L to R: Thannapat Siriwitchayawong, Simone Taylor, Jodie Geissler, Neely Pratten, Kaye Rigby, Bushra Otham, and Elise Tuffy (Absent: Belinda Rickard, Charissa Zaga and Joleen Rose)

8 March 2026

We celebrated International Women's Day at Austin Health this week, recognising our 2026 Inspirational Women award recipients and nominees with a hybrid event.

This year we received 97 nominations, setting a new record! Congratulations to all 78 nominees. Thank you for your remarkable contribution to Austin Health and for the difference you make to our patients and the community.

A big round of applause for our eight 2026 Inspirational Women award recipients:

• Belinda Rickard, Divisional Director Mental Health
• Dr Bushra Othman, Colorectal Surgery Fellow
• A/Prof Charissa Zaga, Senior Speech Pathologist & Acute Stream Leader and Post-Doctoral Researcher
• Joleen Rose, Chief Allied Health Informatics Officer and Senior Physiotherapist
• Kaye Rigby, Senior Counsellor/Advocate Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault (NCASA)
• Neely Pratten, Acting Nurse Unit Manager Emergency Services and Clinical Nurse Manager Quality and Risk, Emergency Services
• A/Prof Simone Taylor, Senior Pharmacist Emergency Medicine and Research
• Thannapat Siriwitchayawong, Food Services Assistant Central Production Unit

We caught up with A/Prof Simone Taylor to talk about her career at Austin Health and what receiving this recognition from her colleagues meant.

Simone started working at Austin Health in 2001 as part of a project to explore whether having a pharmacist embedded in the Emergency Department (ED) could improve the quality of patient care. The project proved successful, and Simone went on to lead the Pharmacy team in the ED. This novel model of care influenced practice well beyond our walls, and over the years pharmacists from across Australia have visited Austin Hospital to learn from the team.

Over time, her work evolved to support the growing research program within our Pharmacy department. “I enjoy the creativity, collaboration and teamwork involved in being a clinician researcher - identifying a problem, then evaluating and testing the implementation of potential solutions,” shares Simone. “I enjoy working with our staff to set their first research projects up for success, so that they want to embark on their next one!”

That same focus on people extends well beyond research. In recent years, Simone has played a key role in creating space for wellbeing, connection and psychological safety within the department. She helped establish a peer support team that encourages open conversations and reminds staff they don’t have to navigate challenges alone.

Simone reflects, “Our patients have always been our focus. If it were not for them, we would not have a role here, but we also need to look after our staff so that we have the workforce needed to care for our patients. We all have a role in making this place thrive in the way we show up each day.”

Receiving the Inspirational Women award was a moment of reflection for Simone, “It is very humbling to receive this award, particularly as I know I have leaned on many of the people who nominated me when we’ve navigated the challenges. I have been very fortunate to be mentored and stand on the shoulders of many fabulous role models of all genders.”

She adds, “The theme this year, Balance the Scales, is very fitting. We must continue to further gender equity at our organisation by always considering who isn’t at the table when decisions are being made. We must ensure staff of all genders feel safe in the workplace, that mums can return to work and still be able to do everything that is a part of being a mum, and that staff with caring responsibilities can access flexible work arrangements.”

Simone’s career is a reminder of the impact built over time. Alongside our other Inspirational Women award recipients, she exemplifies the Austin Health values that underpin our work and the culture we continue to build, together.

Happy International Women’s Day! 💜