NSW Health has announced the 29 finalists of the state's 14th annual Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
This year's finalists have been nominated across nine award categories, including Team of the Year, the Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award, and the consumer-nominated Healing Heart Award which recognises a nurse or midwife whose compassion, kindness, and professionalism stood out to a patient or family.
NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM said this year's finalists reflected the passion, dedication and expertise of the state's nursing and midwifery workforce.
"Nurses and midwives are an integral part of the NSW Health system, supporting not just patients and their families, but also other healthcare professionals," Ms Pearce said.
"Every day around our state, nurses and midwives work incredibly hard to provide safe, high-quality and patient-centred care, so being chosen as a finalist in these awards is a remarkable achievement.
"I want to congratulate the finalists for this year's Awards and also pay tribute to all nurses and midwives who strive to improve health outcomes for the people of NSW every day."
NSW Health Chief Nurse Jacqui Cross said the Awards help recognise the vital role nurses and midwives play in the NSW public health system.
"Our nurses and midwives work at the very heart of the health system, and I have the privilege of hearing extraordinary stories of the care and compassion they provide to patients and their families each day.
"It's one of the reasons why these Awards are so important, because they really shine a spotlight on what our nurses and midwives do, and how and why they do it."
Newly appointed NSW Health Chief Midwife Donna Garland is looking forward to her first year of involvement in the awards.
"I've seen first-hand the excitement these awards generate when a staff member is named as a finalist, and I am looking to celebrating with the finalists later this year," she said.
All the finalists and winners will be celebrated at the Awards ceremony, which will be held at NSW Parliament House on Monday 23 November 2026.
For more information on the NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards 2026 visit the NSW Health website: www.health.nsw.gov.au/einma
