To share their appreciation for outstanding local nurses and midwives, Canberrans can nominate them for the 2024 ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards.
The consumer recognition award, first presented in 2022, is an opportunity for patients, health consumers, carers, and their families to recognise the positive and long-lasting impact of a nurse, midwife or team in the past year, health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
A nurse, midwife or team working in an ACT-based public or private hospital, aged care facility, general practice or health service can be nominated.
Ms Stephen-Smith said many community members have jumped at the chance to recognise their nurse or midwife in previous years.
“In the ACT, we are fortunate to have so many experienced and professional nurses and midwives who provide excellent care to our community,” the minister said. “From maternity to palliative care, and everything in between, all Canberrans will know a nurse or midwife who has had a significant impact on their life or that of a loved one.
“These awards give the public a chance to say thank you to an outstanding nurse, midwife or team that made a difference in their care.
“I encourage anyone who has had a positive experience this year to send in a nomination to recognise what that experience meant for them, their family or someone they care about.”
The ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards are presented annually during Nurses and Midwives Week (5–12 May).
Seven consumer recognition awards were presented at the 2023 ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards:
- Kristen Franks – Mental Health Centre, Canberra Health Services
- Monica Gagel – Canberra Region Cancer Centre, Canberra Health Services
- Kathleen Cook – Gungahlin Walk-in Centre, Canberra Health Services
- Curtin Ward Nursing Staff – Calvary John James Hospital
- Ward 14A Nurses – Haematology, Canberra Health Services
- Alice Cotter – Maternity, Canberra Health Services
- Jo Borrman – Maternity, Canberra Health Services.
“The best thing about winning the consumer recognition award was acknowledging the partnership and the contribution of the Good Omen Goodeze volunteers that share our organisation mission statement to create exceptional care together,” Kathleen Cook said.
“The Good Omen volunteers donate comfort care items to enhance the patient experience across Canberra Health Services, and most recently supported a Gungahlin Walk-In Centre quality improvement Project I led. Consumer feedback and project results indicate that gifts have a therapeutic impact on patient wellbeing and enhance their healthcare experience.
“I was thrilled to receive this award that acknowledged the positive partnerships between health staff, the Canberra Hospital Foundation, and volunteers that together contribute to create exceptional patient care.”
The consumer recognition recipients will be announced alongside the peer-nominated Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards categories: clinical practice, educational practice, leadership practice, management practice, and quality improvement or research practice.
How to nominate
- Nominations can be made by members of the public via the website of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at www.health.act.gov.au//NMawards
- Each nomination must provide the name of the nurse, midwife or team, where they work and the contact details of their workplace.
- Members of the public are invited to say what, how and when the nurse, midwife or team demonstrated exemplary, safe, quality, and compassionate care, and why they deserve a recognition.
- Nominations will close on 25 February 2024.
