20 years celebrating healthcare heroes: 2026 HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards winners revealed
HESTA
15 May 2026
A nurse from the Northern Territory alongside a midwife and an organisation from New South Wales were crowned the three winners of the HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards in Melbourne last night.
The celebration of sector leaders marked the 20th year of the awards, which honour the vital contributions of Australia's nurses, midwives, nurse educators, researchers, and personal care workers.
Nurse of the Year Helen Lamech from Healthy Living NT in Alice Springs was recognised for transforming diabetes care across Central Australia. Her work has included developing a culturally safe, peer-mentored community network of over 100 families and establishing the region's first nurse-led type 1 diabetes clinic. Helen has directly improved the lives of more than 2,000 people facing significant social, geographical, and cultural barriers to care.
Midwife of the Year Rochelle Bonning from Campbelltown Hospital was recognised for her 30 years of service advancing woman-centred maternity care. Rochelle’s critical contributions have included co-founding the Camden and Campbelltown Midwifery Group Practice and leading the establishment of the region's first publicly funded homebirth program, and one of only 17 nationally.
Recovery Camp was named Outstanding Organisation. The North Wollongong-based organisation was recognised for its Australian-first therapeutic recreation program, delivering immersive clinical placements for nursing students alongside recovery-focused experiences for people living with mental illness. The organisation has supported over 2,000 students and 1,500 consumers since 2013. The program has been cited in a Productivity Commission report as an effective model for stigma reduction and workforce development.
Each winner will receive $10,000 from the $30,000 prize pool provided by premium sponsor J.P. Morgan, which is to be used for professional development or to improve services or processes.
HESTA Chief Experience Officer Lisa Samuels congratulated the winners and finalists, saying the awards provided a reminder of the crucial role nurses and midwives play within communities.
"Congratulations to our amazing winners and finalists. Their tremendous impact is inspiring and we thank them for their tireless commitment to making a difference every day," Ms Samuels said.
"Nurses and midwives support us during some of our most vulnerable and challenging moments, with the HESTA Awards designed not only to recognise leaders in the sector but also to show gratitude for all they do to support people across the country."
Stephen Jani, Head of Markets and Securities Services Sales, and Nadia Schiavon, Head of Securities Services, both of J.P. Morgan Australia and New Zealand, expressed their congratulations on behalf of the sponsor.
"Australia's nurses and midwives give so much of themselves in service to others, and it is a genuine honour for J.P. Morgan to support an awards program that recognises their remarkable contributions," Mr Jani said.
"The work being celebrated tonight reflects the very best of healthcare in this country. We are proud to stand alongside HESTA in acknowledging the talent, compassion and commitment of this year's winners and finalists," Ms Schiavon added.
Quotes from each of the winners are below, while more information about the awards is available at www.hestawards.com.au.
INTRODUCING THE 2026 HESTA AUSTRALIAN NURSING & MIDWIFERY AWARD WINNERS
NURSE OF THE YEAR:
Helen Lamech
Healthy Living NT
Alice Springs, NT
“There are honestly no words to describe how I am feeling. I feel incredibly grateful, humbled, and very touched to even be considered alongside so many amazing nurses and midwives,” Lamech said.
“This recognition is not just about me. It reflects the support of the people around me, my own family, the families who trust me, the colleagues I work alongside, and the community that continues to inspire me every day. I feel incredibly honoured to be recognised in this way, and I will carry it with gratitude, humility, and a strong commitment to continue giving back and making a positive difference wherever I can.
“What I find most rewarding about my work is seeing people become empowered. So much of diabetes education is not just about giving information — it is about helping people understand it, believe in themselves, and feel confident enough to use that knowledge in their everyday lives.
“What continues to inspire me most is watching people realise that diabetes does not have to define them. Being part of that journey, even in a small way, is something I never take for granted, and it is what continues to motivate me every day as a nurse and diabetes educator.”
Helen plans to use the prizemoney to support her professional development, including to support finishing her studies as a Nurse Practitioner. She also hopes to use the prizemoney to advance diabetes education and support other nurses to continue working in the Northern Territory.
MIDWIFE OF THE YEAR:
Rochelle Bonning
Campbelltown Hospital
Campbelltown, NSW
“To be nominated by a woman I cared for is the most special part of being nominated. To be recognised validates continuing lobbying for home birth to be a normal part of maternity care within the public health sector,” Bonning said.
“I started my midwifery career in 1993 at Liverpool Hospital, completing my training there and started work as a fully-fledged midwife in 1994 at Campbelltown Hospital. I never thought I would be a finalist at a national award night.
“Continuity of care has been so rewarding. It is relationship-based care. My favourite is repeat families coming back. I am currently caring for a woman I have cared for six times. Her seventh was a surprise but her first call was to me. How lucky am I?
“Over the years we have expanded our program to increase the number of midwives working, which means we can take more woman on the program. We have also started new career midwives within our group practice who I have been mentoring, so it's great to see the new midwives embracing continuity of care.
“The latest and probably the biggest reward of my career is finally getting publicly funded homebirth. It's been 10 years in the background and finally approved mid last year and we have successfully birthed the first 10 babies.”
Rochelle plans to use the prizemoney to purchase equipment for the hospital, including a doppler, and to support professional development opportunities for herself, her daughter – who is also a midwife – and a midwife she mentors.
OUTSTANDING ORGANISATION:
Recovery Camp
North Wollongong, NSW
Recovery Camp Director Christopher Patterson said it was an honour to receive the recognition.
"This award is a meaningful acknowledgement of the role Recovery Camp plays in shaping the future nursing workforce," Patterson said.
"Seeing students shift from clinical assumptions to genuine, empathetic, person-centred care — and watching people with lived experience grow in confidence and connection — is what makes this work so powerful."
The team plans to use the prizemoney to continue and expand the Recovery Camp Nursing Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to nursing students across the duration of their degree, including a supported opportunity to attend Recovery Camp as part of their clinical placement. Funding will also support ongoing program evaluation and lived experience co-design, ensuring the model remains accessible and continues to grow.
Ends.
About HESTA
HESTA is one of the largest superannuation funds dedicated to Australia’s health and community services sector. An industry fund that's run only to benefit members, HESTA now has more than one million members (around 80% of whom are women) and currently manages approximately $102 billion* in assets invested around the world.
*Information is current as at the date of issue.
