Far West LHD celebrates Midwife of the Year 2025
Local Midwife and Clinical Midwife Educator, Shae McCunnie has been named Far West Local Health District’s Midwife of the Year.
International Day of the Midwife is held annually on 5 May to celebrate the contribution of midwives who provide safe care and support during pregnancy and beyond to women and their babies.
Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Wendy Gleeson, said midwives across Far West Local Health District feel privileged to be present throughout this special time in women’s lives.
“We thank all midwives for the excellent holistic care they provide women and their families in our community, Ms Gleeson said.
”I’d also like to congratulate Shae McCunnie on being awarded Midwife of the Year for Far West Local Health District - an accolade which is well-deserved.”
- Far West LHD 2025 Midwife of the Year, Shae McCunnie (left) with Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Wendy Gleeson.
“Shae consistently demonstrates what it means to be both a skilled midwife and excellent leader,” said Ms Gleeson. “Shae is a proud midwife, sharing her knowledge with others and learning from them.
“Shae demonstrates excellence in midwifery and women-centred care either directly with women or whilst supporting early career midwives in the birthing room, or during a breastfeeding consultation. Shae's leadership qualities have excelled over the past year including using initiative for planning events and educational opportunities. She has also acted up in the Midwife Manager role with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.”
Ms McCunnie took on the FWLHD’s Clinical Midwife Educator role about 12 months ago and has fully embraced her position.
“Shae's passion for women and midwifery is obvious in her advocacy for women and babies, communication with clinicians, and care she provides to pregnant and postnatal women,” Ms Gleeson said.
Ms McCunnie will also be nominated in the 2025 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards, which will be held in Sydney later this year.
The theme for this year’s International Day of the Midwife is “Midwives: Critical in every Crisis”.
Ms Gleeson said midwives are trusted and have the knowledge and skills to ensure women receive the health services they need, no matter the situation.
“The Far West LHD is proud of the midwives working across Broken Hill, Buronga, Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. They provide essential care for women throughout their pregnancies, no matter their location or circumstances.”
“The women and families of Broken Hill, Wentworth and Balranald Shire are provided with midwifery continuity of care through the Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice and Buronga Community Midwives, ensuring they have a known midwife caring for them throughout their pregnancy, birth, and their postnatal period. Midwives enjoy working in this model of care and feel very grateful to be able to provide it in the Far West.”
Across Far West Local Health District, our midwives support the birth of almost 200 babies each year and provide antenatal and postnatal care for a further 40 women who need to birth their babies in larger maternity services.