In February 2021, the first COVID vaccines reached Australia. After months of the Federal Government dragging their feet, this marked a milestone in Australia’s COVID recovery.

It was you – the health and care workers on the frontline – who were the first to roll up their sleeves and receive the vaccine. You did it for yourself, your family, and the community you care for.

The HSU’s stance was clear – members are overwhelmingly in favour of vaccination, and the Union’s role was to help them find the information that would help them make the best decision. The best way to get the highest rate of vaccination is always to educate and incentivise – something the Federal Government chose to overlook.

In August, at the peak of the vaccination mandate debate, the HSU held a Vaccination Forum where members could submit their questions and concerns and be answered by a range of medical, social, and industrial experts.

From an international respiratory specialist to a paramedic working on the frontline and an Indigenous policy advisor with expertise in epidemiology, the forum panellists did an amazing job at explaining the many complexities of the COVID vaccine in a straightforward and digestible format.

With nearly 500 attendees, the Forum was a roaring success. A survey of the attendees revealed that rates of vaccine hesitancy dropped substantially after the session.

We educated, but now we needed to incentivise.

In September, the HSU decided it was time to show our appreciation to members who received the COVID vaccine and protected their communities. HSU members operated COVID testing stations, processed test results, transported and treated infected patients, sanitised our hospitals, and cared for Australia’s most vulnerable.

The 50,000 Reasons to Vaccinate for Victory campaign was our show of thanks to the members that led Australia every step of the way.

A total of $50,000 was put up for vaccinated members to win, with 50 $1000 prizes to be distributed.
The campaign was a massive success, with over 15,000 members entering the draw. On 22 of November, the 50 lucky members were drawn. Congratulations to the HSU members below (please note, only those who have given permission for their name to be published are displayed).

Donna Forrester, a happy winner from Dubbo with Secretary Gerard Hayes and Assistant Secretary Lynne Russell

The 50,000 Reasons to Vaccinate for Victory campaign was just a small show of thanks. We know, as does the rest of Australia, that your sacrifice over the last two years is incomparable.

Regardless of what the future holds, we’ll always remember the experiences of 2020/21 and the extraordinary efforts made by HSU members. Rolling up your sleeve to get vaccinated may seem like a tiny gesture in comparison to what you’ve done every day at work, but every jab counts.

Thank you again for your hard work and commitment to our community, and for choosing to get vaccinated.

Congratulations to our winners

Peter Evans Hunter New England Local Health District

Gary Purkeljc Murrumbidgee Local Health District

Tracy McDonald Western Sydney Local Health District

Susan McKee Mid North Coast Local Health District

Sandra Martin Hunter New England Local Health District

Danielle Rutherford Mid North Coast Local Health District

Gia Vigh South Western Sydney Local Health District

Sonia Apthorpe Hunter New England Local Health District

Anthony Waldron Northern NSW Local Health District

Jemma Milton HealthShare NSW

Dhiraj Kishnani Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

Aldwin Agcaoili Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

Donna Forrester Western NSW Local Health District

Wishes to remain anonymous HealthShare NSW

Samantha Sideris Southern NSW Local Health District

Julie Dunne Central Coast Local Health District

Candice Harvey Central Coast Local Health District

Roy Varghese South Eastern Sydney Local Health District

Lesa Cryer Nambucca Valley Aged Care

Jane Cunliffe HammondCare

Henry Tunks Southern NSW Local Health District

Cassandra Edouard-Betsy Carrington Centennial Care - Camden

Ryan Flamank Ambulance Service of NSW

Cassie Thornberry Hunter New England Local Health District

Samuel Mathieson Central Coast Local Health District

Marietta Bourke Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

Douglas Gilbert Mid North Coast Local Health District

Caroline Morley Living Made Easy - Central Coast

Barbara Thompson Columbia Aged Care Services

Elizabeth Clarke Illawarra Retirement Trust

Natalie De Leon Southern Cross Community Healthcare

Catherine Hawkins Adventist HealthCare Limited

Deborah Parkinson Warrigal Care

Vicki White Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District

Kaylie Davis Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution of NSW

Lee Marsh Ramsay Health Care

Madelyn Walker RSL Life Care

Carla Pereira Northcott Society

Kurt David Lakeman Calvary Aged Care & Retirement Services

Jaclyn Thorburn Sydney Children’s Hospital Network

Rosa Villa Hutton Amaroo Lodge Nursing Home

Kamala Lama Illawarra Retirement Trust

Lynette Hewitt Hunter New England Local Health District

Belinda Timonin Cameron Glen Village

Wishes to remain anonymous South Western Sydney Local Health District

Melinda Beltrami ACT Health

Ann Nazzari Japara

Lemira Baini South Western Sydney Local Health District

Alyce Therese Bennett John Hunter Hospital Campus

Wishes to remain anonymous Catholic Healthcare

Wishes to remain anonymous Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network