News and Highlights
Current Highlights
New Publication: Birth Territory and Midwifery Guardianship: Theory for Practice, Education and Research
A new book edited by two School of Nursing academics has been published that provides practical, evidence-based ideas for restructuring the birth territory to facilitate normal birth. Birth Territory and Midwifery Guardianship, edited by Professor Kathleen Fahy and M Phil graduand Ms Carolyn Hastie, explores the impact of the physical and psycho-social environment of the woman and baby in pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.
Midwives and other healthcare providers are grappling with the issue of rising intervention rates in childbirth and trying to identify ways to reverse the trend. It is increasingly accepted that intervention in childbirth has long-term consequences for women and their children.
HNE Handover - May 2008
Handover is a joint publication of Hunter New England Area Health Service, the University of Newcastle and the University of New England. The launch of this journal is an acknowledgement of the strength of partnership in nursing and midwifery between the area health service and the higher education sector in our region.
Download PDF with more information
Revealing the hazards facing our nurses and midwives
A research collaboration between the University of Newcastle and the NSW Nurses' Association will reveal for the first time the current prevalence of needlestick and other sharps injuries to nurses and midwives in NSW.
This study is being conducted by Ashley Kable from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Maya Guest from the School of Health Sciences. Ms Guest, a lecturer in Occupational Health and Safety, said understanding nurses' and midwives' perceptions of the risks associated with needlestick injuries as well as the prevalence, was vital to developing strategies to ensure a safe workplace.
Staff Awards
Lorna MacLellan, Matthew Walsh and Dimity Pond
- Carrick Institute Citation for outstanding contribution to student learning
This award was given in recognition of a multidisciplinary, multimodal program for specialist nurse practitioner education that is student focused and recognised nationally as a hallmark in practice.
- Also recognised in the Vice-Chancellor's Citations for outstanding contribution to student learning in 2006
Dr Tracy Levett-Jones
- Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Awarded April, 2007)
This award recognises and rewards individuals or teams who make a significant contribution to the quality of student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a sustained period; who are widely acknowledged for their achievements within a Faculty or the wider University community; and who have received strong endorsement within their area.
Dr Levett-Jones received this award for the design and implementation of an innovative and scholarly clinical education model that promotes the development of competence in undergraduate nursing students.
- SW Quality Teaching Awards (Awarded December 2007)
These awards are conducted by the Australian College of Educators, a national professional association, and presented by the NSW Minister for Education and Training. The Quality Teaching Awards recognise and applaud accomplished teaching practice through a rigorous process involving referees’ reports, professional learning portfolios and workplace visits. Dr Levett-Jones received this award because:
"Tracy’s teaching is clinically focused and she has the ability to bridge the theory practice divide. In her dealings with others Tracy displays openness, integrity, academic generosity and willingness to collaborate. Tracy is a teacher first and foremost; she engages students' enthusiasm. Under her tutelage there has been a noticeable improvement in the quality of the graduates as they continue with their nursing careers."Other Recognition
Leaders in nurse practitioner education
The School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Newcastle was the first to offer nurse practitioner education in Australia. The Nursing Review (October, 2007) described the School of Nursing and Midwifery's Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) Program as a leading program in nursing education.
