Newsletter March 2023
CATSINaM Events and Activities
Wharangi Ruamano and Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (CDNM)
On 15 March 2023, Professor Linda Deravin and I met with Māori colleagues from Wharangi Ruamona, a collective of Māori nursing and midwifery education researchers, in Wellington, Aotearoa. We shared stories of our current work and yarned about potential partnership work with Dr Zoe tipa (Chief Nurse at Whānau Āwhina Plunket and Wharangi Ruamano Chair), and Ms Donna Foxall (Pukenga Matua Nursing, The University of Waikato, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, and Member of Wharangi Ruamano). Following our meeting, we met with the CDNM to yarn about a partnership approach to redefining and achieving the CDNM’s strategic pillar of ‘improving First Peoples’ health. Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand) 2022 Strategic Vision.
Au esoau (big thank you) to Professor Linda Deravin, for her on-going support and leadership. Professor Deravin is a CATSINaM, LINMEN and Muliyan member, and a member of CDNM.
Muliyan Consortium (See attached Muliyan Consortium document)
A big shout out to Muliyan, a consortium of First Nations nursing and midwifery (N&M) researchers invested in expanding research and policy development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety in N&M. Thank you to all Muliyan members who have dedicated their time and intellect to creating research momentum in this priority area for CATSINaM! March 2023 marks the end of our research grant from the Lowitja Institute, which has been fundamental to the development of Muliyan. A notable achievement for Muliyan is the securing of further research funding to continue this important work. Professor Karen Adams is leading this Australian Research Council-funded research project worth just over $1M, the largest grant offer in 2022! We will continue to support this work and report back to our members. CATSINaM will continue its support of Muliyan, namely, to promote and enable research investment in the key priority areas identified by the Muliyan Consortium. If you are a nurse or midwife interested in research, please watch for future research opportunities promoted through our newsletter or membership emails.
NACCHO Workforce Summit
On 21-22 March, I was invited to participate in the inaugural NACCHO Workforce Summit in Brisbane. The event was designed to facilitate shared learning and strategizing amongst Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, relevant government departments, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce peaks (including CATSINaM) to develop and support a strong First Nations health workforce for the ACCHO health sector. Many ACCHOs expressed their interest in building their First Nations nursing and midwifery workforce (including providing quality clinical placements), and ensuring the cultural safety of all nursing and midwifery care provided in their services. Several First Nations nurses were in the room, including our deadly member Renee Blackman, CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service, Brisbane.
Report
CATSINaM Submission on the Australian Universities Accord Discussion Paper: February 2023
On 11 April, CATSINaM lodged a submission to the Australian Universities Accord Panel on the Australian Universities Accord Discussion Paper: February 2023. The CATSINaM submission provided a myriad of strategies to address challenges and opportunities facing the Australian higher education sector. It highlighted reform options considered most relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery students, academic workforce, curricula, and research. CATSINaM’s overarching message was that Australian universities must invest in being better relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which involves being informed by and accountable to us regarding investment in our self-determination and nation-building. Our success in this space is bound to Australian universities ability to truly serve our communities.
The submission was informed directly by CATSINaM nursing and midwifery education experts and researchers. Following a call for expressions of interest, a dedicated Leaders in Indigenous Nursing and Midwifery (LINMEN) and Muliyan member co-working group was convened to review the Discussion Paper and to inform the CATSINaM submission. The working group included the following CATSINaM members, we are grateful for their contributions:
- Associate Professor Linda Deravin
- Dr Lynne Stuart
- Dr Pauline Murray-Parahi
- Stacey Butcher
- Mary-Claire Balnavas
- Letitia Del Fabbro
- Dr Ali Drummond.
For more information about the Higher Education Review and the Australian Universities Accord and its consultation process visit https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord
Advice on Health and Well-being
Studying, working, and juggling the pressures of everyday life may take a toll on your health and well-being. Being a nursing or midwifery student or new graduate can expose you to new situations that you may find confronting and difficult to manage. The Nurse & Midwife support in health and wellbeing provides some advice on support during these times.
Posts from CATSINaM Members and Partners
Updates
From the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (CNMO)
- Government commitments in the nursing and midwifery sector (29 March 2023)
- CNMO’s first newsletter for 2023
From the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) – Pathways for nurses and midwives out of practice between 10 to 15 years.
- The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has updated the policy: Re-entry to practice for nurses and midwives to include consideration for those who have not practised for a period between 10 to 15 years.
From the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) : Registrations are open for the Festival of Nursing | Scope of practice online course | From Nigeria to Australia: The inspiring journey of Dr Olayide.
From CRANApulse – Newsletter 17 Mar 2023
From the Chief Medical Officer
From the Department of Health and Aged Care
- Resources for providers about influenza vaccination for First Nation’s people. Key information is covered in a news item for health professionals published on the Department’s website: New resources to support conversations about influenza vaccination with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
From the Coalition of Peaks
- Urgent need for governments to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in full as new data paints grim picture (Media Release). Find out more about the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and its targets at www.coalitionofpeaks.org.au
Reports and Other Resources
The International Confederation of Midwives Launches IDM 2023 Toolkit and Contest
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has launched the toolkit for this year’s International Day of the Midwife 2023. In addition to supporting members to promote IDM initiatives, this year ICM is holding a contest for a Midwife to attend an all-expenses paid trip to Bali, Indonesia for the 33rd ICM Triennial Congress (June 11 – 14, 2023). The IDM 2023 theme is Together Again: From Evidence to Reality. The 2023 IDM toolkit contains materials to advocate for greater investment in midwives and midwifery and aligns with the upcoming Triennial Congress – bringing together the global midwifery community to collaborate in support of midwives Worldwide.
Best Start to Life (BSTL)
The Best Start to Life (BSTL) gathering was held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre from 10 to 12 October 2022, Mparntwe. BSTL showcased innovative, translational research, and leading practice changes from around the country, attracting significant national interest. Learn more about BSTL by checking out the report and watching their video:
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) – eLearning Programs and Resources
Providing care and support for rheumatic heart disease (RHD)is complex, particularly for people in rural and remote areas, and for women who want to plan pregnancies. Menzies School of Health Research provides free resources to support nurses and midwives including
- accredited eLearning programs.
- a Resource Library containing a variety of resources for clinicians and their patients.
- More information about ARF and RHD and their impact is available on the ARF and RHD Guidelines website, or contact: rhdguidelines@menzies.edu.au.
Free Equip Aged Care Learning packages
The University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre is has added 3 modules their free learning course. .
The modules are designed for direct care workers (including nurses), volunteers, caregivers and anyone with an interest in improving care for older people:
- Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Prevention of Falls
- Wound Management and Pressure Injury
- Register and enrol for these modules at Equip Aged Care Learning (utas.edu.au).
- For further enquiries, email equip.learning@utas.edu.au
Expressions of Interest from the Australian Physiotherapy Council for Reconciliation Advisory Group.
- Please submit your applications by Friday 31st March 2023.If you have any questions, please reach out to Rachel Reichman <rachel.reichman@physiocouncil.com.au>
Events and Conferences
Free eLearning on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- FASD Free, self-paced eLearning course on the Australian Guide to diagnosis of FASD eLearning modules for health professionals involved in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) diagnosis.
Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit 9-11 Mar 2023
June: 25thCancer Nurses Society of Australia Annual Congress from 14th to the 16th on Kaurna country in Adelaide, SA.
September: Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2023 – Sydney from 13-15 September.
Research
Charles Sturt University – Invitation to participate in a Research project.
If you manage or lead healthcare teams, you are invited to participate in a research study which is focussed on your experiences as a health manager in workplace racism.
To find out more about this project please view the project webpage.
Please complete an online survey followed by the opportunity to talk as an individual with a researcher about your experience of knowledge, attitude, and practices of workplace racism in regional healthcare settings. The survey should only take around 15min of your time to complete.
Research team: Dr Sophia Dywili, Dr Jessica Biles, Dr Vagner Dos Santos, and Ms Patience Moyo (School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences). The project has been approved by Charles Sturt University’s Human Research Ethics Committee.
For further information please contact the Lead researcher: Dr Sophia Dywili P: (02) 69332452 E: sdywili@csu.edu.au
We look forward to your feedback and queries. Please email us at: enquire@catsinam.org.au or follow our social media platforms.
Thank you
CATSINaM Secretariat