North West Hospital and Health Service recognises Nurses and Midwives in annual celebration.

North West Hospital and Health Service (North West HHS) recently celebrated Nurses and Midwives day with a barbeque and awards ceremony to recognise the invaluable contributions of healthcare professionals in our community.

The event, held on May 8, not only recognised the collective dedication of nurses and midwives but also spotlighted exceptional individuals who exemplify extraordinary care and commitment.

As part of the celebration, 68 deserving nominees contested the 2024 North West HHS nurse and midwife of the year title.  

Midwifery Unit Manager, Julie Hurst, emerged as the distinguished Midwife of the Year, for her dedication to a multidisciplinary team approach for the best and safest healthcare for women and her commitment to staff and community needs.

Stephanie O’Brien, Director of Nursing at our Karumba facility, claimed Nurse of the Year title for her willingness to help guide and support staff, and her exceptional attention to education for staff and patients to provide the very best in holistic care.

Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Troy Lane, extends his gratitude to the team at North West HHS for their excellence in healthcare.

“The dedication and compassion demonstrated by our nurses and midwives is the cornerstone of our health system,” Mr Lane said.

“-Their unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care, particularly in the challenging environments of rural and remote healthcare, is truly commendable and deserving of celebration.

“North West HHS remains grateful for all the nurses and midwives for their dedication, compassion, and resilience, particularly in rural and remote healthcare settings. Their tireless efforts continue to shape and enrich the healthcare landscape, embodying the essence of excellence in care.

“Special recognition goes to the nursing and midwifery team whose enthusiasm and coordination were instrumental in organising this event.”

Midwife of the Year winner, Julie Hurst, has been with the North West HHS team since 2007 and has been an exceptional contributor to the team.

“I want to support the next generation of mums not just through birth but within my workplace, and with majority of maternity staff being women it’s so important they are receiving the support they need to achieve a work life balance.” Says Ms Hurst.

Nurse of the Year winner, Cloncurry born and raised Stephanie O’Brien, is an inspiration to any team.

“I love rural and remote work, you know who you’re caring for, you know who you’re making a difference for, it’s not just the patient that benefits from the care you’re also helping and connecting with the family.” Says Ms O’Brien.

Nurses and midwives play an indispensable role within North West HHS constituting almost 50 percent of the workforce.

The celebrations were made possible through the support of Coles, who generously donated catering for the occasion, and the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) for contributing a celebratory cake to the delight of all in attendance.

In a collaborative effort, James Cook University joined forces with North West HHS to present an Appreciation Award to the Maternity department, acknowledging their exemplary support to nursing students and underscoring the importance of nurturing future healthcare professionals.