APPLICATIONS OPEN ON 30 APRIL 2025
This award is sponsored by Bank First
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.
PRIZE:
- $2,000 monetary award towards business and leadership development
- 1 x registration to attend the ACNP National Conference 2024
- 1 x year of ACNP membership
SELECTION CRITERIA
Address the selection criteria by downloading the Selection Criteria form and attaching it to your online application
- Be registered with NMBA as a Registered Nurse with NP endorsement and be working as a NP in your business.
- Demonstrates recent achievements in their nursing career
- Provides a description of a business model or the challenges they had to overcome to get it up and running
- Demonstrates how their Private Practice NP model has delivered excellence in clinical care and patient outcomes in their community
- Demonstrates how their model of care is innovative or different to what was already in existence, or builds on what already exists to improve patients' access to evidence-based healthcare?
- Be able to support the outcomes of your innovation.
- Outline other attributes contributing to the worthiness of the award being bestowed
AWARDEE OBLIGATION:
The awardee will report back to the ACNP board on how the Prize will support the innovation and the benefits of the award, and this report will be shared with Bank First.
TIME FRAMES:
- Nominations open 30 May
- Nominations close 30 June
- Recipients will be notified by 27 August.
- The official presentation is at the 2025 ACNP National Conference, to be held 29-31 October 2025 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, ACT.
JUDGING:
The judging will be conducted by the ACNP Awards and Scholarships Committee.
Final recommendations will go to the National Board for endorsement.
Please note that the judge’s decision is final.
PRIVACY:
Applicants' submissions are provided only to the judging panel.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1. Late submissions will not be accepted.
2. Submissions that do not address the criteria will not be considered.
3. All applications must be made via the online application forms with attachments uploaded in PDF form.
4. All recipients must be a financial member of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners at the time of submission, presentation and utilisation of the award prize
5. All announcements are to be held in confidence until the formal presentation at the ACNP National Conference Gala Awards Dinner.
PAST WINNERS
Kathryn Mitchell
Kathy has worked 45 yrs in various roles in health across NSW and SA. Kathy has worked as a NP in the public health service, however her nursing career has predominately been in general practice. Kathy completed her Master NP at Flinders University and has worked in general and private practice since her endorsement as a NP in 2012. Kathy has completed a Graduate Diploma of Health Service Management, Masters in Pain Management and post graduate certificates in Immunisation and Reproductive and Sexual health.
As a generalist NP, Kathy’s scope of practice is wide and she has focused her studies and services towards filling the gaps in general practice, particularlly reproductive and sexual health, chronic disease management, pain management, microsuction and aural hygiene & immunisation. Kathy remains passionate in advocating for and supporting nurses & NP in private practice.
Stephanie Dowden
Stephanie is a Social Entrepreneur and highly experienced Children's Nurse Practitioner with an extensive history of working in the hospital & health care industry in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Stephanie is passionate about addressing Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the raising awareness of the impact of these on health and well-being.
Stephanie is highly committed to delivering healthcare in a wide range of settings. She is delighted to nurture and grow health professionals of any discipline but is particularly dedicated to promoting the nurse practitioner role. Most of all, she champions equitable health service provision that improves access to high quality, evidence-based healthcare and enhanced client health literacy.
Kerry Duggan
Kerrie is our nurse practitioner. She is a registered nurse with over 40 years of experience. Kerrie holds post graduate certificates in Intensive care, Midwifery and General Practice Nursing and is an authorised Nurse Immuniser. Kerrie has a Bachelor of Education degree and a Masters in Nursing Science. As a nurse practitioner, her role is to support you to stay well and healthy by providing you with a yearly health check. Kerrie focuses on your health and well-being and checks for risk factors which can cause you disease. She can prescribe medications, refer to specialists, order blood tests and x-rays and ultrasounds, and assess and diagnose many medical conditions
2022 Innovation In Business Award winner, Kerrie Duggan, pictured with Bank First's Head of Partnership Development, Adrian Wilson
2021 Recipient
- Stephen Voogt, Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, VIC
Steve became a Nurse Practitioner specialising in Gerontology, he first spent time working in the public health system. During this time, Steve became aware of the challenges facing the aged care sector. In 2013, Steve commenced providing contracted services to residential aged care, including comprehensive assessment when and where it is needed, with a specific focus on Geriatric Syndromes. Steve also provides telehealth services, enabling residents to access this specialised service from the comfort of their home.
Steve’s business is innovative in a number of ways, but most of all, he is not allowing geographical challenges to impede his service delivery. The demand for Steve’s service is growing rapidly and now includes rural health services in towns such as Omeo, Yackandandah, Yarrawonga and Myrtleford. Recent innovations to Steve’s business include planning to implement the provision of ‘telehealth on call services’ to towns such as Portland.
Steve’s willingness to embrace new technologies, upskill other health professionals and ability to deal with Australia’s unique graphic challenges are what confirm his suitability for the Bank First Innovation in Business Award.
2020 Recipient
- Rachel Page, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, QLD
Rachel pioneered a private Nurse Practitioner led Child, Teen and Young Adult Mental Health Clinic ‘Teens Matter 2’ on Brisbane’s Northside. Identifying an at risk and vulnerable cohort, the establishment of ‘Teens Matter 2’ aims to enhance access to financially sustainable service delivery, reduce barriers to service provision and create equity in service accessibility. The goal being to enhance mental health outcomes, mitigate risk and support vulnerable populations.
This application has shown how the business has been established and prospered and how this business model can be used across other geographical areas. This business has also demonstrated improved access to care for an at risk and vulnerable population and has shown positive outcomes for the client base.
Congratulations Rachel.
2019 Recipients
- Sian Pritchard, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, VIC
Winner Sian with Adrian Wilson, Bank First Business Development Manager.
Sian is currently the Director of Pritchard Health and established the first Nurse Practitioner led clinic in Geelong.
Sian is truly an innovator in business, she has a philosophy truly centred to the whole person, and believes all people deserve excellent health care regardless of their circumstances.
Sian believes in the importance of early intervention, and that physical and mental health are not seperate.
Congratulations Sian.
