20 September 2011
Nursing a direction on policy
Why nurses get to implement health policies but so few are involved in developing them is at the heart of a roundtable
conference being held in Canada later this month.
The research and policy discussions about nurses and midwives’ contribution to leadership and health policy decision
making will be led by two University of Sydney experts
Sydney Nursing School Dean, Professor Jill White and Professor Mary Chiarella will be showcasing their groundbreaking
work aimed at recognising the valuable contribution nurses and midwives can make to health policy design and practice as
part of the next nursing and midwifery International Policy and Research Roundtable to be held 26-28 September.
Professor Jill White said:
“We were asked by the Chair of the Canadian Nurses Association to hold the second Roundtable discussion in Ottawa
alongside a Commission being held into the future directions and needs of healthcare in Canada. We’ve also been invited
to participate in the Commission’s enquiries”.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to speak to the Canadian Commission on the lessons we have learned from our
the Health and Hospitals Reforms Commission which was aimed at assisting in developing a sustainable, high quality,
responsive health system for all Australians.”
But the Dean of Nursing says the Roundtable will focus on utilising the knowledge and expertise of Nurses and Midwives
in a more effective manner.
“It is largely the responsibility of nurses to implement new health practises and healthcare policies but the profession
has little or no say in any changes to or new policy directions,” says Professor White.
“We are trying to do something substantial about nurses and midwives having a voice at the Policy table. Ultimately we
are the ones that bring life to the policies so to have a voice at the development phase of policy makes a lot of sense.
The roundtable is a consortium involving leaders of national nursing associations, national policy decision-makers, and
members of the scientific community from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States and is led by
Professors White and Chiarella.
Initially conceptualized and designed by the Professors White and Chiarella, and with funding from the University of
Sydney, the first international policy and research roundtable was held two year ago at the University of Sydney. Since
then the consortium has continued its work aimed at developing a health policy research and education network for nurses
around the world who are interested in influencing health policy.
Professor Jill White says while participants at the Roundtable are exclusively nursing and midwifery professionals, the
information and recommendations developed at the discussions will be brought back to a broader audience including the
Chief Medical Officers of Australia and Britain.
The International Health Research Policy Roundtable is being held in Ottawa, Canada 26-28th September.
Professors White and Chiarella will also be presenting a paper at the Yale Nursing Alumni event following the Roundtable
Professor Jill White is available for interviews prior to leaving for the Conference this Thursday.
ENDS