08 February 2017
A focus on population health, clinical care and patient support, health system planning, workforce, and translation of evidence into education and practice underpins a ground-breaking research centre opening in Adelaide today.
The Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre - a joint initiative between the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) and the University of South Australia – is a first for South Australia and will be launched today at the Playford Building, City East campus at 3 pm.
The Centre is named in honour of Dr Rosemary Bryant AO - Australia’s first Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, immediate past President of the International Council of Nurses and former Director of Nursing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
ANMF (SA Branch) Chief Executive Adjunct Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM says the Centre is an innovative and practical partnership dedicated to topical, evidence-based and high impact research with a focus on translating research outcomes into practice.
“Nurses and midwives are major contributors to our health system and the wellbeing of patients,” Ms Dabars says.
“As a profession, we also recognise that tailored, evidence-based research – particularly around staffing, aged care and nursing practice – is crucial to the credibility of our profession and most importantly, for shaping government policy.
“The Centre will pave the way for discoveries, advances and changes to better equip nurses and midwives to support not only South Australians, but potentially the profession and many people at a national and international level.
“At the same time, there will be a strong focus on forward thinking – identifying risks and importantly solutions - so we can prevent admissions into acute care.”
Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre Director, Professor Marion Eckert says the Centre will be developing a broad program of healthcare research in clinical, population health, workforce reform and health systems and services.
“The Centre will look at what some of the key issues are and then invest in research that has a real and significant impact on critical outcomes for our health care system,” Professor Eckert says.
“While the Centre has a focus on nursing and midwifery research, we will also be strategically placed to develop the strong national and international multidisciplinary partnerships so we can really maximise the impact of our research in health care settings here and across the world.”
UniSA Health Science Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert Vink, says UniSA is delighted to partner with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch).
“The opening of this unique Research Centre confirms the University of South Australia as an exceptional provider of nursing and midwifery education because it focuses on our teaching informing ground-breaking research,” Prof Vink says.
“The Centre will strengthen the capacity of UniSA researchers to lead international nursing and midwifery research and then apply this knowledge into education through teaching, as well as promoting translation into practice and policy through our partnership with the ANMF (SA Branch).”
Dr Bryant, who retired in 2015 following a long and distinguished career, says having the Foundation named after her is a “tremendous honour”.
“There is a big gap in the evidence on the nursing and midwifery profession’s essential contribution to the bottom line of our health system, but more importantly, the quality of care and health outcomes of the population,” Dr Bryant says.
“To have this facility established here in South Australia, where I have spent most of my nursing career, I feel is a real coup for our State and something of which I am especially proud.
“With a focus on tailored, dedicated and evidence-based research through the Centre, I am positive we will see great innovation and importantly, improvements for nurses, midwives and especially the patients they care for.”
Media Contact: Katrina McLachlan 0414 972 537
For interviews: Prof Marion Eckert, Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre 0407 391 663
