The Little Miracles Trust, in conjunction with the Donald Malcolm Research & Educaton Fund, were delighted to support the 2019 Otago Nursing Excellence Awards as part of International Nurses Day on 12th May.  

Recipients were acknowledged and honoured at the Otago Nursing Excellence Awards, held at the Otago Polytechnic Hub in Dunedin on Monday 13 May.  Held bi-annually in Otago alternating with Southland, they provide a unique opportunity for nurses to come together and celebrate innovation, clinical excellence, leadership, and research and are held to formally recognise and celebrate innovation and outstanding practice in the nursing profession across Otago. 

Award categories included Innovative Practice, the Rising Star Award, Education, Clinical Excellence, Leadership, along with a surprise Award introduced this year – the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Award for outstanding Rising Star award.jpgcontribution at an organisational level. 

The Rising Star award, which was sponsored by The Little Miracles Trust and the Donald Malcolm Research & Education Fund, was awarded to Georgia-Rae Flack a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

Georgia-Rae joined the NICU team as a new graduate in 2017 and has developed her neonatal and family health knowledge and skills at a rapid pace, further enhancing with postgraduate study this year.

“We are thrilled to recognise the significant contribution our nurses make to improve the health and well-being of our community,” says Southern DHB Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Jane Wilson. “We know there’s incredible
commitment to improve and advance nursing practice, and this celebration provided an opportunity for nurses’ contributions to be properly recognised.”

Scholarships were funded by Southern DHB, Enliven Presbyterian Support Otago, HealthCare Otago Charitable Trust, Otago Polytechnic, Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, The Little Miracles Trust and the Donald Malcolm Research & Education Fund

Pictured above, recipients of the Otago Nursing Excellence Awards – Georgia-Rae front right

About Georgia-Rae Flack   

Georgia-Rae joined the NICU team in 2017 as a new graduate registered nurse and the unit was very fortunate to be able to retain her. Georgia-Rae has developed her neonatal and family health knowledge and skills at a rapid pace, this being further enhanced this year with postgraduate study.  Georgia-Rae has impressively achieved a proficient RN portfolio. She is pursuing a range of educational opportunities and has recently started orientating to the NICU transport team. Georgia-Rae has also completed the preceptorship-training programme and, has been part of the Releasing Time to Care patient observation module. Georgia-Rae is recognised Maori youth leader and has a strong focus on kaupapa Maori. 

Georgia-Rae has made an impressive start to her nursing career we are very pleased to be able to award her with the rising staff award in acknowledgment of her excellence.

Congratulations Georgia-Rae!