WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development

WHO CCNM UTS Video Transcript 

Debra Anderson: I'm Professor Debra Anderson, Dean of the Faculty of Health here at the University of Technology Sydney. We have in the Faculty of Health the Global Network of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery. The importance and collaboration and Partnerships through the Centre cannot be overemphasized. Within the Global Network we have 44 Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery across six regions of the world. The vision of the Global Network is to achieve health for all through excellence in nursing and midwifery.

The mission of the Global Network is to maximize the contributions of nursing and midwifery to advance the health for all, in partnerships with the World Health Organization and its member state members. We have centres, non-government organizations and others interested in promoting the health of these populations. In addition to fostering collaboration and communication between members, the network will also carry out advocacy and evidence-based policy activities within the framework of the World Health Assembly Regional Resolutions and the World Health Organization programs of work and in alignment with the World Health Organization's ‘Strategic Directions in Nursing and Midwifery’ policy priorities. These include education, jobs, leadership and service delivery

Michele Rumsey: I'm Michele Rumsey, I'm the director of The WHO Collaborating Centre, I'm a professor here at the University of Technology Sydney. The Collaborating Centre has been running since around 2004. We were asked by the chief nurses of 15 Pacific Islands to become a Collaborating Centre. We worked for many years with WHO to set one up, and finally in 2008 we became a designated Centre. Not only do we have many partners in the region that we work with but we also work across UTS, we work with many colleagues in the Faculty of Health but we also have many many interns who work within the centre and help us establish our work within the region and that's really really powerful.

We're extremely lucky to have been awarded a Partnerships for a Healthy region by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and this is the beginning of a 5-year program that will work to improve quality improvement, to look at Health Workforce regulation, education and leadership. So this is really going to be a journey not only with our Pacific colleagues across the region but an opportunity to work with our funders and our Australian government so we are really looking forward to this journey over the next few years.

Ms Mosidi Tseleng Mokotedi, Coordinator WHO CC for Nursing and Midwifery Development, University of Botswana: I believe that the WHO CC UTS have done very well because they're able to pool resources in terms of how they can assist other WHO CCs anywhere in the world to contribute positively to the development of Nursing and Midwifery services globally.

Kathleen Baird: My name is Kathleen Baird, I'm a professor of Midwifery and I'm the head of School of Nursing and Midwifery in the faculty of Health at the University of Technology Sydney. Nurses and midwives are often the primary health care provider, especially in remote and underserved areas. Effective leadership ensures that they can deliver high quality care and make critical decisions that impact upon patient outcomes. Nurses and midwife leaders play a key role in implementing and maintaining quality improvement within facilities leading to a better patient care and safety. The Pacific Leadership Program is a vital initiative that supports the development of strong effective leaders in nursing and midwifery across the Pacific region. The program includes a series of intensive workshops that cover various aspects of leadership, including strategic planning, decision making and policy development. Participants of the program receive ongoing mentorship and support from experienced leaders and experts in both nursing and midwifery. One of the aims of the program is to capacity build and give them the skills and knowledge to lead and manage Health Services effectively in resource limited settings.

Mrs Colleen Wilson, Chief Nursing Officer, Fiji & Participant, Pacific Leadership Program: I've been honoured to be part of the Pacific leadership program. We've learned about policy and politics and leadership. So these sessions have just equipped me so much and I've been really empowered.

Ms Barbara Quiroqurio, Midwife, Clinical Nurse and Zone Supervisor, Solomon Islands & Participant, Pacific leadership Program: This program really built my leadership knowledge and helped my other colleagues so that we can improve our health services and then we deliver to our people on jobs and education and leaderships in our country

Lynn Sinclair: My name is Lynn Sinclair, I'm the associate Dean Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Health here at UTS. Contemporary education, training and regulation of health professionals is fundamental to protecting and maintaining public health and safety. The enabling of continuing professional development and access to higher education ensures nurses and midwives have the knowledge and skills necessary to meet both the current and emerging healthcare needs of their communities. Working together, we can advance curriculum development and enhance teaching capabilities. 

Ms Mele Sii Inukhihaangana Filise, Chief Nursing officer, Kingdom of Tonga & Participant, Pacific Leadership Program: Regional collaboration is very important in the Pacific and also it's really significant in Tonga. We are of the same similar situation and the principle and the mindset are almost the same, so that collaboration is really much needed because we will be sharing we will be working together we will be building teamwork amongst the region.

Lynn Sinclair: The centre provides us a unique opportunity to partner with our WHO and Regional colleagues to improve access to quality education, regulation, and accreditation. This will strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce across the region.

Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipuloto:  The great partnership that the WHO Collaborating Centre at UTS have done in partnership with the Pacific, which is standing out is building leadership capabilities so that the nursing and midwifery leaders have the capacities, knowledge and skills to be able to have input to policies within member states and have input to Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery for ongoing development and Improvement within the Pacific.

Debra Anderson: As the Dean of Health I am so proud of the work that the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery is doing here in our Faculty of Health and at the University of Technology Sydney for both Australia and the Pacific Region.