Bernadette Nicholls’ dedication to improving low rates of immunisation in Keilor Downs has won her a national award. Nicholls, an immunisation nurse at Keilor Downs Medical Clinic, won the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association’s Best Practice Award in the immunisation category, which “aims to recognise and reward outstanding nurses working in primary health care”. At age 26, the mother of three attended university as a mature-age student. She worked as a nurse in general practice in Keilor Downs for the past 18 months before being nominated by her practice manager Grace. “When I began working I discovered the immunisation rate was lower than I expected,” she said. “So I decided to become an immunisation nurse and see if I could increase the rate. As a result, in 12 months it increased by 30 per cent.” … Ben Cameron
