Manawatū Nurse Takes Top Nursing Honour
Our very own Bini Mathew, Clinical Nurse Manager at Brightwater and Willard Homes in Palmerston North, has been named Aotearoa's Nurse of the Year by the Aged Care Association, announced at the Awards dinner on 24 April. Selected from five finalists from across the motu, this is a great honour and one we are celebrating!
This is wonderful recognition of Bini’s dedication, compassion, and outstanding leadership in nursing. We are truly fortunate that the residents of our Manawatū homes experience her manaakitanga every day.
The award celebrates and honours nurses working in aged residential care across Aotearoa who demonstrate exceptional dedication, compassion, and leadership, and Bini embodies all of this and more. Aged Care Association CE Hon. Tracey Martin put it simply and perfectly: "She doesn't just talk about better care, she delivers it."
What makes this even more special is that this is the second year we have had a nurse as a finalist for this award. We think that speaks volumes about the quality of clinical care our teams provide right across the region, and we could not be prouder.
Our CE Joe Asghar was quick to congratulate Bini, describing her as an amazing ambassador for the Enliven Central whānau. We could not agree more.
Our Clinical Director Mikaela Shannon shared how meaningful this recognition is for the whole team.
"It's been incredibly rewarding to see our Clinical Nurse Manager recognised as one of the five leading professionals. This achievement reflects not only her clinical excellence, but also her commitment to leadership, innovation, and improving outcomes for those we serve. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Bini."
At the heart of everything Bini does is a deep respect for the people in her care. She places each resident's identity, history, and cultural values at the centre of every care decision, and that shows in the relationships she builds with residents, their whānau, and her colleagues.
Mikaela also spoke to the growth she has witnessed in Bini as a leader: "Bini's leadership growth is evident in how she translates insight into action. She has moved beyond individual clinical practice to shaping systems and processes that embed cultural safety and high-quality care across the organisation."
Congratulations, Bini! This achievement is so well deserved. We are proud to have you leading care across our Manawatū homes.
