Seven awards were handed out at the North West Hospital and Health Service Naidoc Week celebrations at the Healing Tree on Tuesday.
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Jenny Watts gave the Welcome to Country on the day while NWHSS's new Indigenous Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Christine Mann also spoke, revealing the winners in the seven Naidoc categories.
The winners were:
NWHHS NAIDOC Spirit of Reconciliation - Andrea Mitchell
NWHHS NAIDOC Health Achievement - Latisha Gallagher
NWHHS NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement - Merlene Busch
NWHHS NAIDOC Excellence - Nioame Daley
NWHHS NAIDOC Remote - David Bismark
NWHHS NAIDOC Service of the Year - Nurse Navigator Service
NWHHS NAIDOC Newcomer to Health - Jenna Caulton
Ms Mann said nurse and midwife Andrea Mitchell was an example of reconciliation in action.
"As a Mount Isa-based midwife Andrea frequently travelled to Doomadgee and Mornington Island to provide antenatal care," Ms Mann said.
"On these trips, Andrea began offering photos for these families, Dad's included, taken from her iPad. Via these photoshoots, it was a unique way of combining awareness around healthcare as well as helping the women feel strong and beautiful throughout their pregnancy."
Ms Mann said Latisha Gallagher was an active part of the Child Health Team that raised the immunisation statistics to 98.4%.
"As well as attending all clinics, Latisha would go out every Friday with the Nurses for the Bubba Jabs and help to give that guidance, support and education to the families on why immunisations are important and explain the risks to not immunising," she said.
Ms Mann said Remote winner David Bismarck was a wardie and operational support at Dajarra Primary Health Clinic for the last 18 months.
Normanton Community Health Administration Officer Merlene Bush won the Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
The Excellence Award went to Health Worker Nioame Daley who joined the Maternal Child & Youth Health Team almost 18 months ago and is now acting team leader.
The Service of the Year went to the Nurse Navigator Team. "Nurse Unit Manager Kea Apineru and her team are a fantastic example of customer-centred approach and is a model of care that aims to improve patient experience and health outcomes of people living with complex chronic disease," Ms Mann said.
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