Catholic Health Australia (CHA) has honored Calvary Mater Newcastle Clinical Nurse Specialist, Fane Falemaka, with the highly coveted national Nurse of the Year Award.
The award honours an outstanding nurse, midwife or nursing team working in Catholic health and aged care to serve patient and clients with respect and dignity while acknowledging their individual uniqueness. Nominees are evaluated through a research project, innovative program or a significant contribution to a new or existing body of knowledge that contributes to the promotion and celebration of a Catholic understanding of care within a changing environment.
For over 29 years, Fane has been a leader and role model at Calvary Mater Newcastle. She shares her extensive knowledge and experience graciously with colleagues and is an outstanding mentor to new and junior colleagues. When the ward was undergoing some internal change, she calmly guided her colleagues through this process supporting colleagues and management at every step.
Fane trained to be a nurse at Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1968. Learning and furthering herself in her nursing career has played an important part in Fane’s life and she has a large amount of qualifications that have taken her to different parts of the world.
But yet despite her immense talent and dedication, Fane remains humble. Following on from her nursing training in Brisbane, Fane completed further training in midwifery and then maternal and child welfare nursing. She then went on to complete her post graduate certificate in ward management at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
During Fane’s time at Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital she has spread much joy and wisdom, and has continued to stay true to her value of lifelong learning including being one of the hospital’s first nurses to be awarded as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in medical nursing.
Throughout Fane’s nursing career, both in Tonga and Australia, she has put the patient first and foremost. She is an outstanding role model to her colleagues and she exemplifies all the traits that make an outstanding nurse. Fane has also contributed to the profession through her many roles as a trainer, including designing a Tongan Curriculum.
For a lady that flies quietly under the radar, this national recognition was overwhelming. Fane says, “Throughout all my years of nursing I’ve always tried to do my very best. I work with passion, love and respect. I try my best to look after people and am so grateful for being recognised with this award.”
Greg Flint, CEO, Calvary Mater Newcastle, says, “It is fantastic to see the dedication and talent of Fane recognised in this manner. Fane is a truly inspirational nurse, who deserves this accolade wholeheartedly.”
“Throughout all my years of nursing I’ve always tried to do my very best. I work with passion, love and respect. I try my best to look after people.”
