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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-12 Daily Xml
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International Midwives and Nurses Days

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:17): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises both International Day of the Midwife on 5 May and International Nurses Day on 12 May;

2. Recognises the courage, compassion and ongoing work of nurses and midwives in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

3. Thanks nurses and midwives for their outstanding service in hospitals, homes and the community to protect and maintain the health and wellbeing of all South Australians, year in year out, and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I rise to express my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated and remarkable nurses and midwives in South Australia. This year, 2021, has been designated by the World Health Organization as the International Year of Health and Care Workers in recognition and appreciation of their unwavering dedication in the fight against COVID-19. In South Australia, like our European counterparts, we have also extended our acknowledgement and recognition of our nurses and midwives as part of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife 2020 into 2021.

As Minister for Health and Wellbeing, one of the privileges of my role is to meet and hear the voices of many nurses, midwives and carers working across the state. I was delighted yesterday to join SA Health's Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Associate Professor Jenny Hurley, at a morning tea to acknowledge and celebrate International Nurses Day. This morning, I met with nurses at Strathalbyn and then later in the day visited the Repat to mark the placement of the nurses honour boards in the SPF Hall.

It is very important for us to take the time to recognise both International Nurses Day and the International Day of the Midwife. It gives us an invaluable opportunity to celebrate the achievements and to recognise the contributions that all nurses, midwives and carers have in ensuring South Australians receive high-quality and safe care.

As I said in this chamber last week, every year on 5 May the International Day of the Midwife is celebrated around the world. The theme for this year's International Day of the Midwife is 'Follow the data: invest in midwives'. It is significant in highlighting the wonderful work midwives do to ensure that women in their care have a positive birth experience. Midwives play a critical role in promoting healthy women, ensuring the health and wellbeing of women and babies and the whole family unit. Midwives also have an important role in health counselling and education, not only for women but also for those within the family unit and the community.

The date of 12 May is International Nurses Day, an annual celebration to commemorate Florence Nightingale's birthday. The focus for this year's theme is 'Nurses: a voice to lead—a vision for future healthcare'. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the nurses and midwives in South Australia and across the world for their understanding and caring, their selflessness, patience and dedication. They are the people whom we depend upon at some of the toughest times we experience in our lives. They are the people who are there for us and those closest to us in some of our most difficult times.

Earlier today, I had the privilege of launching South Australia's Rural Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Plan 2021-26, which provides a vision and road map for the sustainable and agile future-focused workforce that will be crucial in delivering services in the country into the future, recognising the essential and critical role of nurses and midwives, their contribution, value and impact on the delivery of health care across a wide range of geographical locations, contexts, settings and environments to ensure the highest quality of care for rural South Australians.

Every year, as part of the week of celebrations for the International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day, we have the SA Health Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards. Last Friday, it was my pleasure to represent the Premier and the government at this prestigious event. This was the emerald anniversary, the 20th annual Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards night. I extend my congratulations to all nominees, finalists, scholarship recipients and winners.

As part of the award celebrations, I had the pleasure of acknowledging, seeing and hearing the stories of our Australian nurses and midwives who volunteer as part of the international response to improve health, maternity and wellbeing outcomes and improve equity and access to health services around the world. The SA Nursing and Midwifery Humanitarian Awards, now in their third year, acknowledge the nurses and midwives who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, who have given back to their local or global community in an inspirational, selfless, caring and compassionate way. I thank them for making a difference in the lives of those in their communities and beyond.

If the council would indulge me, I would like to recognise each of the award winners from Friday night: the Mary Buckskin Excellence in Practice—Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife, Marilyn Thomas from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network; the Excellence in Person Centred Care Team Award, the Yorke and Northern midwifery practice; Early Career Nurse Midwife, Tulika Patel from Estia Health, Golden Grove; Excellence in Practice in Aged Care, Julie Webber from the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network; and Excellence in Practice—Registered Nurse, Leanne Davis from the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.

The Minister for Health and Wellbeing Humanitarian Award went to Sophie Dohnt from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network; Excellence in Research and Knowledge Translation, Karen Royals from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network; Excellence in Education, Christine Fraser from the Aboriginal Health Council; Excellence in Practice—Midwife, Melissa McDonald from the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network; Consumer Appreciation, Mandy Kocher from Central Adelaide Local Health Network; Excellence in Practice—Enrolled Nurse, Heather Braun from the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network; and Excellence in Leadership, Kristian Sanchez from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

I would also like to recognise the South Australian Premier's Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship recipients for 2021: Beth McErlean from the Women's and Children's Health Network, Leanne Davis from the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Leanne Naaraat from the Department for Health and Wellbeing, Susan Dwyer from the Women's and Children's Health Network, Rajiv Chand from the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, and Renee Giannopoulos from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

Once again, this year we pause to remember and pay tribute to South Australian nurse Kirsty Boden, the recipient of the Australian Bravery Decorations, the Bravery Medal, the Queen's Commendation for Bravery and the Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal. In the 2017 London Bridge terrorist attack, Kirsty, without hesitation, ran into danger, offering her nursing expertise and qualities to save others. Kirsty's courage, dedication and her strong will to care for the injured as a nurse and as a caring person will always be remembered.

On behalf of the South Australian government and all South Australians, I thank all nurses for their dedication, compassion and commitment to making a difference every day in the lives of the South Australian community and beyond. I thank our nurses and midwives who lead, innovate and care for South Australians, demonstrating their values of generosity, empathy and integrity, and, importantly, the value of the art of the human touch in caring for the South Australian community.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

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