Nursing and midwifery in the spotlight on the Mid North Coast

Two of Australia’s top nursing professionals will be the keynote speakers at a health conference at Southern Cross University’s Coffs Harbour campus on Friday July 11.

Adjunct Associate Professor Susan Pearce, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of New South Wales, and Dr Frances Hughes, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for the Queensland Department of Health, will be among the speakers at the conference ‘Nursing and Midwifery: Engaging, Growing and Celebration on the NSW Mid North Coast’.

Organiser Dr John Hurley, from Southern Cross University’s School of Health and Human Sciences, said the conference would showcase a range of innovations in nursing and midwifery practice.

“We have a wide range of speakers covering topics from the future of midwifery, to closing the gap in Aboriginal maternity and child health, humour between nurses and physicians and the evolution of a regional trauma service in emergency departments,” Dr Hurley said.

“Our two keynote speakers will provide an update on contemporary nursing and midwifery practices and policy, and Mr Stephen Rodwell, the executive director of nursing, midwifery and workforce for the Mid North Coast Local Health District, will be conducting a workshop for students and new graduates on making the all-important transition into being a Registered Nurse or Midwife in the workforce.”

The keynote speakers will offer insights into both the current and future directions of nursing and midwifery while concurrent papers reflect a breadth of evidenced based and person centred nursing and midwifery that will inform the clinical practice of all qualified nurses and midwives who attend.

The conference is open to nurses and midwives from all areas of practice, as well as members of the public and other related health disciplines who are interested in being informed on contemporary nursing and midwifery clinical practice across the mid north coast region. Health students are also encouraged to attend. The event attracts continuing professional development points (CPD).

The conference is sponsored by Southern Cross University, the Mid North Coast Local Health District and the University of Newcastle. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea and tea and coffee are all included in the conference price of $80 or $40 for full time students.


Photo: Adjunct Associate Professor Susan Pearce, NSW Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.