media release
15 May 2025
Celebrating Outstanding Healthcare: The 2025 HESTA Nursing & Midwifery Awards winners announced
A nurse from Victoria, a midwife from the Victoria-NSW border and a South Australian organisation were named the winners of the HESTA Nursing & Midwifery Awards in Melbourne last night.
Nurse of the Year Ty Simpson from Melbourne’s Alfred Health was recognised for his significant contributions to nursing education and patient care in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, benefiting patients and the nursing profession.
Midwife of the Year Vanessa Page was recognised for leading the Endorsed Midwife Care Program at Gateway Health, helping around 240 clients in the Albury and Wodonga areas since the program’s inception.
Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre was named Outstanding Organisation. The Adelaide-based Centre screened over 500 people in rural areas at Australia's first free nurse-led skin cancer screening pop-up clinics.
Each winner was awarded $10,000, courtesy of longstanding awards sponsor ME - a subsidiary of Bank of Queensland (BOQ) - to be used for professional development or to improve services or processes.
HESTA CEO Debby Blakey congratulated the winners and finalists, saying the awards provided a reminder of the crucial role nurses and midwives play within communities.
“Congratulations to our amazing winners and finalists. Learning about their work and tremendous impact on communities has been inspiring,” Ms Blakey said.
“We thank them for their tireless commitment to making a difference every day – their unwavering dedication and compassion are deeply appreciated.
“Nurses and midwives support us during some of our most vulnerable and challenging moments, with the HESTA Awards designed not only to recognise leaders in the sector but also to show gratitude for all they do to support our communities.”
BOQ Group Executive of Retail Banking Greg Boyle expressed his gratitude for the winners and finalists on behalf of ME Bank.
“Hearty congratulations to these outstanding nurses, midwives and personal care workers. Your extraordinary efforts in supporting those in need are worthy of celebration. On behalf of ME, we express our gratitude for your unwavering dedication, fervour and relentless work,” Mr Boyle said.
This year marks the 19th year of the awards, honouring the vital contributions made by Australia’s nurses, midwives, nurse educators, researchers, and personal care workers, who improve health outcomes for our community through exemplary care and support.
For more information about the awards, visit www.hestawards.com.au
INTRODUCING THE 2025 HESTA AUSTRALIAN NURSING & MIDWIFERY AWARD WINNERS
NURSE OF THE YEAR:
Ty Simpson
The Alfred
Melbourne, VIC
Ty was recognised for his significant contributions to nursing education and patient care in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy. Ty’s work has been transformative, helping equip nurses to handle cutting-edge therapies, benefiting patients and the nursing profession.
“This award is a testament to the dedication and compassion of the amazing nursing team I work alongside, who provide exceptional care to patients receiving novel therapies, including CAR-T Cell therapy,” Mr Simpson said.
“I am deeply grateful to my manager for nominating me and to the leadership team for their support and inspiration, which motivates me to give my best every day. This award is not just a personal achievement but a celebration of the incredible work nurses do to make a difference in patient’s lives."
Ty plans to use the prize money to support and strengthen his professional development, particularly in the role of advanced practice nurses in Australian clinical trials.
MIDWIFE OF THE YEAR:
Vanessa Page
Gateway Health
Wodonga, VIC
Vanessa was recognised for leading the Endorsed Midwife Care Program at Gateway Health. The program provides bulk-billed continuity of midwife care to pregnant people with complex needs in the Albury and Wodonga areas, mainly benefiting culturally and linguistically diverse clients. Since the program’s inception in 2021, around 240 clients have accessed the service.
“There are many innovative midwives in Australia doing wonderful things, and I am just one of them. I feel very humbled to have been named a HESTA award winner,” Ms Page said.
“I am passionate about my work in women’s and maternal health, particularly the care I provide to vulnerable people in my community. I couldn’t have achieved the Endorsed Midwife Care Program without the support of the organisation, managers and colleagues, and most importantly the clients who have entrusted their pregnancy journey with the program.”
Vanessa plans to use the prizemoney to link with a university to help formally evaluate the program, and work with local Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities to increase the availability of pregnancy-related resources.
OUTSTANDING ORGANISATION:
Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre
University of South Australia
Adelaide, SA
The Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre was recognised for its work educating nurses in rural and regional Australia to perform skin checks. The team screened over 500 people in rural areas at Australia's first free nurse-led skin cancer screening pop-up clinics, using cutting-edge AI technology and providing training for rural nurses.
Professor Marion Eckert said it was an incredible honour to win the award.
“The award highlights the impact the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre is having when it comes to the importance of nurse-led innovation in improving healthcare access,” Professor Eckert said.
“We’re motivated to continue developing sustainable solutions that improve patient outcomes and workforce efficiency, ensuring every Australian—regardless of location—has access to quality care that can save lives.”
The team plans to use the prize money to purchase dermatoscopes to help expand the Centre's nurse-led skin cancer detection program in rural and remote Australia. They will also train more nurses in advanced skin assessment and AI-assisted education, increasing early detection and intervention for Australians in underserved areas.
Ends.
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