SUPPORTING THE FUTURE
Scholarships awarded to nurses at St Vincent's Private - May 2026
Thanks to donor support, four nurses at St Vincent's Private Hospital Fitzroy have received scholarship funding to further their education and professional development.
Congratulations to:
Helen Vuong (Hoa May)
Graduate Certificate in Cardiac Nursing
Lisa Coring
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Teaching
Arjun Gautam
Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Nursing
Alice Richards
Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing
L-R Helen Vuong (Hoa My), Lisa Cording, Arjun Gautam and Alice Richards
"We are incredibly grateful to our donors for investing in our nurses. Their generosity helps create opportunities for professional growth, encourages lifelong learning and strengthens the future of patient care at St Vincent's."
Ilona Ryan
Education Manager at St Vincent's Private Hospital Melbourne
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE TODAY
Nursing Excellence Awards - May 2026
By recognising excellence in nursing, we honour the individuals who embody the values of St Vincent’s and inspire others through their leadership, innovation and commitment to patient care. These awards are a powerful reminder of the impact nurses have on the lives of those they care for and the communities they serve.
We are incredibly grateful to our donors whose support helps make awards such as the Chief Nursing Officer Leadership and Excellence Award and the Emerging Leader Award possible. Your generosity helps recognise and encourage the nurses shaping the future of healthcare at St Vincent's.
L-R Nicole Tweddle (Chief Executive), John Canoneo, Alix Massey, Erin A'Hearn, Kristy-Lee Bosher, Athulya Geogy, Margaret Loh, Debra Bourke, and Jacqui Bilo (Chief Nursing Officer)
We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Nurses Alumni for their generous support of the Graduate Nurse of the Year, Early Career Nurse of the Year and Postgraduate Nurse of the Year awards. Special thanks also to the Delta Goodrem Foundation for sponsoring the Nursing Excellence Award in the Private and Public hospitals.
Congratulations to our Award winners:
Graduate Nurse of the Year – John Canoneo
Operating Suite – Instrument and Circulating Nurse, Fitzroy
Recognised for clinical excellence, professionalism and continuous learning, while making a significant contribution to patient care, teamwork and collaboration.
Early Career Nurse Leader of the Year – Alix Massey
Specialist Clinics, Fitzroy
Recognised for emerging leadership, patient advocacy and service improvement initiatives that have strengthened patient care and clinical pathways.
Postgraduate Nurse of the Year – Erin A'Hearn
Critical Care/Cardiology
Recognised for excellence in specialist nursing practice and a commitment to delivering outstanding patient care.
Nurse Researcher of the Year – Kristy-Lee Bosher
Education and Learning
Supported by Australian Catholic University, this award recognises Kristy-Lee's contribution to nursing research and education, helping improve clinical practice, workforce capability and patient outcomes.
The Emerging Leader Award – Athulya Geogy
Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM), Fitzroy
Recognised for compassionate leadership, commitment to professional development and dedication to delivering high-quality care for older patients.
Chief Nursing Officer Leadership and Excellence Award – Debra Bourke
GEM@Home, St George's Health Service
Recognised for exceptional leadership, team development and patient-centred care, delivering high-quality support to older and vulnerable patients in the comfort of their own homes.
Delta Goodrem Foundation Nursing Excellence Awards - Margaret Loh and Brenda Rayner
Public Hospital – Margaret Loh
Diabetes Education – Diabetes Educator and Nurse Practitioner
Recognised for leadership and innovation in diabetes care, education and mentoring, improving outcomes for patients and supporting colleagues across the organisation.
Private Hospital – Brenda Rayner
Nurse Unit Manager – Victorian Plastic Surgery Unit, East Melbourne
Known for her exceptional patient care, Brenda is always checking in with staff and is regarded by her peers as the "heart and soul of the ward."
IN CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION ALWAYS
International Nurses Day - 12 May 2026
Celebrated around the world on 12 May, International Nurses Day is a special opportunity to acknowledge the dedication, compassion and professionalism of nurses.
We extend our sincere thanks to Bank First and The Delta Goodrem Foundation for helping make this year's celebrations extra special. Together, they provided pamper packs to more than 8,000 nurses across St Vincent's Health Australia, putting a smile on the faces of all our wonderful nurses.
