The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim’s Director of Nursing, Rae Priaulx, is a Queensland finalist in the ‘For Purpose and Social Enterprise Award’ category in the 2016 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
Ms Priaulx, a registered nurse, has been the Director of Nursing at The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital for the past eight years. She has played an integral role in growing the service from 141 to 190 beds, expanding the maternity department, introducing a rehabilitation service and re-building the mental health facility.
In her previous role as acting General Manager/Director of Nursing for St Stephen’s Hospital in Hervey Bay, the first fully-integrated digital hospital in Australia, she was exposed to innovative healthcare technology that continues to inspire her in her current role. At The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital, she implemented an electronic patient tracking system which improved patient workflow, including enabling families to see live updates on progress from the operating theatre.
Ms Priaulx said she was thrilled to be nominated and recognised alongside other inspiring businesswomen from across the state.
“It is a great honour to be nominated for this award. I feel extremely fortunate that some of the drivers for success in my chosen my career equates to better outcomes for patients and that provides me with enormous satisfaction,” Ms Priaulx said.
“The best part of my role is the privilege of developing future healthcare leaders. If I can inspire someone to step up, provide them with a leadership opportunity or project to learn and grow their confidence, it makes my whole day shine,” she said.
Ms Priaulx’s responsibilities are to provide a culture of care and professionalism while implementing the strategic clinical vision of excellent patient care. She continuously looks for innovative pathways to improve business efficiency.
Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, Group Executive, Media, and Chief Marketing Officer Joe Pollard said that Queensland women are changing business, one brilliant business woman at a time.
“Now in their 22nd year, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards champion women from diverse industries, ensuring their achievements are given the recognition they deserve, and continue to raise the profile of women in business,” Ms Pollard said.
“The 2016 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards finalists demonstrate the unique combination of skills required for professional excellence: the courage to take risks, sound financial management, strong leadership skills and of course, sophisticated business acumen allowing them to thrive.”
Winners of the 2016 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards will be announced at a Gala Dinner at Brisbane City Hall on Friday 14 October.
The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital has been serving the community since 1980 and is part of UnitingCare Health - one of the largest not-for-profit private hospital groups in Queensland which operates more than 1000 licensed beds across four hospitals.
For more information on the 2016 Telstra Business Women’s Awards and the other finalists, please visit https://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/news/2016/queensland-women-lending-a-hand-to-help-others-succeed.