Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2024

The second annual Epworth Nurses & Midwifery Awards was held at a special event, with 400 staff gathering to recognise and celebrate the vital role our nurses and midwives provide to our patients.

Across six award categories, 32 deserving finalists were acknowledged for their amazing contributions and dedicated patient care.

Adjunct Professor Kate Gillan, Executive Director Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer, noted that nurses and midwives are the backbone of our healthcare system.

“They contribute clinical expertise and leadership to our organisation. Nurses and midwives are integral to the high quality care provided at Epworth,” Kate said.

Congratulations to Sheila Salonga, Critical Care Services Manager at Epworth Richmond, who was awarded the overall award for nursing and midwifery.

Susan Harris Medal for Distinguished Nursing and Midwifery
Recipient: Sheila Salonga, Critical Care Services Manager, Epworth Richmond

Sheila is an extraordinary leader, demonstrating positivity and passion in her work every day. Her support of her team allows them to take risks in driving change and creating opportunities for growth within the ICU and Emergency department. As a leader, she has a positive influence on all the staff in both departments, ensuring positive outcomes for patients and staff through her shining example.

Finalists: Sheila is pictured below with the other finalists for this year's award: Lisa Smith, Olivia Sherwood and Tracey Williams. Also pictured are Chief Nurse Kate Gillan (far left) and donor Susan Harris AM (centre, to left of Sheila).

Congratulations to all our finalists and award recipients:

Jreissati Family Award for Excellence in Leadership
Recipient: Megan Lee, Nurse Unit Manager 1 East, Epworth Freemasons

Megan consistently demonstrates strong leadership of her team by empowering and developing her staff to provide excellent post operative care of patients on a high acuity, high turnover ward. She seeks learning and development opportunities for staff and advocates for their development and carer progression with many of her Enrolled Nurses going on to study to become registered nurses and remain on the ward and continue their careers.

Finalists: Megan is pictured below with the other finalists for this year's award: Stephanie Fan, Minimol Sebastian, Tiffany Slejko and Yash Korale. Also pictured are Geelong DCS Sally Morison (far left) and donors Colleen Jreissati and Elias Jreissati AM KJGC (far right).

Cathi and Ken Biddick Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice
Recipient: Felicity Petricola, Urological and Continence Nursing Clinical Nurse Consultant, Epworth Eastern

Felicity is an extraordinary person and clinician. She is highly skilled, extremely knowledgeable and a compassionate team player who consistently displays and promotes the highest clinical standards. She effectively demonstrates the true meaning of patient centred care, displaying key values in each and every interaction. She is a real example of Epworth Excellence.

Finalists: Felicity is pictured below with the other finalists for this year's award: Nicky Kadivar, Kat Ives & Tatum Full, Angela Ardi, Emily Chapple and Ray Resurreccion. Also pictured are Eastern DCS Lisa Edwards (far right) and donors Cathi Biddick AM and Ken Biddick (centre).

Medownick Award for Excellence in Educational Practice
Recipient: Jessica Hamer, Acting Education Manager, Epworth Richmond

Jess is an extremely dedicated educator and clinician and goes above and beyond every day to ensure she is supporting her staff to question their practice and reflect, providing opportunity for continual growth and development and enabling excellence in care delivery. Jess is extremely passionate about education and developing our workforce not only in ICU, though across the organisation.

Finalists: Jess is pictured below with the other finalists for this year's award: Katie Collier on behalf of the Rehabilitation Education Team, Sarah Smail on behalf of the Undergraduate Clinical Facilitator Team, Tim O'Shannessy and Meghan Vaughan. Also pictured are Group Director Clinical Education and Dean Nursing Academy, Nicole Argall (far left) and donors Dr Alla and Dr Mark Medownick (centre).

Janet and Mark Schapper Award for Excellence in Person-Centred Care
Recipient: Jane O'Connell, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Epworth Rehabilitation & Mental Health

Jane embodies the concept of patient-centred care. It drives both her leadership with staff and her interactions with patients and their families / carers. She demonstrates understanding and respect as well as patience and kindness. Through her work as manager of the Rehabilitation Assessment team and now in her role as ADCS, Jane has never lost sight of why we are all in healthcare: for the patients.

Finalists: Jane is pictured below with the other finalists for this year's award: Kelly Barber and Christine Kemp. (Myra Rabago and Bronwyn McParland were unable to attend so they were represented by their managers Denise Gannon and Natasha Ciampoli).

Also pictured are Freemasons DCS Scott Norman (far left) and representing donors Jan and Mark Schapper, Executive Director Epworth Medical Foundation Scott Bulger (far right).

Paton Family Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement or Research Practice
Recipient: Suzie Noye, Clinical Educator, Epworth Geelong

Through Suzie’s work as inpatient educator she recognised a need within the ward environment to improve recognition and response to the deteriorating patient among nurses. Suzie has spent the last 12 months (and more) developing and implementing an eLearn, BLS learning and face to face simulation program, to build confidence and skills for our nurses.

Finalists: Suzie is pictured below with the other finalists for this year's award: Fran Cotching, Cj Le Veille, Dev Prasad and Erin Lin.

Also pictured are Rehabilitation and Mental Health DCS Suzie Hooper (far right) and representing donors the Paton Family, EMF staff members Vanessa Dannock and Annie Chester (far left).