cleft and craniofacial conditions and support for their families.

Angela Casey, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
Westmead and Randwick, NSW

Recognised for her exceptional leadership, advocacy and fundraising to improve the delivery of quality neonatal care for sick newborn children and support for their families.

Midwife of the Year

Kristy Wiegele, St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital
Mount Lawley WA

Recognised for her work with cuddle cots, a program aimed at improving care and support for grieving parents who have experienced pregnancy loss.

Dawn Reid, Lockyer Valley Midwifery
Gatton QLD

Recognised for her work providing quality antenatal care and other specialty health services to families in rural Queensland.

Cassandra Nest, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service and Griffith University
Southport QLD

Recognised for her dedication to improving the delivery of culturally safe, quality maternity care to more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the Gold Coast, particularly through the implementation of the Waijungbah Jarjums Service.

Outstanding Organisation

Lavender Mother and Baby Unit, Gold Coast Health
Southport QLD

Gold Coast Health was recognised for improving maternal mental health care and support for new mothers and their babies through the innovative Lavender Mother and Baby Unit.

Northcott
North Parramatta NSW

Recognised for developing a program to improve the autonomy, choice and control of people with disability and, ultimately, their quality of life.

Ovarian Cancer Australia
Melbourne VIC

Recognised for research, advocacy and support for women affected by ovarian cancer to improve prevalence and survival rates. This includes securing a $20 million boost for ovarian cancer research and the development of a National Action Plan to coordinate research efforts.

Award winners will be announced on Wednesday, 6 May 2020.

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