Palliative Care Educator Stephanie Dunstall and Midwifery Manager Sandra Forde were honoured for their unwavering dedication to their work. Photos: Murrumbidgee Health District.
Two Riverina healthcare leaders have been recognised for their immeasurable dedication and contributions to their respective fields.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) announced that Midwifery Manager Sandra Forde had been awarded the highly respected 2024 Don Kendell Memorial Leadership Award, while Palliative Care Educator Stephanie Dunstall was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2024 NSW Premier’s Awards.
The Don Kendell Award is presented to those who exemplify the leadership qualities championed by Don Kendell — commitment, innovation, and an unwavering dedication to improving healthcare.
Sandra was selected as the winner in recognition of her exceptional contributions to midwifery leadership and her dedication to advancing maternity care across MLHD.
According to MLHD, Sandra’s extensive experience and commitment to providing high quality, women-centred care have made a profound impact on both the healthcare sector and the communities she serves.
MLHD Chief Executive Jill Ludford congratulated Sandra and all the finalists for their remarkable contributions.
“The individuals nominated for this year’s award have shown exceptional leadership, dedication, and a deep commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities,” Ms Ludford said.
“Sandra’s passion for midwifery, her advocacy for her colleagues, and her ability to implement innovative, women-centred care models make her a deserving recipient of the 2024 Don Kendell Memorial Leadership Award.
“The leadership demonstrated by Sandra, as well as the other finalists, exemplifies the values that Don Kendell held dear — integrity, professionalism, and a relentless drive to improve healthcare. We are fortunate to have such dedicated leaders within our district.”
Sandra’s leadership journey began in 1990 and spans significant experiences in the clinical and academic sectors. Her career has progressed from grassroots practice to management roles, including serving as the Statewide Midwifery Specialist for the NSW Referral Advice Line for maternal and neonatal transfers.
Sandra is known for balancing family commitments while maintaining her clinical practice by working weekends in healthcare alongside managing a full-time role in the university education sector.
In 2015, Sandra became the District Midwifery Manager and has continued to demonstrate her passion for evidence-based, woman-centred maternity care.
Her leadership has been instrumental in advocating for evidence-based maternity care, building strong relationships with midwifery teams, supporting midwifery colleagues, service development, and the creation of innovative care models.
The Premier endorsed Stephanie Dunstall as one of only 42 finalists. This year’s Premier’s Awards received more than 240 nominations across eight categories.
Stephanie was nominated in the Anthea Kerr Award category for her work in raising awareness about end-of-life options and supporting the palliative care team to provide compassionate care for individuals and their families across the district.
The palliative care educator conducted a needs analysis and surveyed Nurse Unit Managers and Clinical Nurse Educators across MLHD to identify knowledge gaps. Using this data, she developed a continuous education program for district-wide clinicians.
Stephanie also collaborated with external organisations to build capacity within the aged care sector and worked with the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network to identify and promote broader educational opportunities.
Ms Ludford described Stephanie as a worthy finalist who consistently went above and beyond to achieve remarkable outcomes.
“Steph is passionate about improving palliative and end-of-life care education across NSW,” Ms Ludford said. “We are immensely proud of the outstanding work Steph does for people in our region. Her dedication to educating our teams and engaging with our communities has made a significant impact.
“We are thrilled that Steph is a finalist in the prestigious Anthea Kerr Award. This award honours individuals who demonstrate a profound commitment to public sector values and exhibit notable leadership potential — qualities that Anthea exemplified throughout her career.”
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