Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards

Kayla Plunkett - Ward One, Gove District Hospital, NT Health

Kayla sets a high standard in the delivery of care, showcasing a proactive approach to risk management and careful attention to detail. She identifies concerns swiftly and provides support to her team through being adaptable and agile in her approach to changing circumstances.

Patient care is at the core of Kayla’s practice; she is supportive and shows empathy and kindness. Kayla builds trusting relationships with patients and their families, consistently demonstrating cultural competence in her interactions.

Kelsey Marady - Casuarina Community Care Centre, Primary Health Care Urban Services Darwin Region, NT Health

Kelsey is a passionate and driven graduate nurse. She is committed to providing the best possible care, constantly advocating for her patients, questioning interventions and escalating to her team when required.

Particularly passionate about primary health care, Kelsey is currently pursuing a Post Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Management and Education to address disparities in patient outcomes, especially among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

Kelsey is kind and shows empathy to her patients and their families. She understands their individual needs and provides tailored support and assistance.

Kelsey’s dedication has earned her praise from senior staff, who commend her professionalism, enthusiasm to learn and her long-term commitment to continually improve the delivery of health care in the Northern Territory.

Kobi Schutz - Lecturer in Nursing, Charles Darwin University

With a 20 year career in nursing, Kobi has established herself as an academic leader at Charles Darwin University, where she fosters an environment of teaching and learning excellence.

Kobi inspires her colleagues and motivates her students to become the best nurses possible. She works to elevate the skills and knowledge of our future nurses while also providing leadership in promoting and supporting lifelong learning in clinical practice.

Fransisca (Chacha) Tenorio - Clinical Innovation and Research, NT Health

Fransisca, affectionately known as Chacha, has been instrumental in establishing the NT Teletrials program, which has gone on to become an important and prominent health care tool.

Chacha used her experience and knowledge to build the program from scratch, highlighting her innovation and problem-solving skills and outstanding leadership ability.

She has been recognised by her colleagues for her passion and contribution to developing career pathways in research and quality improvement. Chacha has worked to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of nurses in this area, and to improve clinical and personal outcomes for her patients.

Kerrie Stevens - Nganampa Ngura Mutitjulu-nya (Mutitjulu Aged Care), Australian Regional and Remote Community Services (ARRCS)

Kerrie is a registered nurse and the manager of the Australian Regional Remote Community Services Nganampa Ngura Mutitjulu-nya Flexible Aged Care Service in Mutitjulu.

Since starting in the role in 2019, Kerrie has initiated and led the development and implementation of a culturally appropriate sensory room, known as Ngura Kulila Ninanyi which means ‘a place to sit and listen’.

The room is designed to allow local Elders to receive essential care services while remaining on Country, eliminating the need to travel to Alice Springs. This unique Central Australian space incorporates sounds, lights, smells, and visual elements reflecting the local landscape, animals, stories, and music, promoting calmness and overall wellbeing among its users.

In addition to this amazing resource, she has also initiated intergenerational outings and cultural learning programs between Elders and school children, fostering the transmission of knowledge, lore, and stories within the community.

Kerry is an advocate for better community engagement, safety considerations and positive outcomes for individuals at national forums and aged care units within NT Health. Her exceptional skills, knowledge and passion for aged care nursing enables Elders to age gracefully on Country.

Shannan Ryan - Intensive Care Unit, Alice Springs Hospital, NT Health

Shannan has demonstrated exceptional leadership within the health care system, particularly in the ICU context of Central Australia. His inclusive, innovative, and influential leadership style has fostered a collaborative and supportive environment within the ICU, driving transformative changes that enhance patient care.

Shannan is a role model known for mentoring and supporting junior staff and empowering them to take on new roles and drive quality improvement projects.

Shannan's commitment to staff development and flexible work arrangements not only attracts and retains talent but also promotes a positive workplace culture that resonates beyond the hospital walls. He is highly regarded by his colleagues and line managers for prioritising patient safety, elevating standards of care and making a positive impact on the health of the community.

Peter Mitchell - Indigenous Remote Eye Service (IRIS), Vanguard Health

Peter is the program manager of the Indigenous and Remote Eye Service being delivered in Weipa and across a number of remote communities in the NT.

Peter is committed to addressing preventable vision loss in Aboriginal communities by reducing the wait time for sight-saving cataract surgery and providing services and care in community.

Peter has been involved in the program since 2019 and has worked with communities to improve access to essential ophthalmology services. He collaborates with local health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure patients are clearly informed and supported.

Peter is always focused on the patient and provides culturally appropriate care, in a safe environment, to promote long-term eye health.

Mala'la Rheumatic Heart Disease Team, Mala'la Health Service

The Mala’la Health Service Rheumatic Heart Disease team has led the way in the treatment and prevention of rheumatic heart disease.

Their efforts have achieved enhanced community engagement in the detection and prevention of rheumatic heart disease, increased the rates of secondary prophylaxis and improved health literacy in the community.

With a focus on patient-centred care, the team has implemented innovative practices to deliver care directly to patients' homes, reduce wait times, and ensure increased access to services.

The team provides advice and support to other health centres and has had a measurable impact on rheumatic heart disease management and prevention in the community.

Tammy Sexton - Midwifery Group Practice, Royal Darwin Hospital, NT Health

Tammy, a dedicated midwife within the purple team of the Midwifery Group Practice at Royal Darwin Hospital, has shown extraordinary compassion and expertise in her care for expectant families.

Tammy received a beautiful nomination from a couple she cared for last year during a time of unexpected loss.

The couple gave permission to share their nomination in which they said they felt intensely supported by Tammy during a time when they had many questions but not many answers. The care she provided was flexible and her research and information was personalised to their needs.

Tammy was one of only a few people they felt comfortable having in their home during this time, and her knowledge, skills, kindness and willingness to protect their space and just listen was deeply appreciated.

When the couple found out they were pregnant a second time, they felt confident in reaching out to Tammy for advice and support, knowing she knew their story and would provide them with reassurance as they travel through this pregnancy and look forward to meeting their second baby.

Thank you Tammy for your amazing kindness, knowledge and the ability to allow women and their families to feel safe in highly vulnerable moments.

Heather Keighley - Nursing Lecturer Flinders University/Senior Policy Advisor CRANAplus

Heather has more than 40 years of outstanding service working across all regions of the Territory in acute care, health development, primary health care and as a policy officer and chief nurse and midwifery officer.

As an active advocate for remote area health care, she has lobbied tirelessly on a national platform for her profession and Aboriginal health. Heather has inspired others to learn about Aboriginal culture and to create culturally safe environments through developing strong personal relationships with Aboriginal people.

Heather’s work and leadership in communities has enabled her to ensure Aboriginal people receive the best possible care that is based on evidence and the highest levels of clinical and public health knowledge.

Yolanda Hernandez Gomez - Community Allied Health and Aged Care Services, Top End Region, NT Health

Yolanda has been critical to changing the landscape of care for individuals with movement disorders across the Territory.

As the sole dedicated nurse specialising in movement disorders in the NT, she has led the development of a new model to ensure people with movement disorders can access care close to home.

Yolanda provides in-reach, outreach, and telehealth services from Darwin and is highly regarded by clients and carers alike, who praise her extensive knowledge, strong communication skills and compassionate approach.

She collaborates with local, national and international colleagues, facilitating the transfer of expert knowledge and best practice care in movement disorders to the NT.

Yolanda has been described as a ‘one in a million’ nurse, who demonstrates an exceptional level of care, professionalism, and dedication to her work.

Abbey Van Someren - Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Abbey joined the Sunrise Health Service in 2023 as the women's health coordinator, responsible for overseeing women’s health and antenatal checks across nine communities in the Big Rivers region.

Abbey was crucial in organising Breast Screening Week, which under her leadership saw an impressive 93% success rate in mammograms. She has been instrumental in increasing attendance for mammograms, cervical screenings and postnatal checks while improving timeliness for antenatal care.

Abbey is a strong supporter of patient care and through her advocacy work was able to secure funding for foetal alcohol syndrome awareness which included the development of culturally appropriate resources, including translations into Kriol language.

Abby has easily made the transition from being a midwife in Victoria to working in remote Territory communities. She has fostered strong community relationships, participated in women’s health days and is a positive role model and quiet achiever.