Heroes in Scrubs Recognised At International Nurses Day Awards

The 2026 International Nurses Day Awards celebrated outstanding nursing staff from across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service region, recognising excellence in patient care, clinical practice, education and community health. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara‍‍Local nurses were celebrated for the immeasurable care, compassion and expertise they bring to the community during the annual International Nurses Day Awards at Mackay Base Hospital. Hosted by Mackay Hospital and Health Service, the event recognised outstanding contributions from nursing staff working across the region’s hospitals, health services and community facilities. Observed worldwide on May 12th, International Nurses Day honours the legacy of Florence Nightingale and the vital role nurses play in healthcare. Among those recognised were Clinical Nurse Consultant Samantha Bullman for her specialist work supporting patients with complex gastrointestinal conditions, and long-serving clinical nurse Sarah McDeed, whose decades of service earned her the McFadzen Perpetual Award. Together with more than 1,400 nurses working across the Mackay HHS region, the award recipients represent the passion, skill and teamwork that underpin healthcare across our local communities. ‍Celebrating Our Nurses - The Heart Of Healthcare Nurses across the Mackay region were recognised for their immeasurable care and compassion at the annual International Nurses Day Awards held last Tuesday. Hosted by Mackay Hospital and Health Service at Mackay Base Hospital, the ceremony celebrated the vital role nurses play in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across the region. International Nurses Day is observed globally each year on May 12th, marking the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The day provides an opportunity to recognise the people who form the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide. Across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service region, more than 1,400 nurses work in hospitals, multi-purpose health services and community health facilities, making up more than half of the workforce. Among those honoured was Clinical Nurse Consultant Samantha Bullman, who received the Clinical Nurse Specialty Award for her work in gastroenterology. Based at Mackay Base Hospital, Samantha supports patients living with complex gastrointestinal conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. She said the recognition was particularly meaningful during Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month and highlighted the importance of specialist care in regional areas. “Nursing for gastroenterology, especially Crohn’s and colitis in regional areas, is quite disparate, so having someone in this area that can provide expertise and care for these people is essential,” she said. Having worked in nursing for about 11 years, Samantha said her motivation came from wanting to support patients and families during difficult times. Long-serving clinical nurse Sarah McDeed was also recognised, receiving the McFadzen Perpetual Award. Sarah began her training in Adelaide in 1971 and has spent decades working in the profession, witnessing significant changes in healthcare over the years. “It was a huge shock… I was quite humbled,” she said. She said nursing had always been about collaboration and teamwork, especially in regional areas like Mackay. “You can’t do it on your own. You have to do it as a team,” she said. Chief Executive of Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Sean Birgan, said nursing remained one of the most rewarding professions. Sean began his own nursing career in 1984 and has since worked across Queensland and internationally, including helping establish a critical care unit in Indonesia following the 2002 Bali bombings. “Nursing is a fantastic profession… it’s provided me with great opportunity,” he said. “If you want to get into a profession that’s caring and makes a difference to the lives of many people, you really can’t go past nursing.” 2026 Mackay Hospital and Health Service International Nurses Day Award winners: • Excellence in Patient Care (patient/consumer nominated): Jodi-Ann Maguire – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mental Health, Mackay • AIN Commitment to Care Award: Charli Clark – Assistant in Nursing, Clermont MPHS • Clinical Excellence Award (Rural): Georgia Button – Clinical Nurse Consultant/NUM, Dysart Hospital • Our Mob Together Strong Health Equity Nursing Award: Jenny Gething – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Better Connected Care, Mackay Base Hospital • CQUniversity Graduate of the Year Award: Hazel Madziva – Registered Nurse, Clermont MPHS • McFadzen Perpetual Award: Sarah McDeed – Clinical Nurse, Mackay Base Hospital • Clinical Nurse Specialty Award: Samantha Bullman – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Gastroenterology, Mackay Base Hospital • James Cook University Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Unit): F0 Medical Ward, Mackay Base Hospital • James Cook University Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Individual): Jeffrey Dunbavan – Clinical Nurse, F0 Mackay Base Hospital Nurses across the Mackay region were recognised at the International Nurses Day Awards for their immeasurable care and compassion in supporting patients and the community. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara