Nurse Unit Manager at Liverpool Hospital, Sophie Daniel, has been awarded the 2024 Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship at Southern Cross University.
The scholarship, awarded by Bonnie Boezeman AO in partnership with Chief Executive Women (CEW), enables a female nurse to develop their leadership skills through Southern Cross University's Master of Healthcare Leadership.
Sophie is Nurse Unit Manager of Perioperative Unit, Surgical Short Stay Units and Pre-Admission Clinics at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney. Sophie has worked in surgical wards, emergency departments and in both public and private perioperative services.
"I am honoured and humbled to receive this scholarship," Sophie said.
"A big driving force for me is being able to give care and compassion to people at some of the most challenging times in their lives and see the difference it makes for them.
"Being in a leadership position, I recognise the importance of supporting, encouraging and equipping our nurses with the knowledge, skills and capabilities to provide safe and quality health care for all."
"Through the Master of Healthcare Leadership, I'm excited to undertake research projects to further nursing and the way we provide care in the community."
Scholarship benefactor Bonnie Boezeman AO said the CEW scholarship aimed to address the shortfall of nurses in the healthcare sector.
"We need to empower talented nurses with the opportunity for higher education and to realise their leadership potential," she said.
"The Masters in Healthcare Leadership aims to help female nurses develop the leadership skills to advance their own careers and to grow the nursing sector as a whole. In the past six years, this scholarship has not only changed the lives of six exceptional nurses, but has multiplied the reach of their learnings to hundreds of patients and staff."
Southern Cross University Chancellor Sandra McPhee AM, a long-standing member of CEW, congratulated Sophie on her achievement.
"Nurses are the frontline of our communities and it is essential that their hard work is recognised, encouraged and celebrated," Ms McPhee said.
"It is wonderful to see this scholarship awarded to a dedicated nurse such as Sophie, who is already flourishing in her career."
Chief Executive Women has offered the Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship for a nursing professional studying the Master of Healthcare Leadership at Southern Cross University annually since 2019. Previous recipients include Lieutenant Colonel Kylie Hasse (2023), Amanda Christie (2022) and Le Truong (2021).
About Chief Executive Women
Since 1985, Chief Executive Women (CEW) has influenced and engaged all levels of Australian business and government to remove the barriers to women's progression and ensure equal opportunity for prosperity. CEW's 1,200 members represent Australia's most senior and distinguished leaders across the country's largest private and public organisations. Through research, advocacy, leadership programs and scholarships, CEW works to realise its purpose of 'women leaders empowering all women'.
About the Master of Healthcare Leadership
The Master of Healthcare Leadership at Southern Cross University is an online course designed for healthcare professionals to develop the skills to lead teams in Australia's public and private healthcare systems. The two-year course is open to professionals working in a health science discipline such as nursing, allied health or mental health.
