Mid North Coast Cancer Institute Nurse Unit Manager Amelia Bolt is a finalist in the Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year category of the 2020 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards. Trauma Clinical Nurse Consultant Trish Lemin in Howard Springs in the Northern Territory as part of an AusMAT mission to bring 273 Australians home from Wuhan province in China.
Local Nursing and Midwifery Awards Finalists Announced
Aug 18, 2020Two nurses from the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) are among 24 statewide finalists nominated for the 2020 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
The finalists have been selected from nominations across seven categories which recognise nurses and midwives who have made a difference in clinical practice, management and leadership.
Mid North Coast Cancer Institute Nurse Unit Manager Amelia Bolt and Trauma Clinical Nurse Consultant Trish Lemin, both from Coffs Harbour, have been named finalists.
Amelia is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman who is passionate about the health of Aboriginal people and their equity of access to cancer services. She has been chosen as a finalist in the Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year category.
Driven by a desire to become a cancer care nurse since the age of 14, Amelia has become an advocate for Aboriginal people on their cancer journey and a role model for the provision of culturally-appropriate cancer care.
Trish was nominated in the Nurse of the Year category for her skills and professionalism as a nurse and trauma expert of almost 40 years.
As a member of two Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AusMAT) deployments this year, Trish helped to establish and run a field hospital on the NSW South Coast during the bushfires in January 2020 and was part of a mission in February to bring 273 Australians home from COVID-19 ground zero in Wuhan province in China.
MNCLHD Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Service Reform Vicki Simpson congratulated Trish and Amelia for being selected as finalists in the prestigious awards.
“Each of the finalists are exceptional in their roles and we are so thrilled to have two of our nurses recognised for their dedication and professionalism,” she said.
NSW Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Jacqui Cross said the awards recognise the contribution and dedication of nurses and midwives working in the NSW public health system, who this year have been facing the additional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These awards are an opportunity to honour nurses and midwives across NSW who go above and beyond and make a real difference not only within their teams but, most importantly, to the patients they care for,” Ms Cross said.
Each Local Health District and Specialty Network nominated their nurses and midwives in six award categories.
NSW community members were eligible to vote for the Healing Heart consumer award, the seventh category, which recognises nurses and midwives who deliver outstanding patient care and support for families and carers.
This year, in line with COVID-19 safety measures, the Awards ceremony will be virtual. Nurses, midwives, their families and the broader community will be able to watch the Award show, which will be streamed on November 26.
There are more than 53,000 nurses and midwives working in NSW Health hospitals and health services.
The NSW Government is investing $2.8 billion to recruit 8,300 extra frontline staff over the next three years, including an additional 5,000 more nurses and midwives.
For more information on the 2020 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards click here.