Jabiru leading the way in remote area nursing

Jabiru Health Clinic Primary Health Care Manager Richard Van de Veerdonk with his Excellence in Remote Area Nursing award.

A JABIRU-based nurse has been recognised with a Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award for his outstanding contribution to the delivery of health care in the Northern Territory.

Richard Van de Veerdonk, Primary Health Care Manager at Jabiru Health Clinic, received the Remote Area Nurse Award for Excellence at a gala event at the Darwin Convention Centre on Friday 8 May. Nearly 300 nominations for 118 nurses and midwives were received for the Awards.

Richard, who has a Master’s degree in Indigenous Health, received nominations relating to his excellence as a manager, role model, teacher, and clinical expert. One nomination, from the 86-year-old wife of a man who received care from Richard, exemplifies why he received the award: “On a scale of one to ten, we give him a 15”.

In accepting his award on the night, Richard said his win was the result of a “team effort”, acknowledging the “exceptional team at Jabiru” and the support of his family.

“This is an individual award, but really it is a reflection of the whole Jabiru Health Clinic team,” Richard told The Wire.

Having worked across the Northern Territory as a nurse and midwife since 1992, Richard said the low turnover of staff in Jabiru was testament to the team spirit at the clinic.

“We have a really high standard of professionals at this area clinic,” Richard said. “It is an upper echelon for nursing staff, and everyone here has done extensive postgraduate studies in their field, whether it be in paediatrics, chronic disease, public health, midwifery or general emergency care.

“Working in remote health is probably one of the most diverse and challenging roles you can take on, but at the same time you become very much a part of the community, and hopefully a valued part of that community.”

Richard recently assisted in setting up a ‘Men’s Shed’ in Jabiru, which has increased the number of young men attending for health checks. He has also been commended for his engagement with students from Jabiru and Gunbalanya schools.

Minister for Health John Elferink, who presented the awards, said nurses such as Richard were leading the way in Australia in the areas of remote health service delivery, Indigenous and primary health care.

“These professionals work tirelessly around the clock to provide high quality care to the sick and injured, in some of the most remote and challenging conditions in the country,” Mr Elferink said. “They have a ‘can-do’ attitude, which makes a great difference when faced with challenges like Tropical Cyclones Lam and Nathan recently. Nurses and midwives on both of these occasions were, as always, on standby ready to assist when required and provide tremendous assistance.”

Mr Elferink said nursing, midwifery and health professionals in the NT enjoyed “one of the most diverse and exciting career pathways imaginable”.

“I congratulate this year’s nominees, finalists and award recipients for their overall commitment to the Territory’s health and wellbeing as well as for excelling this year against a quality field of award nominees,” he said.

“Eighty per cent of nursing and midwifery work in the Northern Territory involves caring for Indigenous people who can present with some of the most complex health problems seen in the western world. Nurses and midwives are often making decisions that critically impact on people’s lives by consulting experts that can be thousands of kilometres away.”

Now in their 12th year, the annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards are held in early May to celebrate International Midwives day and International Nurses week.

Winners in all categories for the Nursing & Midwifery Excellence awards in 2015 are:
Nurse of the Year - Jeff Tinsley (Darwin)
Graduate Nurse Program Participant of the year – Michelle Mason (Katherine) 
Excellence in Aged, Disability and Residential Care nursing – Sarah Louise Ryan (Darwin)
Excellence in Enrolled Nursing – Maureen Stevens (Darwin)  
Excellence in Hospital Care – Alison Bucklar (Darwin)  
Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Leadership – Wendy Corkill (Alice Springs) 
NT Administrator’s Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Midwifery – Mo Davy (Darwin) 
Excellence in Mental Health Nursing– Ali Thorn (Alice Springs) 
Excellence in Midwifery – Rosie Downing (Alice Springs) 
Excellence in Primary Health Care – Melissa Mills (Nhulunbuy) 
Excellence in Remote Area Nursing – Richard Van De Veerdonk (Jabiru)