Sarah Marcola awarded National Australian Administration Awards title

Executive Assistant to the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Sarah Marcola has won the National Title in the strategic category of the Australian Administration Awards. Sarah has made innovative and strategic changes to improve the overall functioning of the Department and has initiated and grown a network of administrative staff across the Faculty to assist with their professional development.

We wish to congratulate one of our professional staff in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sarah Marcola, who won the National Title in the Strategic Category of the Australian Administration Awards, held in Sydney on Monday, 2 May 2022.

Ms Marcola works in various roles at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including as Executive Assistant to the Head of the Department, Administration and MD Programs Officer, and has recently taken on a Project Officer role with Mercy Health for Mercy Perinatal, having completed her MBA last year. Sarah has made many innovative and strategic changes to improve the overall functioning of the Department, including enhancing the MD Student experience through streamlined timetabling, video orientation, the MOGCAST podcast, and the summer elective program – all critical initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Marcola has initiated and grown a network of administrative staff across the Faculty, which has developed into a Community of Practice for professional staff, providing a forum to advance their professional development and amplify their voices.

“It is not often that someone of her capability, emotional intelligence, maturity and growth mindset comes across your professional life,” said Professor Sue Walker, Head of the Department.

“Sarah has been kind, generous, thoughtful, wise, respectful and has proven herself to be an outstanding team player. This well-deserved award is a huge honour, and the Department team are incredibly proud of her. The team congratulates Sarah on this tremendous achievement, and thanks her for all her work at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne.“