UNE Nursing academic, Melissa Freeman, a driving force in rural healthcare innovation, has recently garnered significant national attention, being named a finalist for Rural/Remote Health Innovator of the Year at the 2025 National Rural and Remote Health Awards and previously receiving APNA's 2024 Nurse of the Year. These recognitions underscore her profound impact on community based care and policy at both local and national levels.
Freeman's journey into nursing began in Sydney in the late 1990s, a path she describes as destined. "I had always wanted to be a nurse, and I wouldn't know how to do anything else!" she stated.
Her extensive career has seen her work across every corner of Australia, from major city hospitals to regional centres and some of the most remote communities in the Australian outback. "I am so blessed to be able to say I have experienced healthcare in every aspect and have had some of the most incredible opportunities in my career," she reflected. Her current pioneering work stemmed from identifying a critical gap in the public health system, leading her to "take a risk to develop my own model of care and a big leap of faith to open my own nurse led clinic."
Her nomination as a finalist for Rural/Remote Health Innovator of the Year at the 2025 National Rural and Remote Health Awards left her "blown away." Freeman expressed immense gratitude, noting, "To be recognised for the work you do just cements the work we do, it gives reassurance that we are making a difference, we are helping the patients who truly need it the most and we are making a difference."
The recognition, she said, felt like a "full circle moment" after years of tireless effort and overcoming numerous obstacles. "This recognition and award is the icing on the cake for those years of never giving up, for always trying harder. It really meant everything to me," she affirmed.
Melissa at Parliament House.
Adding to an already remarkable year, Freeman was also named APNA's Nurse of the Year – Positive Disruptor. She believes her story resonated deeply with other nurses, encouraging them to "be brave to go on and develop their own models, they have the ability to upskill and expand their scope of practice – especially in our rural and remote centres." She advocates for continuous learning, asserting, "Our degrees are our toolbelts – it's up to us as clinicians to fill them with different tools. This is something that I aim to teach nurses – be brave. Be innovative. Health is really changing and it's such an exciting time for new nurses coming through our course."
Freeman's innovative nurse led clinic in Port Macquarie, with outreach services extending to Kempsey, Bellbrook, and Gladstone, addresses a crucial need in rural New South Wales. Her model was personally developed after observing emergency departments overwhelmed by patients awaiting simple procedures. "I took a very big leap of faith and decided to draw a model which meets patients where they're at – at home, in their communities, with their families and on their country," she explained. This approach not only alleviates pressure on emergency departments but also provides more comfortable, culturally respectful care, reducing the financial and logistical burden on patients.
Her grassroots efforts are now informing systems level change, a development she finds profoundly significant. The 2025 McCormack Review notably featured her clinic, leading to its discussion in parliament. "To hear the story of our clinic read out in parliament and subsequently discussed openly was a profound pinch me moment," she recalled. Earlier this year, she participated in a parliamentary round table at Australian Parliament House with the Hon. Mark Butler and Professor Fiona Wood AO, discussing chronic wounds in Australia. "It was an absolute career highlight to be invited and to hold my place at the round table," she said.
For current nursing students, Freeman's advice is clear: "Your UNE nursing degree is your toolbelt. Use it as your foundation but make it your own. Always feel brave enough to add to it by upskilling in areas that interest you and always work towards expanding your scope of practice. We have so much to give to our patients, make your contribution innovative and different – that's what will set you above and beyond everyone else. Always aim to be a leader in your field."
As a proud UNE alumna and casual academic, Freeman hopes to empower the next generation of UNE nurses. "What I would love to see for the next generation of UNE nurses is the empowerment of each graduate to go out to the medical field knowing just how capable they are to personally make a change!" she shared, noting that despite past challenges, it's an "exciting time to enter health!"
Beyond her impactful work, Freeman enjoys a beautiful country life on the Mid North Coast of NSW with her family, embracing "all the fun stuff, skincare, makeup, good coffee, and visiting the water somewhere." She also dedicates her expertise as the national Chair for the Clinical Expert Advisory Panel for Wounds Australia, the national peak body for wounds in Australia, underscoring her commitment to advancing healthcare.
