Local midwife Chelsea Anderson was today named Far West LHD’s Midwife of the Year for 2023, with the announcement made during International Day of the Midwife celebrations.
Far West LHD Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery/Director of Clinical Governance, Ms Wendy Gleeson warmly congratulated Chelsea on the win.
“On behalf of the District, I wish to congratulate Chelsea on her well-deserved accolade,” Ms Gleeson said.
“Chelsea is an exceptional midwife and Clinical Midwifery Consultant, as well as a passionate leader in her field. She provides essential support and education to our midwifery students and midwives.”
Ms Anderson (pictured) will also be nominated in the 2023 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards, which will be held in Sydney later this year.
Ms Gleeson said today’s local celebration among guests and midwifery colleagues was an important opportunity to thank local midwives for their hard work, skill and compassion.
“I want to also extend my gratitude to all our Far West midwives for always striving to provide safe and holistic midwifery care to women, babies, and families in our community,” Ms Gleeson said.
“Our midwives work tirelessly to ensure women, newborn babies, and families have access to excellent care in our rural and remote communities across Broken Hill, Menindee, Buronga and Wilcannia.
“The significance and importance of providing women, their partners and families with compassionate care during pregnancy, birth and beyond, no matter where they live, cannot be underestimated,” she said.
Midwives provide expert antenatal, labour, birth and postnatal care to women, babies and families and work collaboratively with other maternity clinicians to ensure women receive the right care for their individual needs. Midwives provide care in many different settings including acute hospital care and in the community both in Broken Hill and in remote health services.
Women and families in the Far West are able to access continuity of midwifery care, which is care by a small group of known midwives throughout the pregnancy, birth and early postnatal period. Evidence shows that this type of midwifery care results in better satisfaction with the birth experience and an increased chance of establishing and continuing breastfeeding.
Nominations for the 2023 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards close on Friday, 23 June 2023. For more information visit the NSW Health website.
Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) is encouraging all of us to stand together in solidarity during Ochre Ribbon Week (12-19 February 2025) to raise awareness and foster safer communities for Aboriginal people.
People are being urged to seek help if they notice changes in their health, with new data from the Cancer Institute NSW showing 235 people are projected to be diagnosed with cancer in Far West Local Health District in 2025.