Although they got us through COVID and they’re there when you need them most, nurses rarely get the appreciation they deserve.
But on International Nurses Day, a group of volunteers made sure to recognise all the work nurses at Westmead Children’s Hospital do by celebrating them in the perfect way – with a free lunch!
Every year on May 12, the same day in which the founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale was born, people acknowledge the contribution of nurses around the world.
Last Friday, members from the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) visited hospitals across NSW and Victoria to deliver up to 6,000 free burgers to the nurses who go above and beyond to care for patients in their greatest time of need.
Among the 50 plus RRT volunteers serving up burgers at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead was AU Operations Manager Michael Dunn, who was looking forward to thanking the Westmead nurses for all that they do.
“We’ve done a couple of events in the past for nurses, and we just recognise them as being under-thanked and underappreciated,” Dunn told Parra News.
“They’ve done it tough through the COVID years and our volunteers are really coming forth [on May 12] because they want to recognise their efforts and show that we appreciate them for the great job they’ve done.
“We just want to get to as many [nurses] as possible to say thank you.”
Dunn hopes that going forward, people will recognise the lengths nurses go to help people not just on International Nurses Day, but every day.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) General Secretary Shaye Candish said the day was an opportunity to recognise the essential contribution of nurses and pay tribute to nurses who speak up for change.
“Nurses are vital for our healthcare system. Their critical thinking and expert coordination prove nurses must be involved whenever decisions are made about healthcare reform or new policies,” she said.
As the largest health system in the country, NSW employs more than 53,000 nurses and midwives.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the NSW Government is recruiting additional nurses and midwives to public hospitals across the state to help reduce emergency department and elective surgery wait times.
“The commitment, compassion and skills of our nurses and midwives contribute greatly to the health and wellbeing of local communities right across NSW,” he said.
“I welcome this next generation of nurses and midwives and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have.”
To help RRT continue to support communities in need go to http://www.rrtglobal.org/donations/
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.