HESTA Nurse Practitioner of the Year 2025 | Toni Slotnes-O’Brien.

The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) and HESTA are proud to announce the 2025 HESTA Nurse Practitioner of the Year: Toni Slotnes-O’Brien.

Toni is an accomplished Nurse Practitioner (NP) at the University of South Australia’s City West Clinic. She began her career specialising in diabetes care and now works in gender-affirming healthcare.

In addition to her clinical practice, Toni contributes to academia, training the next generation of nurses and nurse practitioners. She has earned a strong reputation within the gender-diverse community for providing outstanding care and offering treatment options that align with patients’ needs.

Her colleagues describe her as follows: “Her passion in gender-affirming care is truly amazing. She cares deeply for each and every one of her patients.” Reflecting on the award, Toni said: “I feel deeply honoured, and honestly a bit overwhelmed, to receive this award among so many inspiring nurse practitioners. I see this as recognition not just of my work, but of my patients, whose courage and trust are at the heart of everything I do.”

ACNP CEO, Chris Helms, said: “Congratulations Toni Slotnes-O’Brien. I am incredibly proud of Toni and the work she does. Her leadership in gender-affirming care is not only breaking down barriers to timely, evidence-informed and compassionate care, but is also making a profound difference for a population that continues to face extreme stigma and adverse health outcomes due to transphobia. Toni exemplifies the very best of what it means to be a Nurse Practitioner: delivering outstanding care, advancing equity, and standing with her patients with dignity and respect.”

The ACNP would also like to thank HESTA for once again partnering with us for such a worthy award.”

Today, there are more than 3,100 endorsed Nurse Practitioners in Australia. This year also marks 25 years of NP practice in the country.

A Nurse Practitioner is a Registered Nurse with the experience, expertise, and authority to diagnose and treat people of all ages with a variety of acute and chronic health conditions. NPs have completed additional postgraduate university study at the master’s level and are the most senior and independent clinical nurses in the Australian healthcare system.

Find out more about NPs here.

Media Contact

Australian College of Nurse Practitioners

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