Almost 100 nurses and midwives were nominated across the 13 award categories celebrated at this week’s ACT Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.
Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Health, congratulated the award recipients and all the nominees on their exceptional efforts.
“These awards recognise the accomplishments of the nurses and midwives in all areas of the ACT health system – from public and private hospitals to community health centres and COVID response services,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“They also celebrate the impact nurses and midwives have on their patients’ health care experience. It is often when we are most vulnerable that we need the help of a health professional, and the value of having someone kind and skilled to care for you at the time cannot be overstated.
“Never before has this been more obvious than through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our nurses and midwives have gone above and beyond to support Canberrans and ensure the help they need is there when they need it.
“That’s why it was fantastic to launch a new award category this year enabling members of the community to acknowledge the outstanding care they received from a nurse or midwife.
“Canberrans are all extremely proud of the nurses and midwives in the ACT, and I thank them for their dedication.”
Winners of the 2022 Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards:
Nurse of the Year 2022 – Rebekah Ogilvie, COVID REACH Team, Canberra Health Services
In her role as a Registered Nurse Practitioner at Canberra Health Services, Rebekah Ogilvie oversaw the response to COVID-19 outbreaks in social housing; this evolved into a broader response to the needs of the residents and other vulnerable community members.
Rebekah Ogilvie advocated for the establishment of a specialised team to address the needs of the community and to assist in containing the spread of the disease through supported healthcare.
Throughout the process of providing this advanced and vital health care, Rebekah’s strong and inclusive style ensured that everyone on the team felt supported and encouraged.
Midwife of the Year 2022 – Melanee McMahon, Maternity, Calvary Bruce Private Hospital
As a senior, experienced, widely relied-upon midwife, Melanee McMahon goes above and beyond to give outstanding care to expectant mothers and their families, always placing her team members ahead of herself.
Despite her primary role of overseeing training for the Calvary Maternity Unit, Melanee McMahon has worked additional shifts, filled unexpected vacancies, and offered to assist colleagues in tough situations.
Team of the Year 2022 (2 winners):
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Education Team, Canberra Health Services – Known as “encouraging, supportive and kind” among the staff; implements education strategies to bring about positive change in health practise. Their “Players Player Award”, which promoted individual performance outcomes, and their “ICU Expansion” Project, which enhanced the traditional delivery of education, are two of the most lauded aspects of their work among colleagues and staff.
Workforce Capability Unit, Canberra Health Services (CHS) Workforce Capability (WC) nursing and midwifery education team – Have proven their commitment to education by being brave, highly adaptable, and progressive during the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. The team developed new, innovative ways to continue providing quality education throughout lockdowns and periods of restrictions, determined to continue enabling exceptional care for the Canberra community.
Excellence in COVID-19 Response (an additional award this year recognising the work across the health services in response to the pandemic and the high quality of nominations related to the COVID-19 response) – COVID-19 Care @ Home Program Team, Canberra Health Services
Excellence in Clinical Practice – Thimitra Panteleon, Intensive Care Unit, Canberra Health Services
Excellence in Educational Practice – Courtney Hayes, LDK Seniors Living
Excellence in Leadership Practice – Caroline Bouloukos, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Canberra Health Services
Excellence in Management Practice – Louise Murphy, Maternal and Child Health, Canberra Health Services
Excellence in Quality Improvement or Research Practice – Delilah Shelley, Haematology Cancer Unit, Canberra Health Services
Assistant in Nursing Recognition – Narelle King, St Andrew’s Village
Nursing Student Recognition – Janet (Rei) Edge, Canberra Institute of Technology
Midwifery Student Recognition – Bek Messner, University of Canberra
Consumer Recognition Awards
· Kaela Graham-Bowman – Emergency Department, Canberra Health Services
· Madeleine Charlton-Owen – Canberra Clinic, IVF Australia
· Neala Jocumsen – Intensive Care Unit, Canberra Health Services
· Immunology Nursing Team – Immunology Outpatient Clinic, Canberra Health Services
· Hospital in the Home – Canberra Health Services
· Renal Supportive Care unit – Canberra Health Services
For more information on winners visit health.act.gov.au/nmawards.
