May is a special month globally for Nurses and Midwives as we celebrate both International Days of the Midwife [May 5th] and the Nurse [May 12th]. I had the honour of presenting two CDU awards at the Northern Territory Nursing & Midwifery Excellence Awards held on May 15th in Darwin, this was a wonderful night to celebrate the great contribution nurses and midwives make to people’s lives every day.
Special Congratulations to Lisa Vermeulen, Director Howard Springs Quarantine Facility, who won 2021 Nurse of the Year. Lisa is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer of our College and CDU and teaches on the Aeromedical Retrieval courses.
The College also recently recognised both students and staff who have excelled in their studies and professional work throughout the year, we have the winners listed in this newsletter.
Our staff spotlights focus on Prof Dan Bressington, our new Professor in Mental Health based in Darwin, and Lecturer in Nursing Ethar Alsharaydeh based at our CDU Sydney Campus.
Bachelor of Nursing student John Chol shares his inspiring story as a South Sudanese refugee and how the CDU Charles See Kee Scholarship has truly changed his life and enabled him to study at CDU.
There were 534 graduates of the College in the May ceremonies, held at the Darwin convention Centre. The inspirational graduation speaker was Adjunct Professor Sue Hawes, Chief Nurse & Midwife, NT Health, who currently holds the position of Executive Director, Hazard Management Authority, NTG. Bachelor of Nursing graduate and Darwin local, Jessica Lacey, gave an inspirational speech on behalf of all graduates at the recent CDU graduation ceremony, showcasing the dedication and determination required to succeed with university study.
Remember to have your COVID-19 vaccination, we feature our Darwin based staff leading the way!
We will continue to share all the inspiring good news stories with you, and keep you informed of College activities and future plans. If you are a student, alumni, clinical partner or key stakeholder please join our CDU community to connect, discover and grow.
Professor Catherine Turner AM
College Dean |
