Leading the way in education
A passion for education and a commitment to students has delivered Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District another prestigious award for teaching.
Educator with Education & Training Services (ETS), Mary van den Dolder, has been named VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year in the 2021 Western Sydney & Blue Mountains NSW Training Services Awards.
Mary joins a long list of award-winning staff at NBMLHD who are training the next generation of health care clinicians.
Her passion for growing the careers of our staff and developing them professionally is what she says makes her a successful educator.
“Learning is a life-long journey and I love how education can support, nurture and grow our staff professionally,” says Mary.
“As educators, we pride ourselves on being approachable, engaging, empowering and flexible for our students,” Mary added
Not only was Mary awarded for her coaching and nurturing mentorships that have been instrumental to developing our Aboriginal traineeships, but also for the role she played supporting our COVID-19 response.
In the midst of the global pandemic, she ensured that all of her students, and other members of her team, could continue studying, transforming our education through the creation of an online learning platform.
This is in addition to providing COVID-19 specialised outreach to more than 6,000 staff across the district to support their safety, wellbeing and education in crucial infection control processes.
Mary has been a dedicated Nurse Educator for 20 years, with the past five and half years, at NBMLHD. She currently coordinates Certificate III courses in Health Service Assistance (AIN Acute Care & Wardspersons), Health Administration and Business Administration.
ETS Leadership & Management Consultant, Niall Scully, says Mary is well known and respected across our health district.
“Mary is an inspirational role model and leader in her respective field and to all our staff at Nepean Blue Mountains Hospitals,” says Niall.
“Her professionalism and enthusiasm, has been a source of inspiration for me, and a spur of motivation for my colleagues to continue to provide the highest standard of care for each other, our staff and most importantly, our local community.”
Winners of the Western Sydney & Blue Mountains NSW Training Awards are now in the running for the national 2021 Australian Training Awards, which will be held in Sydney in September.