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Victorian nurses recognised in 2022 Australia Day honours

Victorian nurses recognised in 2022 Australia Day honours

Heather Spence was recognised with a medal of the Order of Australian for services to nursing

In the middle of the statewide Code Brown, four Victorian nurses have been recognised in the 2022 Australia Day honours.

Barongarook-based registered nurse and midwife Carmel O’Brien was recognised with a medal of the Order of Australian (OAM) for services to nursing. Also receiving an OAM for services to nursing was Cohuna District Hospital nurse practitioner and midwife Heather Spence.

‘I’m very humbled and feel privileged to receive this award,’ Ms Spence said, noting that she hadn’t realised she’d touched so many lives in such a positive way.

‘I’ve worked in a beautiful rural hospital and have had the absolute best mentors of my career. I am passionate about focusing on rural nursing and attracting nurses to these areas through education, training and specialised programs. You’re only as good as the team you work with,’ she added’, ‘and I’ve been so fortunate to have worked with the best, allowing me to be multi-skilled to care for my community.’

Former ANMF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) ‘for significant service to nursing through leadership roles with professional organisations’. Joining Ms Iliffe in the ranks of AMs was Emeritus Professor Maxine Duke, ‘for significant service to education, to nursing, and to professional associations’. Ms Duke is the former head of the School of Nursing & Midwifery at Deakin University.

ANMF (Vic Branch) congratulates all recipients on their honours.

Australia Day ceremony

Several Melbourne nurses were also able to attend the Australia Day flag-raising ceremony at the invitation of the Victorian Government, in recognition of the efforts of frontline healthcare workers on behalf of Victorians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dandenong Hospital ICU nurses Ruth Lia, Fiona Riddiford and Carolyn Poyser attended the 2022 Australia Day flag-raising ceremony, and got to meet Premier Daniel Andrews.

Dandenong Hospital ICU nurses Ruth Lia, Fiona Riddiford and Carolyn Poyser attended the 2022 Australia Day flag-raising ceremony, and got to meet Premier Daniel Andrews.

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