What we do

Our objectives

Each of our objectives relates to our discipline areas of midwifery, child and family health and paediatric nursing and the health care of young people:

  • Conduct high quality research to improve the quality of practice, services and systems
  • Develop, evaluate and improve practice development initiatives that are based on evidence and best practice and provide technical, evidence-based consultancy services
  • Contribute to, and participate in, the educational and professional development of midwives, nurses and other relevant healthcare professionals
  • Support capacity building in higher degree research students and early career researchers and support leadership development
  • Foster collaborative relationships and interdisciplinary research in practice development and knowledge translation to enable system-level reform

Our research framework

Our work is guided by the Midwifery, Child and Family Health Collaboration Research Framework (PDF 150KB)

This framework has been adapted from the QMNC Framework (Renfrew et al. 2014).

Categories:

For all childbearing women, children and infants:

  • Education, information, health promotion
  • Assessment, screening, care planning
  • Promotion of normal processes, prevention of complications

For childbearing women, children and infants with complications:

  • First-line management of complications
  • Midwifery, medical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric services

Organisation of care:

  • Available, accessible, acceptable, good-quality services – adequate resources, competent workforce
  • Continuity, services integrated across community and facilities

Values:

  • Respect, communication, community knowledge, and understanding
  • Care tailored to women’s, children’s and families’ circumstances and needs

Philosophy:

  • Optimising biological, psychological, social and cultural processes, strengthening women’s, children’s and families’ capabilities
  • Expectant management, using interventions only when indicated

Care providers:

  • Practitioners who combine clinical knowledge and skills with interpersonal and cultural competence
  • Division of roles and responsibilities based on need, competencies and resources
Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.