17 May 2024
A nurse and midwife from Victoria and a New South Wales-based organisation were crowned winners at the prestigious HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards in Melbourne last night.
Nurse of the Year Cathy Halmarick from Peninsula Health was recognised for helping establish the Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub in Southeastern Victoria, ensuring access to sexual health services for the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Midwife of the Year Skye Stewart from Red Nose Australia was recognised for creating the nation’s first stillbirth support guide for Aboriginal families, having seen the unacceptable gap in stillbirth rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the impact on communities.
The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia was recognised as the Organisation of the Year for improving access to primary healthcare services in remote and Aboriginal communities. In addition to providing local access to health care, the organisation established the Dhirri-li Education for Work Centre to train Aboriginal people for entry-level roles in the health and social care system.
HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said the awards celebrated the outstanding contribution of nurses and midwives in Australia and were an important reminder of their critical work and impact on communities.
“Congratulations to our inspiring winners and finalists. I am so proud of their exceptional contributions, care and compassion shown to those they help daily,” Ms Blakey said.
“We had hundreds of outstanding nominations for the Nursing & Midwifery Awards this year. It’s fantastic to highlight the sheer dedication and high calibre of work taken on by nursing and midwifery professionals around Australia.”
BOQ Group Executive of Retail Banking, Greg Boyle congratulated the winners and finalists on behalf of ME Bank.
“A big congratulations to these truly exceptional nurses, midwives, and personal care workers. Your exceptional efforts supporting those who need you deserve to be celebrated. On behalf of ME, thank you for your dedication, passion, and tireless work,” Mr Boyle said.
The winners will equally share a prize pool of $30,000, courtesy of longstanding awards supporter ME, to be used for professional development or to improve services or processes.
The widely recognised awards - now in their 18th year - acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Australia’s nurses, midwives, nurse educators, researchers, and personal care workers’ dedication to improving health outcomes.
For more information about the awards, visit hestaawards.com.au
INTRODUCING THE 2024 HESTA AUSTRALIAN NURSING & MIDWIFERY AWARD WINNERS:
NURSE OF THE YEAR:
Cathy Halmarick
Peninsula Health
Frankston, VIC
Cathy is recognised for her work over 25 years as a nurse and midwife. She helped establish the Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub in Southeastern Victoria, which ensured access to sexual health services for the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
When she identified that many women were finding the intra-uterine device (IUD) process painful, she initiated the use of a ‘green whistle’ (methoxyflurane inhaler) to reduce women’s pain experience with excellent results.
“Being recognised in the 2024 HESTA Nursing and Midwifery Awards has been a lovely surprise. I appreciate the acknowledgement and support from my colleagues and organisation,” Ms Halmarick said.
“Sexual and reproductive health is an area of an individual’s health that is often overlooked for various reasons, including time and financial constraints, lack of knowledge, and clinic availability.
“Our service aims to guarantee that women from diverse backgrounds and age groups have choices regarding their sexual health. The service provides adequate time for consultations and after-hours clinics to help mitigate barriers.”
Cathy plans to use the prize money for further study, focusing on pain management for people undergoing gynaecological procedures in the outpatient setting. The team will also use the money to purchase an ultrasound machine.
MIDWIFE OF THE YEAR:
Skye Stewart
Red Nose Australia
Woomelang, VIC
Skye is recognised for creating the nation's first stillbirth support guide (Jiba Pepeny: Star Baby) for Aboriginal families, having seen the unacceptable gap in stillbirth rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the impact it left on communities.
Skye travelled more than 32,000 kilometres over 20 months to communities across the country to ensure the stillbirth guide was as relevant as possible to the lived experience of Aboriginal families.
“My cultural role and responsibility as an Aboriginal midwife is to do what I can to ensure that Aboriginal mothers and their babies stay safe, alive, well, and together,” Ms Stewart said.
“To be recognised with this award means I’ve paid attention to where it matters, and I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. The award is a privilege, and I feel incredibly honoured and humbled.
“My work is rewarding because it supports families experiencing vulnerability at an acutely distressing time. One of the most rewarding things ever said to me was during the making of Jiba Pepeny: Star Baby.
“A mum told me: ‘You have to make this, Skye. No one is doing it for us. Take our voices and put them where people can listen so you can support our families.’”
Skye plans to use the prize money to print a children’s book and a suite of resources for families, siblings, and children affected by stillbirth, another first of its kind, supporting Aboriginal children at this difficult time.
OUTSTANDING ORGANISATION:
The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia
Collarenebri, NSW
The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia is recognised for improving access to primary healthcare services in remote and Aboriginal communities.
In addition to providing local access to health care, it has established the Dhirri-li Education for Work Centre. The Centre trains Aboriginal people for entry-level roles in the health and social care system, addressing a lack of employment opportunities and social determinants of health.
Cassie Talbot, Registered Nurse and Manager of Healthy Minds, Healthy Communities, and The National Rural & Remote Suicide Prevention Program, said it was an incredible honour to be recognised in the 2024 HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards.
“Winning such an award acknowledges our team's hard work. It's an amazing recognition of our nursing team's dedication, skills, and contributions to rural healthcare,” Ms Talbot said.
“They're a nursing team I am proud to nurse alongside. This recognition highlights the critical roles that nurses and midwives play in society, especially in our rural and remote communities.
“What I find most rewarding about our Foundation and team’s work is our positive impact on people's lives in some of the most disadvantaged communities.
“Whether providing essential healthcare services, supporting communities in need, or advancing medical research and innovation, knowing that we're making a difference brings immense satisfaction. Seeing patients recover, families supported, and communities thrive is truly fulfilling and motivates me to continue our mission.”
The team plans to use the prize money to support their nursing team, ensuring staff are well-trained and well-resourced to increase their ability to support rural and remote communities in NSW.
Ends.
About HESTA
HESTA is one of the largest superannuation funds dedicated to Australia’s health and community services sector. An industry fund that’s run only to benefit members, HESTA now has more than one million members (around 80% of whom are women) and currently manages approximately $83 billion* in assets invested around the world.
*Information is current as at the date of issue.
