Released 10/05/2018
A clinical nurse consultant with the medical emergency team, a midwife from Calvary Public Hospital and a quality improvement clinical nursing team at the Canberra Hospital were the winners at this year’s ACT Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris congratulated the winners who were joined by a high calibre of nominees from both the private and public health care sectors in Canberra.
Nurse of the Year, Joanne Lindbeck is a clinical nurse consultant working in the Medical Emergency Team at the Canberra Hospital. As an advocate for patients, Joanne, is regarded for her kind and gentle approach with patients and their families distressed by a critical event.
Midwife of the Year, Amelia Druhan is a registered midwife at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce. Ameliasuccessfully established an antenatal parent education clinic for women with diverse cultural and linguistic needs and vulnerabilities to improve their birthing and transition to parenthood experiences.
Team of the Year was awarded to the Quality Improvement & Research Nursing Team from the Canberra Hospital for their excellence in Quality Improvement and/or Research Practice. The nursing team has led the development of an innovative education model to support and empower staff contribution to quality improvement and clinical research projects across the Neonatal Intensive and Special Care Units.
“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of our health services and care for patients day and night, helping people in their time of need, whether that be in a crisis or a momentous event like childbirth,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“These awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work our nurses and midwives do, and with International Nurses Day this Saturday 12 May, I would like to thank Canberra’s nurses and midwives for the important work they do. Our health system would not work without them.
“Our nursing and midwifery workforce increased by 3 per cent last year, compared to 2.3 per cent for the whole of Australia. This means we are keeping pace with the increasing demands of our growing and ageing population.
“The graduate midwifery program recruited 15 new staff in 2018, which was a 50 per cent increase from the 2017 intake, and we are bringing new senior nurses on-board with 13 new nursing clinical coordinator positions filled at the Canberra Hospital in the last 12 months.
“Nursing coordinators are responsible for maintaining patient journey and care plans and have input on admissions and discharges. This is all about supporting continuity of care as patients move through our healthcare facilities.
“The ACT Government has also been building the capability of Canberra’s nursing and midwifery workforce through a dedicated scholarship initiative since the year 2000. The program has supported 200 nurses and midwives annually to undertaken postgraduate study.
“The scholarships encourage the ongoing professional development of nurses and midwives to help ensure the community is served by an educated and highly skilled health workforce.
“We are privileged to have an excellent nursing and midwifery sector in the ACT who play a critical role keeping Canberrans healthy and well,” Minister Fitzharris said.
To arrange an interview with the winners please contact:
ACT Health Media on 0403 344 080 or at healthmedia@act.gov.au.
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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