21st August 2025
Jill, left is pictured with her nominator centre Jane Acheson, Team Leader Adult Learning Disability Team and right, Jan McGall, Director of Mental Health and Disability Services.
The Southern Trust is proud to announce Jill Vogan as the winner of the Nicola Tallon Student Nurse of the Year Award.
This special award was launched in memory of our esteemed colleague Nicola who had worked in our Home Treatment Crisis Response team within the mental health division and passed away in June 2021.
Jill stood out for her outstanding work during her first-year placement at the Eden Centre in Portadown, where she was part of the Adult Learning Disability Team. Runner up Nicole McBirney impressed the judges with her work in the Ambulatory Care Unit in Craigavon Area Hospital.
The judging panel praised the high calibre of applications, noting the exceptional quality, values and ethics demonstrated by all students who were nominated.
Jane Acheson Team Leader Adult Learning Disability Team, who nominated Jill said:
The award includes an inscription of an angel and Nicola’s signature.
“Although this was Jill’s first community placement – which can often feel daunting – she threw herself into the team and got to know our patients very quickly. She was eager to learn and genuinely wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of service users.
“Jill consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment to patient care and a real passion for learning disability nursing. She was a fantastic student who oozed passion for her role, we are so proud to have been a part of her student journey.”
Interim Assistant Director Disability Services Roisin O’Hare added:
“Congratulations to Jill our Nicola Tallon Student Nurse of the Year winner and to Nicole, our runner-up. Both represent the very best of our values in action.
“Their commitment to compassionate, high-quality care reflects our Vision and Strategy 2030 where our people are at the heart of delivering safe, innovative services and shaping the future of healthcare.”