Awards, Scholarships & Recognition Program 

This is an important initiative of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners as we recognise outstanding service of Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses.

All Awards and Scholarships recognise the invaluable work Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses contribute to the Australian community ensuring effective, innovative and efficient care of an individual’s health issues in a complex and constantly changing environment.

As a College we strongly encourage applications from across the country, in relation to all types of roles and specialties.  Please check the guidelines and consider who you may wish to nominate, or whether you could nominate yourself!

All applicants need to complete the Nomination Form in conjunction with Award/Scholarship specific requirements.

Please email completed application forms to Bernie McPhee at membership@acnp.org.au

 

Please see the 2020 Awards, Scholarships & Recognitiion Program booklet for further details.

2020 Awards, Scholarships & Recognition Program

 

Time Frames Overview

Please see Awards, Scholarships & Recognition Program Booklet for full outline of dates. 

The dates outlined below are indicative of the opening of nominations for the Awards, Scholarships & Recognition Program: 

 

February	Heather May Herrick Scholarships Nominations Open QUT Student Indigenous/Rural and Remote Scholarships Nominations Open
March	Nurse Practitioner of the Year Nominations Open  Nurse Practitioner Mentor of the Year Nominations Open
May	Ollie Scholarship Nominations Open  Bank First Innovation in Business Award Nominations Open
August	Winners Notified
September	Formal Announcement at the National Conference Gala Awards Dinner

 

The Scholarships 

Heather May Herrick Scholarship Program

Open 1st February, 2020

The scholarship is named in memory of Heather May Herrick. This scholarship is in conjunction with the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN)

Heather received outstanding care, including palliative care and pain management from a Nurse Practitioner which made a huge difference to Heather and her family.  After a long battle with cancer pain, thanks to a Nurse Practitioner, her last 2 months of life were comfortable. 

In appreciation for the unique role of the Nurse Practitioner in Australia and the outstanding work that they do, Heather’s family has funded a scholarship program aimed at supporting more Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses to deliver services to people like Heather. 

Prize: 10 Scholarships are to be awarded each year over 5 years.  Attendance at the Conference (September) in the same year of application/award is required for the scholarship to be granted.  Therefore each Scholarship will consist of $1,000 towards ACNP conference registration and travel fees associated with attending the conference.   This Scholarship is to assist with Registration and Travel costs to the ACNP National Conference.  Please note: Awarding of the Heather May Herrick Scholarship to previous recipients may occur after a three year break.

 

2020 Time Frames:
1st February Nominations open

1st May Nominations close

17th-29th May Working party will meet and decide on a winner

10th June Winners and applicants notified

4th September Announcement of winners at ACNP National Conference all announcements are to be held in confidence until this date.

Please note: Awarding of the Heather May Herrick Scholarship to previous recipients may occur after a three year break.

 

Please see the documents outlined below for full details of the Scholarship.

Heather May Herrick Scholarship Booklet

Heather May Herrick Scholarship Application

2019 Recipients

Congratulations to the following Recipients of the first Heather May Herrick Scholarships.

• Amor Kisling
• Elizabeth Hristov
• Fiona Gillaners
• Khera Kim
• Kylie Cross
• Melanie Press
• Melissa Hanson
• Monica Attard
• Robyne Hingley
• Sue McDonald

      

Awardees with Stephen Herrick (Centre) and Andrew Herrick (Right)

 

QUT Student Indigenous/Rural and Remote Scholarships

Open 1st February, 2020

The scholarship has been established in conjunction with Queensland University Technology (QUT) to provide the opportunity of a Nurse Practitioner Candidate (NPC)* working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and/or Rural and Remote area.

In appreciation for the unique role of the Nurse Practitioner in Australia and the outstanding work that they do, QUT has funded a scholarship program aimed at supporting more NPC's* to deliver health care, with the following priorities:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Rural and Remote area

Prize: The scholarship will consist of (x2) $1,000 Scholarships towards ACNP conference registration and travel fees associated with attending the conference. Attendance at the Conference (September) in the same year of application/award is required for the scholarship to be granted. Two scholarships will be awarded each year. 

 NOTE:  Nurse Practitioner Candidate includes Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Transitional Nurse Practitioner and other terms refereing to studying to become an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner.

 

2020 Time Frames:

Congratulations to Rebecca Evans

      

Recipient  Rebecca Evans (left) with ACNP President Leanne Boase

"What an honour it was to attend this year's ACNP Conference in Melbourne as the QUT Scholarship recipient... I was able to network with colleagues from the Central West of NSW but also had the opportunity to meet with other Nurse Practitioners from a multitude of specialities and found them all to be open in sharing their own NP Journey.  Hearing their stories and simply being around people who were passionate about what they do, encouraged me on my journey." 

See the full refection from Rebecca below: 

Reflection from Rebecca Evans – Recipient of 2019 QUT/ACNP Conference Student Scholarship

 

Ollie Scholarship 

Open 1st May, 2020

This scholarship is named in memory of Olwyn (Ollie) Johnson who was appointed as the first Nurse Practitioner in NSW in May 2001. Ollie was the first Nurse Practitioner approved to work in a remote area of far west NSW and recognised for her specialities in rural and remote health care. A pioneer, Ms Johnston paved the way for Nurse Practitioners nationally. She found a setting to learn beyond the norm and had to think creatively to meet her client’s health needs. Through her passion for the area she developed a deep sense of commitment to rural and remote health. 

 

Selection criteria
The scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who can best demonstrate that the proposed activity will both add to the body of knowledge on nurse practitioner roles and models of care.
Applicants must complete the selection questions and the declaration included in this application.

Prize: The prize is a scholarship of up to $5,000 and may be provided to one individual. 

 

Application Forms:

• For the Applicant - Ollie Application 2020
• For the Referee - Ollie Referee Form 2020

2019 Recipient

 

Giuliana was one of the first Nurse Practitioners endorsed to practice in Tasmania.  She has extensive diabetes experience including leadership and advisory roles nationally. Key works includes: Retrospective Diabetes in Pregnancy Outcome Study; Assessment and Management of Obesity and Self-maintenance Study; A competency-based approach to expanding the diabetes healthcare workforce (current PhD).  The Ollie Nurse Practitioner Scholarship supports attendance to the 11th International Council of Nurses’ NP/APN Nursing Network Conference in Nova Scotia in 2020.

 

Jane O'Connell Research Scholarship  

The Jane O’Connell Research Scholarship has been established by Dr Jann Foster in partnership with the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners and honours the contribution of Dr Jane O’Connell to the development of the nurse practitioner role in Australia.

Jane O’Connell has an extensive background in Emergency Nursing that saw her become one of the first Nurse Practitioners in Australia. She has extensive experience in teaching health staff, policy work and her PhD explored the parameters of practice of Emergency Nurse Practitioners across Australia.   A major outcome was the development of clinical practice standards for ENPs.   The College is pleased to continue its acknowledgement of Jane’s outstanding contribution to the Australian Health service and specifically the essential role of the Nurse Practitioner. 

Prize: The prize is $5,000 

This award is not onging.

2019 Recipients

Congratulations to the combined winners; Kathy Tori, Tash Jennings & Grainne Lowe.

Helen Gosby (left) presenting the Award to Kathy Tori (Centre) and Tash Jennings (right)

 

The Awards 

Nurse Practitioner Mentor of the Year 

Open 15th March, 2020

This award is Sponsored by the Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH)

The awardee will have demonstrated excellence in Mentorship.

1.            Be registered with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse with NP endorsement and be working as a NPAdditional Eligibility Criteria

2.            Demonstrate a commitment to the education of others

3.            Have acted as a positive professional role model over the course of their career

4.            Be engaged in a formalised mentorship role for sharing professional NP skills or Advanced Practice Skills with others

Prize:

• The awardee will be granted 12 months membership of ACNP.
• Complimentary registration at ACNP National Conference including Conference Dinner.
• Recognition award or certificate. 
• Presentation at Awards presentation event. 
• AMH resources for mentor and student to the value of $500 

2019 Recipient

     

Murray Sneesby (2018 winner, left) with Nikki Johnston OAM (right).

 

HESTA Nurse Practitioner of the Year   

Open 15th March, 2020

The awardee will have demonstrated outstanding qualities in the areas of clinical work, mentoring and leadership

Additional Eligibility Criteria

1.            Be registered with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse with NP endorsement and be working as a NP

2.            Excellence in clinical care and patient outcomes

3.            Evidence of mentoring and professional leadership to others in the clinical team, and within their professional networks

4.            Evidence of participation in research or quality improvement

5.            Other attributes contributing to the worthiness of the award being bestowed

Prize: The awardee will be granted 12 months membership of ACNP. 

Application from: 2020 NP of the Year Nomination Form

2019 Recipient

     

Recipient Chris Helms (right) with 2018 recipient Tash Jennings (left)

 

Bank First Innovation in Business Award

Open 1st May, 2020

Innovation in Business Award 

The awardee will have demonstrated innovation in health management systems, administration and/or service provision. Innovation is defined as the multi-stage process whereby organisations transform ideas into new/improved products, service or processes, to advance, compete and differentiate themselves successfully in their marketplace

Additional Eligibility Criteria

1. Be registered with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse with NP endorsement and be working as a NP

2. Outcomes of established infrastructure and required improvement
3. Must be able to demonstrate how the innovation has improved clinical care and patient outcomes

4. Provide overview of challenges and make recommendations for innovative approaches to enhancing patient care; re: access to leading healthcare service.

Prize: $2,000 towards business and leadership development. 

2019 Recipients

Congratulations to Sian Pritchard from Pritchard Health 

 

Winner Sian with Adrian Bank First Business Development Manager.

 

Quality Use of Medicines

This award was Sponsored by Mundipharma

The awardee will have demonstrated a pharmacological excellence in pain management. 

This award is not onging.

2019 Recipient

     

Amore Kisling with Rebecca Wiseman, representing Mundipharma.

 

Donna Diers Oration 

The Donna Diers Oration demonstrates excellence within the profession and the oration should be significant to other Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses. The Oration honours Donna Diers, in recognition of the support, leadership and friendship shown by her to the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners and the NP profession.  Each year a Nurse Practitioner is provided with the opportunity to present a lecture on a topic of their choice. 

Nominated by the ACNP Board. 

2019 Presenter

In 2109 the Oration was presented by Nikki Johnston OAM.  Nikki was selected as her achievements, including your research and demonstrate excellence would inspire attendees at the conference.

Nikki delivering her oration

Past Presenters

2014 – Jane O’Connell

2015 – Karen Sue Hoyt

2016 – Deborah Foskett

2017 – Chris Helms

2018 – Not done