Skip to Content

Nurses and midwives honoured for outstanding efforts.

Posted by Still Aware

Date posted:

Still Aware, Australia’s only stillbirth awareness organisation, are calling on the Australian public to help award a Nurse and Midwife of the Year. As a continued celebration of the 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the South Australian charity will recognise and thank health professionals when presenting the award this October.

The awards honour the outstanding efforts of nurses and midwives in the community. Any member of the public is invited to nominate an individual who is making a difference by providing exemplary care and supporting parents and families. This is a rare opportunity to show appreciation of our healthcare workers. Nominations are open until July 15th, when public voting will begin.

Providing midwifery care to regional families in Crystal Brook, South Australia, Ellissa Westdorp was nominated for her patience and kindness towards families including the ability to advocate for them, as well as her background work in keeping continuity and quality of care in the region.

“I have been a Midwife for 7 years, 6 of those have been here in Crystal Brook. I really love what I get to do and be a part of, and it's very rarely work for me,” says Ellissa.

“I am a huge advocate for continuity of care for all women, regardless of their ‘risk’. I believe all women need to be supported by a known midwife throughout their pregnancy and early parenting.”

Ms Westdorp joins a strong profile of men and women who are being recognised for their 

passion and hard work providing care to families. A profession that often goes unrecognised for the extraordinary efforts and achievements of individuals, Still Aware CEO and Founder Claire Foord is delighted to help share their stories and celebrate those who are integral to our healthcare.

“2020 has posed many challenges, so I cannot think of a more apt year for Year of the Nurse and Midwife and why we believe they deserve the limelight,” Foord says.

“Nurses and midwives are there front and centre supporting, caring and guiding patients and their families through some of the most life changing times that they may ever experience. They are faced with situations of great joy, experiences of hope, trials and challenges as well of circumstances of tremendous grief and agony. They are advisors, counsellors, experts and often seem like miracle workers.”

While often it’s the transformative change makers who hold the highest calibre of their professions that receive the recognition, Still Aware hope to validate those on the front line. Winners will be selected by community vote through the Still Aware Facebook page, and will be this year’s Nurse or Midwife of the Year at the Still Aware Garden Gala in October. 

Nominations can be made online at the Still Aware website, until July 31st: www.stillaware.org/stillawareaward.

Archive