THE winner of a local scholarship to recognise the dedication of nurses and midwives is Ardeer resident Simone Jervies.
Currently the Acting Unit Manager for Birthing Suite and Maternity Assessment Care at the Northern Hospital in Epping, Ms Jervies was surprised with the news during her shift handover last Friday and she is planning to spend her scholarship on an expensive ticket to attend the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) Leadership Series.
“I am so excited, I have wanted to go to the ACM for so long,” Ms Jervies said.
“I grew up in Warrnambool and graduated when I was 22. That was eleven years ago.
“We have a great team here at Epping, and we know a lot of the staff at the Kilmore Hospital, we all work well together.”
The $5000 scholarship ties in with the legacies of International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day events held last month.
The scholarship can be used towards further education, attending a national based conference, or a professional development activity.
Northern Health Foundation partnered with BankVic to create the scholarship.
In the meantime, Ms Jervies will continue to support staff and share her knowledge, and create a mentorship program to nurture early-career midwives. There will be a focus on reflective practice, compassionate leadership and confidence building.
“This program will help cultivate a culture of care where midwives feel safe to grow, speak up, and lead,” she said.
This is the second year BankVic has partnered with Northern Health Foundation to provide the scholarship. A committee comprising Northern Health Executives and BankVic representatives chose the successful submission.
