The ACT’s top nurses and midwives have been recognised for their outstanding service at the 2026 ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards.
Minister for Health Dr Marisa Paterson congratulated the winners and nominees for their contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of our community and delivering quality health care every day.
“Nurses and midwives are two of our most trusted professions. They are central to the strength of the ACT health system, bringing clinical expertise, compassion, leadership and advocacy as they support individuals and families through significant life experiences.
“It is important we recognise the vital work our nurses and midwives perform day in and day out across our hospitals, walk-in centres, general practices, schools, aged care and other health and mental health facilities including community settings.
“Thank you to every nurse and midwife for your unwavering commitment to the Canberra community and surrounding region. To all the winners and nominees this year, congratulations – you thoroughly deserve it.”
The ACT Government remains committed to creating safer workplaces and supporting the nursing and midwifery workforce to enable them to continue providing the high standard of care they deliver every day for our community.
This includes recently completing mandated minimum nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios across all ACT public inpatient settings, supported by more than $137 million and recruiting over 227 more nurses and midwives. The Safewards model of care has also been expanded across 12 Canberra Health Services wards, alongside clinical supervision and workplace safety initiatives for nurses and midwives.
Quotes attributable to the ACT Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Associate Professor (UC) Marina Buchanan-Grey:
“Nurses and midwives across the ACT demonstrate exceptional clinical practice, as well as the courage to lead, the curiosity to improve and the commitment to make a meaningful difference for our community every single day.
“It is a privilege to recognise the recipients of the 2026 Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards whose professionalism, innovation and dedication inspire their colleagues and strengthen care across the ACT health system.”
The 2026 awards included an incredible 141 nominations across both 5 peer-nominated professional excellence awards and the popular consumer recognition category, where members of the public were able to nominate a nurse, midwife or team they felt made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of themselves or their loved ones.
Recipients of the 2026 Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards are:
Nurse of the Year: Karen Butcher, Belconnen Walk-in Centre, Canberra Health Services
- Karen developed Swabtember 2025 to improve opportunistic chlamydia screening for young people at walk-in centres. Karen’s model supports earlier diagnosis, treatment and education.
Midwife of the Year: Katherine Bishop, Women, Youth and Children, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- Katherine’s compassionate advocacy and collaborative approach have been driven by her exceptional commitment to women-centred trauma-informed maternity care.
Team of the Year: Canberra Sexual Health Centre Nurses, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- This team has strengthened sexual-health services and access to care through nurse-led initiatives, including a syphilis follow-up register and the TeleCheck telehealth screening service.
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Alison Loom, Althea Wellness Centre, Directions Health Services
- Alison is the visionary, clinical architect of PAT, an outreach model delivering person-centred, evidence-based care to people experiencing homelessness, housing instability and other complex challenges.
Excellence in Educational Practice: Staff Development Unit Clinical Educators, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- This team has a commitment to lifelong learning and has employed innovative learning programs, simulation training, mentoring and professional support to build a skilled and capable workforce.
Excellence in Leadership Practice: Cassandra Noble, Clinical Forensic Medial Service, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- Cassie has led service improvements such as transition to digital systems and development of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner role, enhancing access, capability and continuity.
Excellence in Management Practice: Sally Haseler, Maternal and Child Health, Canberra Health Services
- Sally’s management has enhanced access, strengthened data-informed decision-making and improved service quality. Her leadership and investment in staff development have delivered lasting benefits for families, staff and the wider community.
Excellence in Quality Improvement or Research Practice: Kate Gorell, Acute Care of the Elderly, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- Kate led a multidisciplinary project to improve transitions from hospital to residential aged care. She strengthened communication, improved medication safety and enhanced continuity of care for more than a thousand older Canberrans.
Rising Star Recognition:
- Midwifery: Alyssa Abela, Women, Youth and Children, North Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- Nursing: Bipana Shrestha, Tuggeranong Dialysis Unit, Tuggeranong Health Centre, Canberra Health Services
- Nursing: Maddison Anais Firmer, Department of Defence
Consumer Recognition:
- Kendell Smith, Paediatric Palliative Care, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services
- Day Chemotherapy and Infusion Unit Nurses, National Capital Private Hospital (now Ramsay Private Hospital)
- Patricia Moyima, Greenway Views, LDK Seniors Living
- Erin Gillian, Clare Holland House, Canberra Health Services
- Laura Hogan, Maternity, Calvary John James Hospital
