Awarding Victoria’s best nurses and midwives

Victoria's best nurses and midwives have been honoured at the annual State Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

Now in its eighth year, the awards recognise and publicly acknowledge the outstanding work of nurses and midwives in the public health and aged care system.

The awards honour innovative and exceptional individuals who have made a significant contribution to the health outcomes of the Victorian community through their professional practice.

The 2010 Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award winners are:

Excellence in nursing practice (Metropolitan): Diana Hayes, Clinical Nurse Consultant/ Stomal Therapy, Western Health. Diana was honoured for changing the clinical practice of management of patients with Ileostomies in Western Health.

Excellence in nursing practice (Rural): Susan Reid, Primary Health Care nurse and women’s health practice nurse, Tallangatta Health Services. Susan has established, co-ordinated and implemented women’s health clinics in Tallangatta, Mitta Mitta and Bellbridge.

Improving outcomes for Indigenous Clients: Olga Davies, Manager, Transitions Clinic, Mercy Hospital for Women. Olga provides care for young mothers, chemically-dependent mothers and koori mothers and coordinates all aspects of the clinic. She has worked tirelessly to provide increased education in post-natal wards and emergency.

Excellence in aged care nursing: Jennifer Robinson, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Melbourne Health, North Western Mental Health Aged Service. Jennifer’s has helped develop high-quality palliative and end of life care for people in residential care services.

Division 2 nursing: Julie Lemieux, Clinical Nurse Educator, Melbourne Health, North Western Mental Health Aged Service. Julie is honoured as being a champion and a leader in engaging enrolled nurses and encouraging further education.

Mental health, drug and alcohol nursing: Hooi-Seng Tan, Clinical Nurse specialist, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit at Austin Health. Hooi-Seng provides a valuable set of skills in the eating disorder program and is known to deliver care in a consistently professional, skilful and therapeutic manner.

Excellence in midwifery practice: Vicki Broad, Midwifery Manager, Robinvale District Health Services. Vicki has developed and implemented a Midwifery program encompassing antenatal and post-natal care in the Robinvale district. She established the shared care arrangements with the regional hospital, enabling pregnant women in the district to access local appropriate pregnancy and after-birth care to reduce the impact of isolation for mothers and babies.

Enhancing the working lives of nurses and midwives: Ashley Wheeler, Nurse Unit Manager, Gardenview House, Melbourne Health. Through effective leadership, Ashley has been able to develop and raise the expectations of staff and develop a culture of respect, teamwork, professionalism and enthusiasm to deliver the high standard of care to residents and fellow staff members.

The Jen Rusden Memorial Award: Margaret Stowers, Cancer Coordinator Manager at Barwon Health. Margaret is credited with developing a new nursing model of cancer coordination that supports patients, families and clinicians in rural Victoria.

Award recipients received a scholarship of up to $10,000 to allow them to share their best practice with others or to develop their initiative further. The Jen Rusden Memorial Award has a scholarship of $2,000.

Congratulations to all award nominees and winners.

More information

Further information about nursing can be found on the Nursing in Victoria website.