To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, six of our staff were recognised in the 2021 Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) Women in Ambulance campaign.
Congratulations to Dr Sarah Coombes, Kerry Trow, Michelle Shiach-Wise, Tanya Somani, Alaine Burgess and Claudia Le, who were recognised in the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) Women in Ambulance campaign this year.
The Women in Ambulance awards are designed to recognise and promote the hard work of incredible and inspirational women who work in ambulance services across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The campaign looks to empower and inspire future generations of women to step into ambulance careers and progress into leadership roles and management levels.
Congratulations to all NSW Ambulance recipients and thank you for everything you do.
Dr Sarah Coombes
Dr Sarah Coombes is the Executive Director of Aeromedical Operations at NSW Ambulance. She has over 15 years operational experience flying with London’s Air Ambulance, NETS, Westpac Lifesaver and NSW Ambulance. She is a strong role model who uses her expertise in emergency medicine, pre-hospital/retrieval medicine, response planning and aeromedical management to provide leadership and vision to a largely male dominated team. She is an achiever who is known to her colleagues as friendly, approachable and professional.
Kerry Trow
Kerry Trow joined NSW Ambulance in 1988 and is currently a Paramedic Specialist – Level 5 Intensive Care Paramedic. She has been a Clinical Mentor and role model for countless paramedics, trainees and interns at Glen Innes Station and the broader New England Zone. Her dedication to clinical improvement and championing new skills and innovation is second to none. She is a Peer Support Officer who has made a significant impact on the mental wellbeing of many of her colleagues state-wide.
Michelle Shiach-Wise
Michelle Shiach-Wise has worked as a paramedic at many stations on the Central Coast since 2005. She is well known, not only as a competent clinician and mentor, but also for her passion for staff welfare and social organisation, creating an atmosphere and culture many surrounding stations are eager to be a part of. Her professional reputation has allowed fantastic working relations with the local LHD in her current role as acting Health Relationship Manager.
Tanya Somani
Tanya Somani joined NSW Ambulance in 2008 and has had a number of career highlights including Paramedic, Peer Support Officer, Executive Staff Officer, Program Manager, Health Relationship Manager, and currently Station Officer at Laurieton Station. She is a subject-matter expert on in and out of hospital environment cleaning and infection control, and leads initiatives to keep NSW Ambulance a safe work place. She was presented with the NSW Ambulance 2020 Safety Leadership Award in recognition of her work.
Alaine Burgess
Alaine Burgess has had many careers at NSW Ambulance since 1998, including Paramedic, Call Taker, Dispatcher and Educator Communications. She is passionate about ensuring that every new staff member at the Sydney Control Centre gets the best training possible for some of the most challenging jobs at NSW Ambulance. She has looked after the wellbeing of her colleagues through her role as a Peer Support Officer by mentoring, training, producing a bi-monthly staff newsletter and worked to obtain a permanent Therapy Dog at work.
Claudia Le
In her role as the Employee Connect Coordinator, Claudia Le helps staff with complex people related matters and manages the 24/7 COVID-19 Hotline for staff. Her positive presence and constructive contribution are highly appreciated by her past and present team members as other colleagues. She is resourceful, well-connected and able to find pragmatic solutions to various problems. She is also the Peer Support Officer of choice for many NSW Ambulance employees.