Winners of the 2009 Nursing and Midwifery Awards!

Cathy Hammonds
NT Hearing Services Katherine

As detailed below under the Community Health Care Category, Cathy is a “champion” for hearing health services and an advocate for promoting early identification and intervention for ear disease and hearing loss. She has been a sole practitioner providing services to urban and remote clients in the Katherine Region. Cathy’s steady professional relationships have maintained the hearing service in Katherine. Cathy had lived and worked in the Katherine Region for over 20 years and has a strong commitment to the community of Katherine.

Acute Care

Jenny Phillips
Acute Pain Service Royal Darwin Hospital

Jenny captures the spirit and determination of nurses in the hospital environment. Jenny provides outstanding care within her practice setting, which extends beyond the acute care boundaries. Jenny's commitment to quality ensures achievement of optimal outcomes for patient care and management. Her ongoing dedication and expertise highlight her great determination and commitment to the profession in the area of pain management. She is an outstanding nurse who is held in high regard by the Doctors and Nurses at RDH and other members of the multi disciplinary team.

Jenny is currently employed as the Clinical Nurse Consultant for the Acute Pain Service at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Aged Care

Marysia Kalcher
Terrace Gardens Frontier Services

Marysia has been a nurse in the Territory for 40 years and has been employed at Terrace Gardens for over 16 years and is well respected for her longstanding dedication to nursing, particular in aged care. Marysia’s courage and leadership in instigating innovative improvements in service that has improved the safety and quality of care for the elderly makes her an outstanding nurse.

Community Health Care

Cathy Hammonds
NT Hearing Services Katherine

Cathy is recognised by her nursing colleagues, health professionals and the general community for her commitment to hearing health. Cathy has worked in Katherine for 20 years and has a strong sense of community and is well known for her “hearing service”. She liaises extensively with departmental agencies and non government organisations despite a sometimes frequent turnover of staff, and more recently with the Australian Government Intervention team in the Ear Nose and Throat and hearing areas. Cathy provides hearing screening and health promotion education to various members of the health care team in all locations within the Katherine region.

Enrolled Nurse

Jonty Godwin
Paediatric Unit Alice Springs Hospital

Jonty has work as am Enrolled Nurse for 19 years and for the last 9 years has been employed in the paediatric unit at Alice Springs Hospital. Jonty is viewed as a professional role model and advocate for her little patients and their families. Jonty has exceptional nursing skills and shares her knowledge and skills freely. It is Jonty’s interactions with her patients, their carers and the staff she works with that make her aspiration to her peers.

Enrolled Nurse (Graduate)

Bronwyn Chesworth
Royal Darwin Hospital

Bronwyn from day one of her new graduate program showed great enthusiasm for all that was ahead of her. Bronwyn has a caring and professional disposition that never falters, even when under great pressure and her bubbly personality is commented on by her peers. Bronwyn is noted for her ability to deliver culturally appropriate care and goes out of her way to give comfort to carers and their family members. It is Bronwyn’s deliver of holistic, patient centred care that makes her a standout. Brownyn is currently employed at Royal Darwin Hospital.

General Practice

Susan Mark
Wurli Wurlinjang Katherine

Sue came to Katherine in 2001 for a six week contract and has never left. For the past two and half years Sue has been employed as chronic disease Coordinator at Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service and has established this program. Sue loves working in Aboriginal primary health care in the Northern Territory because the opportunities are only limited by your willingness to learn, to be innovative and your readiness to do exciting things.

Living Legend

Patricia Magee
Jabiru Health Centre Top End Remote Services

Since commencing her NT nursing career in 1970, Patricia has nursed in the old Darwin hospital, the current hospital – RDH, specialised in orthopaedics and midwifery, education of student nurses through the Northern Territory University and worked as a remote area nurse midwife at nearly all the remote clinics in the Top End. Patricia has been working as a Remote Area Nurse since 2002 and is currently working at Jabiru Health Centre.

Mental Health

Amanda Worrall
Community Health Team Central Australia Mental Health Service

Amanda has worked in Alice Springs in this area for the last two years and this is her fourth return trip to work in this unit. Amanda’s nursing practice emphasises the significant involvement of carers in the immediate and ongoing care of her mental health clients. Amanda is an exemplary role model in this area of nursing.

Midwifery

Jane Holland
Jabiru Ward Darwin Private Hospital

Jane has been a midwife in the NT since the 1980s. Jane’s skill as a mentor of midwives has earned her great praise. Jane has held many midwifery roles in the NT and now that she has “retired” she has returned to clinical midwifery. Jane is quoted as saying” the day you think you’ve stopped learning in Midwifery is your day to move on”. This demonstrates Jane’s continued freshness to the profession despite her long service, which is of great benefit to both colleagues and clients alike. Jane is praised for her assessment skills in both normal and emergency situations.

Registered Nurse and Enrolled (Graduate)

Jessica Myram
Jabiru Health Centre Top End Remote Services

Jessica undertook her Bachelor of Nursing with a plan to be a remote area nurse and completed her graduate year at Alice Springs Hospital. Jessica impressed all who worked with her, with her motivation and commitment to a high standard of nursing care. Jessica demonstrated sensitivity and respect for cultural issues through out her graduate year. Jessica has been successful in her plan to become a remote area nurse as she has been selected in the first and second year graduate program for remote health. Jessica is currently working at the Jabriu Health Clinic.

Remote Health
(2 winners)

Amanda Harneiss
Gunyangara Miwatj

Amanda decided to become a remote area nurse four years after practising in Victoria. Amanda has practised outstanding care within the remote communities and is seen as an exemplary example to other remote area nurses of how the job can be done. Amanda has a passion for health prevention and promotion and for the indigenous population and goes well beyond the call of duty to make sure that everyone receives the care they deserve. Amanda believes in leading by example and a strong belief in sharing skills and knowledge. Amanda currently works with the Miwatj Health Centre Gunyangara 10 kilometres from Nhulunbuy.

Vivienne Latham
Wadeye Remote Health Centre

Vivienne provides outstanding care and is known for going that extra mile. Vivienne is recognised as a patient advocate and a professional role model who has a commitment to safety and quality. Vivienne has contributed her enthusiasm, reliability, adaptability to her work and has worked tirelessly in partnership with local women of Wadeye in building capacity by raising awareness to women’s health issues in a culturally sensitive and respectful way.