June 12, 2025Northern Health is excited to announce Simone Jervies, Acting Unit Manager for Birthing Suite and Maternity Assessment Care, as the winner of the BankVic Nursing Scholarship.
To celebrate International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May), Northern Health Foundation partnered with BankVic to provide a $5,000 scholarship to a Northern Health nurse or midwife. This scholarship was in recognition of valuable service and dedication to the role of a nurse or midwife.
The scholarship could be used towards further education, attending a national based conference, or a professional development activity.
Simone said she will use the scholarship to attend the Leadership Series for Midwives – a program that aligns with her passion for sustainable leadership in maternity care.
“With this support, I will build on the work I have already led by designing a structured leadership development framework within our unit – one that cultivates leadership at every level,” she said.
“This will include identifying and mentoring leaders, creating opportunities for them to lead projects, supporting formal clinical midwife consultant roles to guide innovation in care models, and embedding peer-led quality improvement initiatives.”
Simone is also keen to create a mentorship program to nurture early-career midwives, with a focus on reflective practice, compassionate leadership, and confidence building.
“This program will help cultivate a culture of care where midwives feel safe to grow, speak up, and lead,” she said.
Simone knows the importance of empowering our nurses and midwives to lead with care in order to create a safer, more connected, and sustainable outcomes for staff and Northern Health patients.
“I would place the power of care – relational, respectful, and person-centred, at the heart of every decision,” she said.
“In the past two years, I have led key changes grounded in the values of care and collaboration. I have introduced midwifery standing orders to strengthen clinical autonomy, and developed a third trimester ultrasound screening procedure to support midwives.”
“I have also led postpartum haemorrhage working groups to enhance emergency care, and restructured workflows to support burnout prevention in team cohesion.”
This is the second year BankVic has partnered with Northern Health Foundation to provide the scholarship. A committee comprising Northern Health Executives and BankVic representatives chose the successful submission.
Featured image: Lisa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Simone Jervies, and Jacinta Anderson, BankVic representative.
