Summary
Central West Hospital and Health Service speech pathologist Samantha Nyman has been recognised for her work with students by the Queensland Branch of Speech Pathology Australia.
Ms Nyman was nominated for and won the Excellence in Practice Education category of the Speech Pathology Australia Queensland Branch annual awards.
Central West Hospital and Health Service speech pathologist Samantha Nyman has been recognised for her work with students by the Queensland Branch of Speech Pathology Australia.
Ms Nyman was nominated for and won the Excellence in Practice Education category of the Speech Pathology Australia Queensland Branch annual awards.
Queensland branch co-chair Dr Clancy Conlon said the Excellence in Practice Education award celebrated educators who demonstrated innovative, inclusive, and supportive approaches to student learning.
“Excellence in Practice Education was our most competitive category with clinical educators nominated across Queensland,’’ Dr Conlon said.
Dr Conlon said Ms Nyman was nominated by a student who provided a detailed account of the exceptional clinical placement experience she had created.
The student wrote:
“Before my placement had even started, Sam provided a comprehensive guide to the context, caseloads, and her expectations. She also organised a Teams meeting a few weeks prior to my first day. Together, these immediately set a professional tone and clarified each of our roles in ensuring the placement experience goes well.”
The student also shared how Ms Nyman’s approach made a lasting impact on their placement experience:
“Sam routinely checked in with me to provide feedback, while also requesting feedback on how to best support my learning. Sam’s mentoring & supervision skills, interpersonal communication, and empathetic presence truly made my placement experience special.”
Ms Nyman said she was honoured to have received the award.
“As health professionals, it’s important that we help support and develop the next generation of clinicians,’’ she said.
“They are the people who will continue delivering quality health services to our communities in the future.’’
Central West Executive Director Regional Health Services Craig Carey said Ms Nyman’s award was reflective of the quality of service delivered by Allied Health staff members right across the region.
He said hosting Allied Health students in the Central West was a great way of introducing the future generation of clinicians to the benefits and advantages of living and working in rural areas.
“While the students are doing their placements, they work closely with and are supported by our own team of Allied Health professionals such as Ms Nyman,’’ Mr Carey said.
“Seeing the work our staff, like Ms Nyman, do on the ground provides an excellent example and motivation for the new generation of students as they start to build their Allied Health careers.’’ Mr Carey said Central West Health hosted an average of eight Allied Health students each year for differing periods from a range of universities in the following disciplines:
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Speech and Language Pathology
Social Work
Podiatry
Pharmacy
Students are generally based in Longreach and travel to Blackall, Winton, Alpha and Barcaldine.