Surprise, gratitude, and a little overwhelmed were the feelings running through Madeline Lang’s head when it was announced she’d been awarded Midwife of the Year for 2023.
Taking place at this year’s Monash Health 17th Annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards and Scholarships (NAMAS), the Maternity Services Clayton/Sandringham DCO said it was an “amazing honour” to take home both the Leadership Achievement Award and Midwife of the Year.
“It was really unexpected – you look at the peers you work with and you always strive to be at their level and have their attention to detail and knowledge, and you don’t ever think that anyone else sees you as that exceptional peer or example,” she said.
“It’s a massive honour to be recognised, not only for the Midwifery program, but more broadly for the organisation to get the word out about the work we do which will only help grow our profession.”
Madeline was commended on the awards night for having a calm, approachable and supportive nature, the ability to skilfully lead others to embrace change, and being an exceptional leader.
The integral role she played in the recent Sandringham maternity services transition, where she ensured the maternity team was fully supported throughout the process, was especially noted by the Nursing and Midwifery Governance Committee.
“The Sandringham Transition was probably the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my career,” Madeline said.
“During the seven-month period we had to understand the current maternity service that was being provided at Sandringham, and then understand how to transition it from another organisation to Monash Health in a safe and mindful way to retain stability.”
This involved frequent meetings and discussions with the existing team at Sandringham, making sure our policies and procedures matched, understanding the existing service and how to best incorporate changes to make it as safe as possible, as well as understanding their budget and workforce.
“Honestly, I don’t think the work stopped the day the service officially transitioned, and I’ve continued to work really closely with the team at Sandringham who have been so amazing and positive during this change,” she said.
Midwifery has always had a special place in Madeline’s heart, and she knew straight from the get-go it was exactly where she wanted to end up.
“Being able to empower women through such an incredible experience in their life, and at times a really sad experience with women who experience loss or who don’t have their desired outcomes, and being able to support them, makes it a really rewarding profession,” she said.
After completing her Postgraduate in Midwifery at Monash Medical Centre, Madeline has never looked back.
“Our team is so amazing and works so well together and with our medical employees to create the best outcomes for women and babies,” she said.
For Madeline, the cornerstone of a great leader is communication, treating others fairly and equitably, and respecting individuals.
“Being really calm in your approach and mentoring your team and supporting them through their careers, while understanding their wishes for future development, is integral,” she said.
“The number one thing is they feel well supported and very appreciated.”
Congratulations once more to Maddy for her well-deserved recognition!
