26 January 2008
NurseCentral wishes to congratulate and highlight the work of the following nurses honoured in the 2008 Australia Day Awards.
The following details the biographies of the recipients:
Katherine NT 0850
For service to nursing, particularly through the delivery of health care services in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory, and to the training and support of Indigenous health workers.
Registered Nurse, Darwin, 1965-199; also undertook additional training in midwifery, maternal and child health, diagnosis and care of leprosy sufferers, and has a Diploma in Tropical Diseases from the University Hospital in London.
Public Health Nurse, Communicable Diseases Centre, Katherine, 1997-1999.
Sister-in-Charge, Katherine region, Aerial Medical Service, 1981-1997.
Resident Rural Health Nurse, Borroloola, 1974-1981; the role of rural health nurse was often conducted in isolation, particularly during the wet season; the nurses also provided training and support to Indigenous health workers.
Survey Sister, North Eastern Region, 1967-1970; the Survey Sisters operated as a mobile health service; Mrs Carnegie-Smith’s area of responsible spanned from Darwin to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Rural Health Nurse, mass treatment of infectious Typhoid Fever, Elcho Island, 1967.
Sister-in-Charge, 60 bed rural hospital, Zambia, 1971-1973.
North Rocks NSW 2151
For service to nursing as an educator and administrator, particularly in relation to the transition of nurse education from hospitals to the tertiary sector in New South Wales.
Inaugural Director of Nursing, Blacktown District Hospital, 1964-1990; responsible for the Administration and Management of all Nursing Services.
Responsible for the introduction of:
Approached Hawkesbury Agricultural College (now part of the University of Western Sydney) to modernise nursing education in preparation for it to become a university discipline.
Foundation Member, Hawkesbury Board of Nursing, which was established in 1982; in 1984 the NSW Government approved the transfer of all nursing education to the tertiary sector, and Hawkesbury College became a university in 1985.
Council Member (ministerial appointment), Hawkesbury Agricultural College, 1983-1992; Deputy Chairperson, Staff Affairs Committee, 1984-1989; Member, Education Committee, 1984 and 1987-1989.
Council Member, Interim Council for the foundation of the University of Western Sydney.
Contributed to the establishment of the degree of Bachelor of Nursing at universities throughout NSW.
Nursing's Representative (NSW Government apppointee), NSW Health Commission Hospital Linen Committee established to standardise the use of linen in public hospitals; awarded grant to study hospital linen services in overseas countries and to examine their general and tertiary education systems for nursing, late 1970s.
Member, Nurses Education Board.
Council Member, Institute of Nursing Administrators of NSW and ACT, 1960-1964.
Contributed to setting up a Group Midwifery School in Western Sydney.
Aided the NSW Nurses Association to conduct a work study at Blacktown Hospital to support its claim for better wages in the mid 1980s; the study led to nurses' wages being brought into line with other health professionals.
Member, initial Advisory Board of Management, Blacktown College of TAFE, 1990; worked with the then Mayor of Blacktown, John Aquilina, to purchase property to extend the TAFE College.
Worked for recognition of the importance of apprenticeships.
Fundraiser for numerous organisations.
Awards/recognition include:
Mooloolah Valley Qld 4553
For service to international relations, particularly through humanitarian aid programs of the Australian Red Cross and other international organisations.
Humanitarian Professional, since 1990.
Has experienced various hospital-based and field management placements with the Australian Red Cross and other international organisations, including the following:
Acting Director of Nursing, Maleny Hospital, Sunshine Coast Health Service District, Queensland Health, for 3 months to July 2007.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Caloundra Hospital, between overseas placements.
Project Officer, Pandemic Emergency Response Planning, Sunshine Coast and Cooloola Health Service District, 2006.
Clinical Nurse, South Australia Pitinjarra Lands, Nganampa Health, 1994 and 1996.
Registered Nurse, hospitals throughout Queensland and Victoria, 1986-1994.
Registered Nurse, Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps, 1984-1986.
Registered Nurse, Torres Strait Islands and Aurukun, 1980-1983.
Awards include:
Bellara Qld 4507
For service to nursing and nurse education, particularly in the area of care delivery to sufferers of a mental illness, to their families and to carers.
Clinical Nurse / Case Manager, Redcliffe-Caboolture Health Service District, since the establishment of a Community Mental Health Service in 1994; now integrated into Northside Health Service District.
Established, Caboolture Open Doors, 1995; a community support agency for people with mental illness.
Has supported ARAFMI Queensland (Association of Relatives and Friends of Mentally Ill), since 1985; helped to establish the Caboolture Group, 1995.
Tutor Sister, Nurse Educator and later Assistant Director of Nursing (Education), Wolston Park Hospital, 1971-1993; the hospital was redeveloped and renamed the Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment, Research and Education in 2001.
Trained at, and employed by, Parkside Mental Hospital, Adelaide, 1950s and 1960s.
Awards include:
'Bendawalla', Hanging Rock, Nundle NSW 2340
For service to nursing as a nurse practitioner, and to the community of the Nundle district.
Nurse Practitioner, Hunter New England Health, since 2002; Member, Expert Advisory Committee on Age Care, since 2005; District Community Nurse, 1996-2002; Member, Nundle Health Advisory Committee, since 1997.
Current Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Health, University of New England.
Representative, Nursing Home and Hostel Review Committee, Council on the Ageing, 1991.
Member, External Advisory Committee, Centre for Bio Ethics and Health Care, School of Nursing Health Studies, University of Technology, Sydney, 1991.
Adviser on the Needs of an Ageing Population, Deputy Director General, TAFE, 1987; Report on Educational Needs of People in Rural Areas, NSW Premier, 1987.
Member, External Advisory Committee regarding the Post Graduate Diploma in Gerontology, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, 1987.
Member, Organ Donation and Transplant Team, Tamworth, since 1995; active in promoting organ donation in the community; recently organised an Organ Donation Thanksgiving Service in Nundle and an Organ Donor morning tea in Tamworth, bringing together recipients, patients on transplant waiting lists and organ donor families.
Driving force in the establishment of the Nundle community cinema and the Hanging Rock cinema, overseeing the delivery of regular movies to the local community.
Instrumental in the establishment of Nundle's Old Church Boutique, selling second-hand clothing with profits being put back into the community.
Awards include;
Tarragindi Qld 4121
For service to nursing, particularly through the care of those diagnosed with breast cancer.
Advanced Practice Nurse, Breast Care Unit, Mater Adult Hospital, Brisbane, since 1998, staff member, for 35 years; a service that manages those diagnosed with breast cancer. Contributed to the establishment of the Unit.
Promoter of the establishment of the surgical clinics.
Instrumental in developing patient information booklets, and protocols and care pathways.
Coordinates the ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ programs.
Provides education to staff and patients.
Supporter, Queensland Cancer Council.
Promoter of Breast Cancer Support Service as standard practice.
Participates in running Breast Cancer Matters program; and participates in other breast cancer programs.
Invited speaker at professional seminars and conferences and to community groups.
'Wintergreen', Come by Chance NSW 2832
For service to nursing, particularly in the field of palliative care, and to the community of the Walgett Shire and surrounds.
Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Walgett Health Services, Greater Western Area Health Service, since 1996.
Palliative Care Nurse, 1992-1996.
Involved with Health Advisory Council in the development of the palliative care suite.
Attends palliative care patients on a voluntary basis.
Provides support to families for 12 months or longer following a family member's death and assists in organising funerals if required.
Participates in conferences for Palliative Care Nurses and presents papers at conferences on dealing with the palliative care patient in remote rural settings.
Involved with Community Health Teams open days and health promotional activities.
Long-term Member, New South Wales Rural Palliative Care Nurses Group; hosting annual meetings with visiting specialists, since 2002.
Member, organisational team for a mental health awareness activity and for the provision of information on accessing available services.
Contributed in the review of Dying with Dignity Guidelines for NSW Health, 1997.
Ongoing involvement with various projects and committees.
Member, Walgett Show Society, since 1976; current Member, Ladies Auxiliary; range of roles including steward, since 1985.
Involved with Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, The Cancer Council, each year.
Caretaker/Trustee, Come by Chance Cemetery and Hall; Member, Restoration Committee.
Coordinator, Anglican Church Rose Show.
Ongoing involvement with various community projects and committees.
Awards/recognition include:
Strathpine Qld 4500
For service to nursing in the area of cardiac rehabilitation as a clinician and educator and through contributions to professional bodies.
Clinical Nurse Manager, HeartWise, The Wesley Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, since 2001; Clinical Nurse Consultant, 1998-2001; Clinical Nurse, 1997-1998; Member, Cardiac Services Advisory Committee, since 1997.
Nurse, Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre, St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, 1994-1997; graduated from general nursing training, 1971.
Lecturer, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, since 1997.
Lecturer, Pastoral Care Students, St Francis College, Brisbane, since 2000.
Current Member, Executive Management Committee, Australian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association; Acting Executive Officer, 2003-2004 (paid position); President, 2001-2003; Vice-President, 2000-2001; Member, since 1994.
Current Secretary and State Executive Committee Member, Queensland Cardiac Rehabilitation Association; President, 1997-2001; Treasurer, 1994-1997; Member, since 1994.
Current Australian Representative and Secretary, World Council of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Member, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, since 2004.
Member, Queensland Health Focus Groups to Develop Guidelines for Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation, from 1997.
Sarina Beach Qld 4737
For service to nursing, particularly as an administrator and through the promotion of nurse education and professional health services.
District Director of Nursing, Townsville Health Service District, since 1999; Change Management Coordinator for the moving of, and merger of, Townsville General Hospital and Kirwan Hospital, 2001.
Acting District Director of Nursing (secondment), Bundaberg Health Service District, May 2005-July 2005 during the ‘Bundaberg Commission of Inquiry’.
Director of Nursing, Mackay Base Hospital, 1994-1999; established ‘Hospital in the Home’ Service.
Director of Nursing and Facilities Manager, Sarina Hospital and Primary Health Care Centre, 1988-1994; assisted in the establishment of the Health Care Centre.
Adjunct Associate Professor (joint appointment with Townsville Health Service District), School of Nursing, James Cook University, since 2004; Senior Lecturer, since 1998.
Employed by Queensland Health, since 1979.
Member, Royal College of Nursing.
Member, Association of Nurses Leaders, Queensland.
Member, Australian Nurses Federation.