When Monica Dale took on the role of the local health district's disaster manager eight years ago, she hadn't reckoned on 2020.
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To say this year has been her biggest challenge to date is an understatement, with devastating bushfires and floods compounded by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Yet her ability to stay calm in a crisis, and show compassion to those in harm's way, has seen her recognised at a state level.
Ms Dale is one of 24 finalists in the 2020 NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards, in the Judith Meppem Leadership Award category.
The Shellharbour Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Clinic Team is also in the finals for the Team of the Year.
Ms Dale, a third-generation registered nurse, worked in hospital emergency departments for two decades - preparing her for a role which is never predictable.
"Every district across NSW has a disaster manager, and I took on the role for the Illawarra Shoalhaven in 2012," she said.
"We use the PPRR model - prevention, preparedness, response and recovery - to cope with any emergency or disaster that occurs throughout the district.
"We work with NSW Health at a state level and we also work collaboratively with other agencies such as NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, the Rural Fire Service and welfare agencies. No emergency organisation can work in a silo.
"There's regular events that occur like bushfires and flash flooding, and we also respond to incidents where there's mass casualties which can be anything from a train derailment to an explosion at an industrial site to a multi-car pile-up.
"We work to make sure our sites, our hospitals, our staff are prepared to provide emergency care. And we also have staff who, after the incident, will provide psychological support."
The past year however, has been like no other: "It started in September last year and it hasn't stopped - from the bushfires, then floods and straight into the COVID-19 pandemic".
It was Ms Dale's job to set up the emergency operations centre for the district to tackle the COVID threat, and to ensure staff had access to the right training and resources. She's also helped set up pop-up testing clinics, such as the Albion Park drive-through clinic, and continues to work to keep the district prepared.
"We've had pandemics before but this one has really stretched and tested everyone, not just in health but other emergency and welfare services," she said.
"Overall I think everyone has learnt how important it is as a community to be a community - to work together - and that's really important."
A good example of that teamwork can be found at the Shellharbour Assessment COVID-19 Assessment Clinic, based at Shellharbour Hospital.
Clinic foundation manager Tracey Hinke said the team was established in a matter of days in mid-March to meet the growing demand for local testing. Since then, more than 16,000 COVID-19 tests have been carried out.
"It was a group of people who'd never worked together, but came together with the one purpose - to make sure we were efficient and treated people with kindness and compassion," she said.
"People are often anxious, and the testing criteria is changing constantly, so the team is continually adapting and innovating."
One of the team's initiatives has been to set up an outreach service to vulnerable members of the community including children, those with a disability, the elderly and the homeless.
"For instance we sent a team out to test a 16-year-old boy with autism, and his mother was so full of gratitude," Ms Hinke said.
Both Ms Dale and Ms Hinke are delighted their efforts have been recognised in the state awards.
This year in line with COVID-19 safety measures the awards ceremony will be virtual, with the winners to be announced during a live stream on November 26.
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