The inaugural National Early- and Mid- Career Researcher (EMCR) Nursing and Midwifery Research Symposium on 11 November 2024 brought together researchers, industry leaders and consumers to drive advancements in healthcare research.
Led by Dr Nicola Straiton and a diverse organising team made up of Wimbayi Musodza, Dr Elizabeth Brogan, Dr Helen Goldsmith, Tessa Holman, Professor Caleb Ferguson and Professor Sandy Middleton, the event was hosted at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney, with nearly 100 participants from across Australia.
Nine attendees received travel grants ($500 each), enabling colleagues from WA and VIC to join the event.
The symposium highlighted diversity and inclusivity in research, with representation from the Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network, the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics, and strong consumer voices.
Featured speakers included: international keynote Professor Ruth Endacott from the UK’s National Institute of Health and Care Research; Professor Sandy Middleton, Director of the Nursing Research Institute at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, and Australian Catholic University; Professor Marion Eckert, inaugural Director of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre; and Professor Brendan McCormack, Head of The Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney.
Key themes included the ongoing challenge of the ‘post-PhD research cliff’ affecting nursing and midwifery EMCRs who face barriers to collaborative research and limited national funding opportunities.
With nurses and midwives comprising 54% of the Australian healthcare workforce, the symposium underscored the vast potential of nursing and midwifery-led research to improve patient outcomes and enhance care.
One of the most exciting developments from the symposium is the creation of the National Nursing and Midwifery EMCR Advocacy Roadmap.
This strategic document will reflect the insights gathered at the event and serve as a guide to expand research opportunities for nurse and midwifery EMCRs, aligning workforce planning with the health research priorities and needs of the sector. The goal of the roadmap is to amplify the impact of nursing and midwifery research across healthcare, academia, and the broader health and research sector.
The National EMCR Nursing and Midwifery Research Symposium received grant funding from the Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia), administered by the Australian Academy of Science.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
