Winners of the 2020 HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards were last night announced as part of the highly anticipated annual celebration of leadership and professional excellence to improve patient outcomes.
Monash Health nurse Tania Green has been crowned 2020 Nurse of the Year for her championing of patients with cleft and craniofacial conditions. Queenslander and Griffith University alumna Cassandra Nest received the prestigious Midwife of the Year award for her work to improve culturally safe maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the Gold Coast.
Ovarian Cancer Australia was awarded Outstanding Organisation for its support for women affected by cancer.
HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said this year’s winners, who were announced via video broadcast due to COVID-19 restrictions, all exemplified the reasons why 2020 was named International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
“Our 2020 winners have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in their respective fields, and I am humbled by their hard work and dedication to delivering quality healthcare,” Ms Blakey said.
“The sector has faced unprecedented challenges this year – first with devastating bushfires and storms, and now with the coronavirus outbreak – and never has the critical role health workers play in caring for Australians been more apparent.
“HESTA is proud of our longstanding, trusted partnership with the health services sector and we are privileged to play a part in recognising the incredible contribution nurses and midwives make across Australia.”
The three winners will each receive $10,000 to be put towards further education or professional development.
