Top NSW award for Inverell Hospital midwife

27 May 2010

Inverell Hospital midwife Sue Harper has taken out the NSW section of the JOHNSON'S® baby Midwife of the Year Award.

The Award is designed to recognise the constant and invaluable contributions made by midwives to safe motherhood across the country. In its tenth year running, more than 1000 nominations were placed for midwives across Australia.

The Award takes nominations from women who have received care from midwives. Local woman Samone Bell nominated Sue for this year’s NSW Award, which also has the support of the Australian College of Midwives.

Inverell Health Service Manager Kath Randall said Sue’s win was an outstanding achievement.

“Sue is committed to ensuring that midwifery services and care are the best for women and their families in the Inverell district, and she is very deserving of this award,” Ms Randall said.

“This win also underlines the high level of care that women receive when coming to Inverell Hospital for their birthing experience, so our whole midwifery team should be proud,” Ms Randall said.

Sue has been a Registered Nurse since 1983. In 1999, she was accepted into the Rural Midwifery Education Program offered by HNE Health in conjunction with Charles Sturt University, and she has been a practising midwife ever since.

In 2007 Sue’s high-level clinical expertise and midwifery knowledge were further recognised when she was granted the classification of Clinical Midwifery Specialist.

Sue said she was extremely humbled by the award win.

“I have always wanted to be a midwife and I absolutely love every minute of it. Supporting mothers, babies and the whole family unit during one of life’s most special times is extremely rewarding,” she said.

“It’s not often that people are presented with an award for simply doing their job, and in my case, it’s a job that I truly love doing so this award is an unexpected bonus.

“The midwives at Inverell Hospital are a great bunch of people and they work together extremely well as a team. Although I have received this award, it’s actually a reflection on the team as a whole; they are all very deserving of recognition for the wonderful work they do every day.”

(Ref: HNE-2278)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: 0428 106 183