A Dhelkaya Health midwifery clinical coordinator and educator has been shortlisted as a finalist this week ahead of the 2023 HESTA Australian Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
April Jardine has been nominated for her outstanding contribution to improving health outcomes for local women and is one of nine finalists in the national awards.
Dhelkaya Health CEO Sue Race said April was a highly skilled and passionate midwife and nurse whose exceptional leadership had united the midwifery team.
“She works tirelessly and is devoted to her patients,” Ms Race said.
“I am thrilled to see her recognised as a finalist for Midwife of the Year and hope to see her take home the award.”
Ms Jardine has been recognised as the driving force behind the implementation of Dhelkaya Health’s innovative Midwifery Group Practice model. She played a pivotal part in encouraging women to take part in studies evaluating women’s views and experiences of maternity care in Castlemaine. The model was recently evaluated by La Trobe University and has proved to be highly valued by women in the area and improved care outcomes.
Ms Jardine said she felt humbled to be recognised in the 2023 HESTA Australia Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
“To be a part of reshaping a suspended rural service with community input, and successfully re-launching a local maternity service where so many have been closed, has been a very rewarding experience,” she said.
“It has been fulfilling to support the community’s priority to safely birth locally, and feedback surveys are overwhelmingly positive.
“I am proud that Dhelkaya Health’s Maternity Service offers women in the region the gold standard of midwifery-led continuity of care, and enables midwives to work to their full scope and achieve career satisfaction.”
Winners of the 2023 HESTA Australian Nursing and Midwifery Awards will be revealed on Sunday at an awards ceremony in Sydney.
