North West Hospital and Health Service (HHS) proudly celebrated International Nurses Day and International Midwives Day with a joint celebration on Friday, 9 May.

As part of the celebrations, North West HHS recognised the collective efforts of nurses and midwives, but also outstanding individuals through its 2025 awards: Midwife of the Year, Nurse of the Year, Graduate Nurse/Midwife of the Year, and the James Cook University (JCU) Award.

Andrea Mitchell, Midwifery Group Practice (MPG) Manager, was named Midwife of the Year, not only for her exceptional midwifery skills, but for her efforts to go above and beyond, capturing maternity images for First Nations women who may not be in a position to have these precious keep sakes to reflect on their pregnancy journey.

Tahnia-Maree Ah Kit, an outstanding Emergency Department Nurse, was announced Nurse of the Year, for going above and beyond to ensure patients feel safe, supported, and genuinely cared for. Her calm presences and warm personality shine through every day, and she always has a smile on her face. Her bright and bubbly personality never fails to bring a smile to every patient.

Katie Vidler, winner of the graduate of the year award, has demonstrated an excellent standard of professionalism, critical thinking skills, and maturity during her time so far with North West HHS. The service is proud of Katie's accomplishments, particularly in her second rotation in Camooweal; she was out of her comfort zone clinically in a Primary Health Clinic. However, she was always professional and embraced the learning opportunities.

Mount Isa Emergency Department (ED) was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Support Award, proudly endorsed by JCU. An incredible achievement that acknowledges the departments commitment to mentoring and nurturing future healthcare professionals.

Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Karen Slater said the event was a meaningful opportunity to show appreciation for the dedication and tireless work of North West HHS’s nursing and midwifery teams.

“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of our healthcare system, tirelessly providing compassionate, high-quality care and support to patients and their families,” said Ms Slater.

As we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities in healthcare, I am confident that the expertise and dedication of our nursing and midwifery staff will continue to play a vital role in delivering exceptional care to all members of our community.”

The event included award presentations, a barbeque lunch, and featured keynote speakers; Pauline Calleja - Dean James Cook University, and Liz Wilkes - Queensland's inaugural Chief Midwife Officer.

This was a great opportunity for staff across the service to come together in celebration and reflection on the critical roles nurses and midwives play in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities.