Anna Dinh (pictured above) has taken home the Nurse of the Year award at Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2025.
Anna, a mental health nurse in the Waratah rehabilitation unit at Cumberland Hospital, was humbled to win the coveted award.
“I feel really honoured to have received this award and I’d like to thank the people that nominated me.”
Anna has proudly worked in mental health for more than 26 years, with an undeniable passion for those she cares for.
“Being able to develop a rapport with our consumers and to see them make a full recovery, seeing them get back home and into the community is when I feel I’ve achieved something.”
As well as being an award-winning nurse, Anna is a mum of two daughters, aged 19 and 21, and is looking forward to celebrating the award win with them and her husband this weekend.
“It’s a good time to win this because Mother’s Day is around the corner, so we’ll do two celebrations at once!”
WSLHD’s Midwife of the Year award was presented to Svetlana Ilich who works in the midwifery Bereavement service at Blacktown Hospital.
Svetlana’s award win was an emotional one.
“This is for the women I look after who are going through pregnancy loss and still births.
“I feel like this job is my calling and I almost don’t feel like it’s work for me because it’s a passion caring for these women and their families as they experience loss,” she said.
WSLHD’S Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Maria Lingam, acknowledged the importance of the awards.
“It is truly uplifting to see so many people here today to formally recognise and celebrate the unwavering dedication to excellence and care by our nurses and midwives.”
NSW Health’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Jacqui Cross, was the special guest speaker and spoke highly of WSLHD.
“I see Western Sydney as one of the districts leading in midwifery leadership and practice.
“A big congratulations to everyone who has been nominated today – it really does mean that you are doing something very special.”
WSLHD’s Chief Executive, Graeme Loy, expressed his gratitude for the personal compassion nurses and midwives show on a daily basis.
“It’s the humanity that our nurses and midwives bring for our patients that makes a difference.
“They are the person sitting by their side, they provide the touch of a hand and are there to talk them through their difficult time.
“I see this human interaction and conversation with patients, their families and carers every day in our hospitals – thank you very much”, Graeme said.
Congratulations to all WSLHD nurses and midwives for making a difference every day.