For more than twenty-six years, Sue Unicomb has cared for patients with compassion and a commitment to serving others. As a registered Nurse at the University of Canberra Hospital, she is known by patients and colleagues for her genuine care, kindness, and a willingness to go the extra mile for those she encounters. But Sue’s heart for service extends well beyond the hospital.
Each year, Sue spends months fundraising and planning before using her holidays to lead teams of health professionals, builders and volunteers to Papua New Guinea through Health and Hope, a mission she founded to support remote communities.
Sue’s personal connection to Papua New Guinea spans a lifetime. Born in PNG, where her father also served as a nurse, the country left an enduring mark on her life. After losing her father, Sue felt a strong desire to return, reconnect with the community and continue her father’s legacy.
Sue generously contributes her nursing skills to the projects, while also finding creative ways to raise funds. Among them is baking cookies, described by her colleagues as “to die for”, with the proceeds helping fund a hygiene facility for a remote PNG community.
For Sue, service is more than meeting a practical need; it is about people, relationships and showing Christ’s love through action. Her willingness to give her time, skills and resources to others reflects a life shaped by compassion and desire to serve wherever there is a need.
It is this lifelong commitment to service that has led to Sue being named Avondale’s 2026 Alumna of the Year. Her story is one of legacy, compassion and faith in action – a reminder that service can take many forms.
If you want to support Sue’s work in the Pacific, you can donate to her PNG mission here https://www.givesendgo.com/png-mission
- Aveline Adams
