Clinical Nurse Lauren Zunker is the toast of Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg after taking home the Emerging Leader award at the 2023 Mater People Awards.

The awards celebrate the almost 11,000 Mater people across Queensland who go above and beyond every day in clinical and non-clinical roles to provide exceptional care to every patient.

Mater Health Executive Director Paul Darcy said the award was deserved recognition of Lauren’s dedication and commitment over the past eight years.

“On behalf of everyone at Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg, I want to congratulate Lauren for being recognised as the 2023 Emerging Leader at the Mater People Awards,” Mr Darcy said.

“Lauren has been an integral member of our perioperative team for eight years and in that time has built an incredible rapport with not only her colleagues, but patients, visitors, and the wider Bundaberg and Wide Bay community.

“Lauren was nominated by her peers for her willingness to innovate with equipment product trials and subsequent rollout of new equipment and technology in our theatres, and for demonstrating sincerity in everything she does, supporting her team both physically and spiritually.”

Despite being the smallest Mater facility in the state, Bundaberg featured the highest ratio of finalists in comparison to staff numbers.

“Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg was well-represented at the Mater People Awards, with seven finalists across the various categories,” Mr Darcy said.

“I want to recognise all those Bundaberg staff who were selected as finalists this year: from our perioperative theatres and clinical wards to hospitality, administration, executive support and medical community engagement, our staff demonstrated their commitment to exceptional care across both clinical and non-clinical areas.”

To see the full list of 2023 Mater People Awards winners, click here.

Pictured: Lauren Zunker.