Education
NSW nursing and midwifery superstars recognised at HANMA Awards
The HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards are always a highlight in our industry’s calendar, and this year’s was no exception. We were thrilled and proud to see NSW’s Libby Pitman and Fiona Hodson recognised as finalists at this year’s Awards.
HESTA CEO Debby Blakey praised the exceptional work of all the finalists and acknowledged the work of nurses and midwives around the country.
“Our nurses and midwives are the backbone of our healthcare system, and it is essential that we recognise and celebrate their contributions. They are on the front line, providing care, comfort, and support to patients and their families, often in challenging and demanding circumstances,” Ms Blakey said.
Elizabeth Pitman – Midwife of the Year finalist
Hunter New England Local Health District
Inverell, NSW
Elizabeth (Libby) has dedicated her 30-year career to rural midwifery. She is currently the Inverell Maternity Unit and Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service Manager and an exceptional leader of Rural Midwifery Services.
Improving health outcomes of rural women, babies and their families is at the heart of Libby’s service to the community. She is a champion for change in the Inverell Maternity Unit; and is also an advocate for student and graduate in rural maternity units. This advocacy has led to the implementation of one of the first rural midwifery practice programs in the Hunter region for graduate midwives.
Libby has also led the way on many different quality improvement projects over the years for all Hunter New England Health staff and for the hard-working Graduate midwives.
Fiona Hodson – Nurse of the Year finalist
Hunter New England Local Health District
Newcastle, NSW
Fiona is recognised for her outstanding career as a leader and consumer advocate in pain management. She has worked in all aspects of pain service delivery including acute, chronic and cancer pain, education, strategic planning and research. She led the development of a web-based pain management toolkit to assist clinicians and consumers, with a wider team at the NSW Agency of Clinical Innovation pain management network.
Fiona was president of the Australian Pain Society and Chronic Pain Australia, whom she has volunteered with for 12 years. Her passion for advocating for people experiencing pain is evidenced by her ongoing clinical and consumer representation on national committees and working parties.
Over the past five years, Fiona has focused on specific vulnerable groups of pain patients, such as the elderly and women experiencing chronic pelvic pain. This has culminated in the development a new patient centred Pelvic Pain Model of Care with Dr Ksenia Katyk.
These national awards – now in their 17th year – acknowledge the outstanding contribution Australia’s nurses, midwives, nurse educators, researchers and personal care workers make to improving health outcomes.
Read more about the 2023 finalists and winners for Midwife of the Year, Nurse of the Year, and Outstanding Organisation.
This article is sponsored by HESTA.
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