A NURSE manager from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) South Eastern Section has won a major healthcare award in Melbourne.
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Judy Whitehead won the 2014 Aurora Award at the 32nd CRANAplus Annual Conference dinner this week.
CRANAplus is a member-based national health organisation that promotes the development and delivery of safe, high-quality healthcare to remote areas of Australia by educating, supporting and representing the views of health professionals.
Ms Whitehead was nominated by her peers for the award, which is recognised as the highest accolade within the remote and isolated health profession. She was one of five finalists.
The official announcement noted "Judy's announcement was met with great endorsement. She has fulfilled a number of diverse roles: clinical care, education and management. Her commitment to quality and safety never waivers and has resulted in her being a leader in her field."
Ms Whitehead said she was extremely surprised.
"It was like an episode of This is Your Life," she said.
"I was sitting there completely unaware, listening to them describing the career and achievements of the winner when I suddenly realised they were talking about me.
"I must admit I was lost for words when they read out my name, which is a rare thing indeed.
"I was both honoured and humbled to receive The Aurora Award and a Fellowship for CRANAplus."
Ms Whitehead joined the RFDS 23 years ago and worked as a flight nurse for both South Eastern and Central sections before taking on her current role ten years ago. She is also the president of Flight Nurses Australia.
Ms Whitehead's role sees her responsible for health quality and compliance with all recognised standards, health audits and the update and maintenance of all Health Policy and Clinical Guidelines Manuals.
It also involves managing the flight nursing services across five states and includes Cooper Basin Oil and Gas Fields (SA, QLD and NT) as well as overseeing community health nurses in Broken Hill including the McGrath RFDS Breast Care Nurse.
RFDS South Eastern Section CEO Greg Sam congratulated Ms Whitehead on her award.
"She is a great source of pride and inspiration for the South Eastern Section and testament to the quality healthcare the RFDS has provided to those in rural and remote Australia during the past 86 years," he said.