Unconventional emergency department claims short film gong

A hectic emergency department shift, creatively depicted using medical instruments and equipment, has taken out this year’s NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) 2017 Short Film Festival.

Registered nurse, Samantha Clutsom, from Illawong in Sydney’s south claimed the First State Super sponsored first prize award of $5000 for Stock Room E.R’, a clever short film which follows the lives of staff and patients in an unconventional emergency department.

Blaxland Clinical Nurse Educator, David Pearce, caught the attention of judges for the $2000 Hester Communications second prize with his short film The Future of Nursing’, which follows a nursing research team in the year 2317 when antibiotics have failed to control super bugs and a galaxy wide search is underway for organisms to help fight disease.

Redfern registered nurse, Ciara Rafferty, was awarded the NSWNMA sponsored third prize of $1000 for I was just thinking…’, which captures the dedicated heroes who work on the frontline of healthcare everyday with little acknowledgement.

This year’s $1000 Maureen Puhlmann Encouragement Award was taken out by Glenn Chapman, a clinical nurse consultant from Earlwood, for A Little Respect’, an upbeat music video showcasing diversity in the nursing profession, violence in the workplace and a call for respect towards nurses.

All the short film entrants were praised for their originality and creatively by the independent judges Patrick McInerney (RPA, Border Security, MKR) and Lucy Gaffy (filmmaker, producer and NIDA tutor).

Once again, this year’s NSWNMA’s Short Story and Poetry Competition also uncovered plenty of new talent as judged by Tegan Bennett (fiction writer, teacher and critic) and Nicole Dalby (Senior Drama and English teacher).

Kensington registered nurse, Rebecca Noonan, was awarded the $2000 first prize, sponsored by First State Super, for her short story ‘A Final Farewell’ about the empathy and professionalism of a midwife following the tragic loss of a newborn.

The two $500 runner-up prizes were won by Marayong clinical nurse specialist, Sara Karacsony, for her short story ‘The Invisible Man’ about loneliness experienced by some aged care residents and ‘Light and Shade’ by registered nurse, Alexandra Ryan of Kensington, about the highs and lows midwives can experience firsthand alongside their patients.

General Secretary of the NSWNMA, Brett Holmes, commended all the prize winners and their ability to showcase their creative flair.

“Both the short film festival and the short story/poetry competition are great ways for our members to express themselves away from their nursing and midwifery professions,” Mr Holmes said.

“It’s a unique way to share experiences and offers an outlet to express talent they have outside of their daily working lives.”

The NSWNMA held the 2017 Short Story and Poetry Competition, and the Short Film Festival as part of celebrations for International Midwives Day (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May).

Download this media release: Unconventional ED claims short film gong

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