Red Nose is delighted to announce registered midwife and Red Nose Advocacy and Project Specialist, Skye Stewart, has won the Midwife of the Year category for the 2024 HESTA Nursing and Midwifery Awards.
As a proud Wergaia and Wemba Wemba woman, Skye has been recognised for her exceptional work and patient care to First Nations families who have experienced stillbirth, SIDS and SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infants).
Skye is also the creator of Jiba Pepeny – Star Baby, the nation’s first stillbirth support guide for First Nations families.
“I am incredibly humbled and honoured to receive the Midwife of the Year Award,” said Skye.
“I created Jiba Pepeny to help support First Nations families through the Sorry Business of losing their little bub.”
“Having travelled across many rural and remote Australian communities, I discovered that for some families, it was their first ever opportunity in sharing loss stories,” Skye said.
Red Nose CEO, Keren Ludski, is immensely proud of Skye’s accomplishments and her dedication in working with First Nations families.
“Skye has been instrumental in working with healthcare professionals and others who work with First Nations families in ensuring cultural safety and considerations are at the centre of the care they provide to families experiencing baby and child loss,” Keren said.
“Skye’s ability to notice gaps in midwife support to First Nations families who have experienced stillbirth or baby loss, and her commitment in helping these families access the best care for them, has been nothing short of exceptional.
“We are also so thrilled with the pivotal role Skye and our education team played in bringing to life Red Nose’s First Nations Early Pregnancy Loss brochure, launched earlier this year,” said Keren.
Red Nose has a dedicated First Nations resources page. Visit rednose.org.au/page/first-nations-resources.
The annual HESTA Nursing and Midwifery awards recognises nurses, midwives, nurse educators and researchers as well as personal care workers.
Media contacts:
Monday to Thursday - Maria Salvador at mariasalvador@rednose.org.au or call 0402 941 493
Friday to Sunday - Fiona Jordan at fionajordan@rednose.org.au or call 0402 846 867