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Welcome message from the Head of School
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Welcome to the website of the Monash University School of Nursing and Midwifery (SNM).
The School of Nursing and Midwifery was established on the University’s Peninsula and Gippsland campuses following the transition of nurse education into the tertiary sector in the mid 1980s. In 2009 the School added another location when it also established a presence at Monash’s central campus at Clayton. The governance structure of the School was expanded and re-shaped to include:
a. the appointment of a Head of School as a new positon; appointment of a new Head of Campus at Peninsula; and retention of the Head of Campus at Gippsland;
b. the establishment of director level positions for the portfolios of research, education, and community engagement for strategic gain;
c. portfolio positions in laboratory coordination, publication and international activity established to improve the operational aspects of the school; and
d. the establishment an external advisory board.
The SNM is one of the leading schools of nursing and midwifery in Australia and enjoys a national and international reputation for excellence in teaching, research and clinical practice. It continues to grow with student numbers close to 2000.
One of the strengths of the SNM is its strong education focus for nursing practice, leadership and research. Related clinical experiences are arranged for students within a number of health services and community centres.
The School offers a range of pre-service and postgraduate courses. New programs include the Master of Nursing Practice (MNP) degree program, a pre-service course offered at the Clayton campus and inaugurated in 2009. The Master of Clinical Midwifery (MCM) was also inaugurated at Clayton in 2009 to provide midwifery training to masters level for registered nurses with a bachelors degree.
The Bachelor of Nursing Practice (BNP) was accredited for the Gippsland campus and commenced in semester one 2010. The Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic) continues to attract student with high ENTER scores and the Bachelor of Nursing is under review for reaccreditation in 2012.
The short courses program has been very successful, attaining self-funding within one year. A new short course coordinator was recently appointed.
The School continues to develop its research output and scholarly activities. In the past two years we have had written more than 200 refereed publications, 20 books or book chapters, hundreds of conference and seminar presentations including many keynote and invited papers. In the same two-year period we also achieved grant success in excess of $1million from a range of sources.
Our higher degree by research program includes Masters by research and PhD offerings. We currently have approximately 30 candidates in these programs. The programs train nurses to undertake original research, generate new knowledge and enhance the practice base for knowledge transfer and evidence based practice.
Practice development (PD) continues to strengthen and become a major strategic activity for the School. Contributions to scholarship include PD schools, conferences, roundtables, master classes and joint publications.
International engagement continues to grow. The School has successful student exchanges in Sweden and the UK and we are continuing to develop our international partnerships in Asia, the UK, USA, New Zealand, South Africa and the Middle East.
The Monash School of Nursing and Midwifery has a remarkably well-qualified academy, many who have national and international reputations for research and scholarship. Current EFT is approximately 60 (20 at level C and above). We will continue to grow the professoriate in targeted positions. A number of adjunct appointments contribute to the work of the School in all its endeavours from teaching, research and community engagement.
We could not achieve our goals and aspirations without the strong partnerships we have developed over many years. We have successfully undertaken joint appointments with Peninsula Health and are negotiating similar appointments with other health services. Other major clinical partnerships include both public and private providers. We have established research partnerships with a range of health organisations including NSRI, MCRI, Burnet, DEPM, Southern Synergy, Caroline Chisholm Society and Western Health and multi-university partnerships with Wollongong, UTAS, Adelaide, SCU, UNE in Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Utilization and Scholarship. We also have emerging partnerships with UWS, UTS and Sydney in research activity and partnerships with Victorian universities for research, HDR supervision and academic appointments. The Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Nursing partners with RDNS, Peninsula Hospice Service and Peninsula Health.
As we progress into the future we will concentrate on staff growth (both professional and academic); develop the directorate and portfolios to reflect the vision and five-year strategy for the School; build capacity for experienced academics and mentor new academics to increase research output and to develop research programs; bed down the new academic programs and build in evaluation, research and renewal; tighten our international activity and continue to not just work with partners but to strengthen each relationship to reflect the aspirations of the School and our partners.
We are highly regarded for our teaching and research programs. Innovative curricula that reflect identified needs in healthcare and the diversity of the Australian population, together with research-focused work enable our staff, students and alumni to be amongst the most sought after in the country.
I encourage you to explore our website to learn about our School’s undergraduate and postgraduate programs, our research and scholarship foci and our outstanding staff.
Dr Wendy M Cross
Professor and Head
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