In May this year, Gilgandra nurse Amy Sutherland won Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year at the Western NSW Local Health District Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

She has now progressed to become a finalist in the 2025 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards which are held at Parliament House in Sydney in November.

Ms Sutherland, a Wiradjuri woman and transitional nurse practitioner with Gilgandra Health Service, described the recognition as both humbling and identity-affirming.

“I didn’t grow up strongly connected to my culture when I was younger," she said.

"So, when I became an adult, I had to reconnect with my identity.

"I’ve worked hard to learn to be involved in my community and to represent my culture and my practice, and so now to be recognised for that just means the world to me.

“After NAIDOC Week this year, I went and spoke to the kids in the local primary school in Gilgandra, and that was my message to them - when you’re in a small town, you're often told that if youwant to make something yourself you have to leave.

"That’s just not true.”

Ms Sutherland has been nursing for 16 years, specialising in rural and remote healthcare.

Early in her career she gained experience at Dubbo Base Hospital before returning to her hometown to focus on patient care.

She has also held education roles as a district educator for Western NSW and as a NSW Health Pathology clinical educator.

Ms Sutherland works at Gilgandra Health Service as a transitional nurse practitioner.

Regarding the state finals, Ms Sutherland said all regional winners from categories at the Western Awards go up for nomination, and then all nominees are reviewed to select the finalists.

While preparing for the awards, she continues her full-time nursing role, raising a three-year-old and a six-month-old, and completing her studies to become a fully endorsed nurse practitioner by 2028.

“It’s a busy little life at the moment,” Ms Sutherland said.

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM said this year’s finalists have demonstrated outstanding care and contributed to improved health outcomes in their local community. 

“The Nursing and Midwifery Awards acknowledge the passion, dedication and contributions of nurses and midwives across the NSW public health system who support patients and their families during what can be some of the most important or difficult times in their lives,” Ms Pearce said.

“I want to congratulate the finalists for this year’s awards, but I also want to thank all our nurses and midwives who are integral in ensuring patients receive exceptional care every day across NSW.

 “I look forward to celebrating the finalists’ achievements at the Awards ceremony later this year, and to finding out who the winners are.”

Ms Sutherland is rightly proud of her nomination and her dedication to her career is obvious, as she continues to study.

“I won’t have everything done until the end of 2028, then I can go for endorsement as a fully endorsed nurse practitioner,” she said.

“I love working clinically with patients and being in my hometown.

"I look back and can’t believe that I spent so long away from Gilgandra.

"This is exactly where I’m meant to be.”