Nurses and midwives across NSW have been celebrated for their compassion and dedication at the 13th annual NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards ceremony held at NSW Parliament House last night.

The Awards highlight the remarkable professional achievements and recognise the incredible contributions nurses and midwives make to the health and wellbeing of people in NSW every day.

Awards were presented by Minister for Health Ryan Park, Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson, NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM and NSW Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross.

The winners of each category are:

• Nurse of the Year: Shivam Dhiman, Registered Nurse, Surgical/Orthopaedic Ward, Fairfield Hospital, South Western Sydney Local Health District
• Midwife of the Year: Svetlana Ilich, Clinical Midwifery Specialist, Bereavement and Perinatal Service, Blacktown Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District
• Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Award : Poumansing Gujraz, Nurse Manager Falls Prevention Co-ordinator, South Western Sydney Local Health District
• New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Jonty Donald, Registered Nurse, Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District
• Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Amy Sutherland, Aboriginal Transitional Nurse Practitioner Rural Generalist, Gilgandra Multipurpose Service, Western NSW Local Healthy District
• Healing Heart Consumer Award: Sarah Driver, Registered Nurse Emergency Department, Bathurst Hospital, Western NSW Local Health District
• Healing Heart Colleague Award: Katherine Martin, Nursing Unit Manager, Inpatient and Rehabilitation Wards, Kempsey District Hospital, Mid North Coast Local Health District
• Team of the Year: Nursing team, Children's Ward, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Mid North Coast Local Health District
• Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement: Jacqueline Jagger, Nurse Practitioner, District Cancer Services, Central Coast Local Health District

For more information, including a full list of finalists visit NSW Health Website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“I want to congratulate the winners and all 27 finalists for their incredible achievements in providing the very best care to patients, women and families across NSW.

“From metropolitan hospitals to our most remote rural and remote hospitals, nurses and midwives are the heart of the healthcare we provide.

“The Awards not only honour and celebrate the skills, passion and commitment of our finalists but also reflect what nurses and midwives across NSW bring to work every single day."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of our health system, delivering exceptional care in every setting from maternity to mental health services.

“I congratulate all award recipients for their compassion, expertise and dedication to improving lives across our NSW communities."

Quotes attributable to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM:

“The Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards are an important reminder and opportunity to reflect and recognise the commitment, innovation and outstanding care being provided to the people of NSW by our nurses and midwives.

“I'm incredibly proud to see nurses and midwives like Amy Sutherland from Gilgandra, our Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year, whose dedication to rural and regional Indigenous healthcare is helping to create pathways for Aboriginal health care professionals.

“I want to congratulate the nominees and winners of this year's awards and also extend my deepest thanks to all nurses and midwives, who play an integral role in delivering high-quality care to patients, families and communities across the state.“

Quotes attributable to NSW Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross:

“The Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards are a celebration of individual achievement and recognition of the critical role nurses and midwives play in shaping the future of healthcare.

“The level of care and expertise nurses and midwives deliver everyday truly makes a difference to the wellbeing and experience of patients across all clinical and community settings.

“The Awards help to shine a light on how nurses and midwives across NSW are continually transforming through innovation, education and research to meet the changing needs of our patients, women, families and communities."