Congratulations to the 2026 Job Rep and HSR of the Year recipients

At the 2026 ANMF (Vic Branch) Delegates Conference, Jeamy Lee was named the Hannah Sellers Job Rep of the Year for his over-and-above work during the St John of God EBA negotiations. Meanwhile, the HSR of the Year award was awarded to Ballarat Base Hospital’s Catherine Van Der Horst for her OHS leadership and activism around prevention of occupational violence and aggression (OVA).

The Branch congratulates both winners.

Hannah Sellers Job Rep of the Year 2026

Jeamy Lee embodies what it means to be an exceptional Job Representative. He is consistently kind, caring and genuinely approachable, creating a safe space where colleagues feel comfortable seeking his advice, raising concerns and asking questions about their rights and working conditions.

Behind his friendly and supportive manner is an incredibly organised and hardworking advocate who invests a significant amount of his own time outside of work hours to research industrial matters and clarify entitlements to best support colleagues. He is also a strong and articulate voice for staff, who speaks with clarity, professionalism and respect – whether supporting an individual member through a workplace issue or raising broader concerns that affect teams.

Importantly, the work Jeamy does goes beyond responding to issues by actively encouraging union engagement to help colleagues understand the importance of collective strength. His positive attitude towards the ANMF and willingness to step up whenever support is needed have made him a highly valued Job Representative.

During EBA negotiations, Jeamy helped with making members’ voices heard regarding improving working conditions to be on par with the public sector, and he has promoted collaboration amongst nurses from all wards and specialties in the hospital to know their rights and benefits and to be involved and empowered to secure a better EBA.

He advocates strongly for safe staffing, fair working conditions and the wellbeing of his colleagues. He actively participates in discussions with management, representing staff with professionalism and integrity while maintaining a solutions-focused approach. His ability to balance advocacy with collaboration has contributed to positive outcomes for staff and the organisation, fostering mutual respect and open communication.

Beyond representation, Jeamy plays a vital role in strengthening workplace culture, promoting inclusivity, respect and psychological safety and encouraging team members to speak up and support one another. He embodies the spirit of union representation, advocating when issues arise and proactively working to improve systems and conditions into the future

Drawing from his clinical expertise as an ICU nurse, ANUM and CNS, Jeamy mentors colleagues and supports professional growth, helping build confidence and capability within the team. He recognises that empowering nurses through knowledge and support is essential to both individual success and overall workforce sustainability.

For all of these reasons, Jeamy Lee from St John of God Geelong is highly deserving of the 2026 Hannah Sellers Job Representative of the Year Award.

ANMF (Vic Branch) HSR of the Year 2026

Catherine Van Der Horst has shown strong leadership and persistence in addressing ongoing occupational health and safety (OHS) issues at Ballarat Base Hospital. Working alongside another HSR on the ward, she has taken a clear and consistent stand against OVA, refusing to accept it as part of the job, even when this has meant pushing back against her employer.

Catherine made a genuine effort to build her knowledge of the HSR role, both through HSR training and by undertaking a formal OHS qualification. She has used this knowledge to actively support, educate and represent her colleagues in relation to their rights under legislation.

Catherine has ensured she is involved in OHS processes by requesting inclusion in OHS committee meetings and attending regularly. She has used these forums to raise concerns, follow up on issues, and push for more effective controls. She has also worked closely with ANMF to escalate issues with the employer and met with WorkSafe inspectors when visiting

A key part of her approach has been the use of evidence. Catherine sought access to VHIMS reports, incident data and workplace statistics related to OVA, as well as policies and procedures that underpin risk controls. Where information wasn’t provided or gaps were identified, she followed this up, including working with ANMF to challenge gaps and push back on resistance from her employer.

Catherine kept her colleagues informed throughout, providing regular updates on incidents, the controls implemented by the employer, and whether those controls were working. When controls have been ineffective, she has continued to escalate concerns through the employer, ANMF and WorkSafe.

Importantly, she has used her HSR powers when needed. After a series of serious incidents that resulted in harm to staff, patients and visitors, Catherine took the step of issuing three Provisional Improvement Notices under the new psychological health regulations, placing the employer on notice for breaches of their duties under OHS legislation.

As a result of her work, there have been meaningful improvements on the ward, including changes to workplace design and the development of a local OVA action plan. Importantly, it also highlighted broader, system-wide issues across the hospital. This prompted a full review of the organisation’s approach to preventing OVA and led to further intervention from WorkSafe, with an inspector assigned to work directly with Ballarat Base Hospital to help close gaps and better protect staff.

Overall, Catherine has shown courage and a strong commitment to improving safety in her workplace. For these reasons, she is a very deserving recipient of the 2026 HSR of the Year award.