Celebrating excellence in nursing and midwifery across Western NSW
Western NSW Local Health District has announced the recipients of its 2026 Nursing and Midwifery Awards, recognising the outstanding skill, dedication and leadership of nurses, midwives and teams across the District.
The Awards were presented during the District’s annual Nursing and Midwifery Symposium and Awards dinner, a two-day event that celebrates the nursing and midwifery workforce while showcasing innovation, leadership and best practice in care.
This year’s Symposium theme, “Kindness and Bravery in Leadership and Care,” highlights the compassion and courage demonstrated by nurses and midwives every day in supporting patients, families and communities.
The event coincides with two important global celebrations, International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.
The 2026 International Nurses Day theme, “Our nurses, our future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” highlights the importance of supporting the nursing workforce and provides greater recognition of the vital role nurses play in improving health outcomes worldwide.
The International Day of the Midwife theme for 2026, “One Million More Midwives,” calls attention to the urgent global need for more midwives to strengthen maternal and newborn care outcomes.
The Symposium featured keynote presentations from Sheila Vijeyarasa and provided an opportunity for staff from across the District to connect, share knowledge and celebrate the contributions of the nursing and midwifery workforce.
Award recipients were recognised at a presentation held on Tuesday 19 May 2026.
WNSWLHD Executive Director Quality, Clinical Safety and Nursing Adrian Fahy said the Awards were an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of exceptional staff while also acknowledging the dedication of the entire nursing and midwifery workforce.
“It was a privilege to celebrate this year’s Award recipients, each one deserving of the recognition. I also want to commend every nominee and those who earned honourable mentions,” Mr Fahy said.
“Every year I’m impressed with the quality of all our nominations. As usual, it was an incredibly difficult task to select our Award recipients, which is testament to the commitment of our workforce.
“The Awards acknowledge the passion, dedication and significant contribution nurses and midwives provide to patients and communities across Western NSW. Their tireless efforts are at the heart of the care we provide, whether in hospitals, community health centres, or in the homes of our patients.
“The recipients from our local Award categories will now be put forward as nominees for the 2026 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.”
The District’s 2026 Nursing and Midwifery Award recipients in each category are:
- Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Grace Single
- Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Award: Sheirah Brilley
- Judith Meppem - Senior Nurse/Midwife Leader of the Year: Kathy Seward
- Midwife of the Year: Sarah Cruickshank
- New to Practice Midwife of the Year: Erin Bennett
- Nurse of the Year: Ann Humphrey
- Pauline Webster-Cox - New to Practice Nurse of the Year: Ayushi Ayushi
- Nurse Practitioner/Transitional Nurse Practitioner Award: Bonnie McCormack
- Team of the Year: Mental Health Intensive Care Unit, Bloomfield Hospital
- Executive Recognition of Excellence: Laurie Aitchison
More information on the winners and a full list of finalists is available on the Nurse, Midwife and Team of the Year Awards page of the WNSWLHD website.