Media Release
26 January 2006
Nurses honoured with top awards
Sally Goold was named 2006 Senior Australian of the Year for her outstanding contribution to nursing and to indigenous people. Sally is a registered nurse, an Indigenous Wiradjuri woman, and the founder and Executive Director of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses.
‘Sally is an exceptional person and a role model for all nurses’, ANF federal secretary, Jill Iliffe said.
‘She is passionate about nursing and has worked tirelessly to encourage more indigenous people to pursue nursing as a career and to make sure they are not subject to the difficulties she faced herself as she battled negativity and discrimination to successfully achieve a nursing qualification. She has achieved many further qualifications since then and has a distinguished nursing career.
Toni Hoffman was named Australia’s 2006 Local Hero. Toni ‘blew the whistle’ in reporting her concerns about the practice of a Queensland surgeon, sparking numerous inquiries in Queensland’s health system and a major reform of the state’s health services.
ANF federal secretary Jill Iliffe said, ‘Toni displayed incredible determination, ethical fortitude and courage. Its is not always easy to stand up for what is right. Even more so when the stand that is taken is unsupported and jeopardizes professional relationships’.
According to Ms Iliffe, people who ‘blow the whistle’ do not always receive the credit they are due and often suffer for the stand they take. ‘The recognition given to Toni for her actions perhaps signals a changing public attitude toward whistleblowing, which is very encouraging’, Ms Iliffe said.
'I am proud to congratulate Sally and Toni on behalf of all nurses and to say well done'.
The ANF, representing 145,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in Australia.
Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lani Stanistreet, Manager Communication & Journals 0414 471 339