Yesterday, Northern Health’s Length of Service Awards ceremony for 2021 was held virtually.

More than 400 staff were celebrated for achieving between 10 and 45 years of dedicated service.

Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive, opened the ceremony, acknowledging all our staff for their great work.

“We thank our hardworking and dedicated staff who are on the frontline each and every day, saving lives and keeping our community safe and healthy, especially during the past two pandemic years,” he said.

“We have over 5,700 staff at Northern Health working across Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre, Craigieburn Centre and Northern Hospital Epping – with many providing dedicated service since the days of PANCH. It is great to see how our health service has continued to grow – expanding the range of services we provide to the communities of the northern suburbs.”

“We celebrate the staff who have worked at Northern Health for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and even 45 years – an incredible achievement.”

Eight recipients have been with Northern Health the longest, celebrating 40 and 45 years. We also acknowledged staff who marked 40 years of service in 2020, who were unable to receive their award last year due to the pandemic.

Licia Perillo and Anne Fraser have been with the health service for an incredible 45 years each, with 90 years of service between them!

“Nursing has progressed so rapidly, there’s been so many changes. You always need to be refreshing your knowledge,” says Licia.

Says Anne, “Most of those 45 years I have spent on two units and I have worked with the best team orientated group of not just nurses but doctors and allied health staff that you could ever imagine.”

Receiving an award for 40 years of service was Anne Roast, Sharon Robinson, Ann Maffei, Glenda Levens, Stefan Herodotou and Helen Opasinis.

“On behalf of the Board and Executive, congratulations to all our staff who received awards today. Thank you also to, not only recipients, but all our staff here at Northern Health. I am proud to be part of an organisation with such a rich history and whose staff are so dedicated, passionate and hard working,” said Siva.

To watch the full ceremony, please click here.

Featured image: 45 year recipients Anne Fraser and Licia Perillo