SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre

The SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre is an acknowledgement by ACT Health and the University of Canberra of the need to support a research culture in the ACT public health services that encourages engagement and collaboration, achieves regular outputs in key focus areas, enhances collaboration with key stakeholders, establishes international links with other centres and develops a strong and successful cohort of higher degree research students. The Synergy office is based at Level 2, Building 8, Canberra Hospital.

Our Vision

"To become a nationally and internationally recognised centre of excellence in research that contributes to the quality, articulation and recognition of the nursing and midwifery professions and the translation of research findings into practice, education and policy."

Research Strengths

Four areas of research focus have been identified as current strengths based on research outcomes including publications in refereed journals, research income and higher degree student enrolments and capacity, and on the status and reputations of the researchers working in those areas.

  • Mental Health Nursing and Psychosocial well-being
  • Midwifery/Woman Centred Care
  • Health workforce, education and quality outcomes
  • Gerontological nursing and care of the older person
SYNERGY Clinical Chairs & Staff
SYNERGY Nursing & Midwifery Grand Rounds: Research and Practice Development Forum

Each Forum will see two presenters showcasing their research on a wide variety of topics relevant to nurses and midwives. The forums also provide a fantastic networking platform with attendees from various departments across the hospital and academics from the universities.

Attendance contributes one hour towards requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for continuing professional development.

All are welcome! Find more information and register.

July 2023 Forum – Synergy Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development

Presenter – Jo Evans
Topic - Birth Outcomes, Health, and Health Care Needs of Childbearing Women following Wildfire Disasters: an Integrative State of the Science Review

Presenter – Macey Barratt
Topic - Partnering with consumers: Current barriers and facilitators to effectively partnership with families of children with long-term conditions.

June 2023 Forum – Synergy Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development

Presenter – Charlotte Verity
Topic - Midwives’ and Nurses’ Preparedness for Strategic Planning

Presenter – Tricia O’Connor
Topic - The importance of decision-making in nursing: A systematic review

April 2023 Forum – Synergy Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development

Presenter – Helen Legge
Topic – Unmet Supportive Care Needs of People Affected by Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic. A qualitative descriptive study. 

Presenter – Shalyn Rourke 
Topic – What are the lived experiences among ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative systematic review. 

March 2023 Forum - SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development 

Presenter – Jennifer Hutchinson
Topic – The Association between recent changes to gestational diabetes mellitus testing in the ACT and the odds of birthing large and small for gestational age infants – early results from an observational retrospective study of Australian pregnant women.

Presenter – Lucy Armitage
Topic – Integrative Systematic Review of Ecological Momentary Assessment tools for Oncology Cancers

October 2022 Forum – SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development 

Presenter: Blake Askelin
Topic: Exploring the clinical decision-making among the uro-oncology MDT: A qualitative study

Presenter: Louise Roberts
Topic: Improving Early Screening of delirium in residents from Residential Aged care facilities (RACF) when transferred to an acute hospital environment

September 2022 Forum – SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development 

Presenter: Monica Scott
Topic: Midwife led continuity of care and vaginal birth after caesarean – Where to now?

Presenter: Rachel Bilton–Simek
Topic: Touchpoint opportunities for everyday clinician’s to make a difference. Do everyday clinicians help patients understand and accept a palliative approach to their care.

August 2022 Forum - SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development 

Presenter: Josie Russell-Brown
Topic: Information Literacy of ICU Nurses at the Canberra Hospital

July 2022 Forum - SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development 

Presenter: Karen Burgess And Grace Hancock
Topic: Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD) knowledge

Presenter: Laura Hants
Topic: Computerising Care: Investigating whether the implementation of a digital health record system in Australia supports nurses to apply the nursing process in patient care.

June 2022 Forum - SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development 

Presenter: Blake Askelin
Topic: Exploring the impact of Uro-Oncology Multidisciplinary

Presenter: Amy O’Dea
Topic: Reviewing the unmet supportive care needs of people affected by kidney cancer

May 2022 Forum - SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development

Presenter: Shalyn Rouke
Topic: Quality of life change overtime in patients affected by cancer following an admission to the ICU? An Integrative Review

Presenter: Clare Stephenson
Topic: Support needs of people with younger onset Parkinson’s disease: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

April 2022 Forum - SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research & Practice Development

Presenter: Professor Deborah Davis
Topic: Synergy Overview

Presenter: Tammy Dredge
Topic: Women’s Experiences of the Canberra Maternity Options Services

SYNERGY Research Development Series

The SYNERGY Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre is excited to offer forums to support healthcare practitioners to develop skills, knowledge and research skills and capability.  This research series includes a range of forums for all levels of healthcare practitioners to explore innovation in practice, and to champion and lead service design.

This professional development series includes topics to cultivate critical thinking to lead cutting edge research in healthcare.

Attendance contributes one hour towards requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for continuing professional development.

All are welcome! Find more information and register.

July 2023 - Harness your Research Presentation Skills

Presenter – Professor Michael Roche and Professor Kasia Bail

June 2023 – How to Design a Conference Poster

Presenter – Professor Deborah Davis and Professor Catherine Paterson 

May 2023 – Exploring Different Quantitative Designs

Presenter – Professor Deborah Davis

March 2023 - Develop your data and analysis skills using Microsoft Excel

Presenter: Professor Michael Roche

February 2023 – How to Write a Conference Abstract with Impact

Presenter: Professor Catherine Paterson and Dr Rosalyn Stanton

November 2022 - How To Critically Appraise Research

Presenter: Professor Nick Brown and Dr Rosalyn Stanton

October 2022 - How to source the best evidence to inform clinical practice 

Presenter: Professor Catherine Paterson and Mr Murray Turner

September 2022 - Differentiating Service Improvement, Clinical Audit, & Research

Presenter: Professor Catherine Paterson and Professor Nick Brown

July 2022 - Harness your research presentation skills 

Presenter: Professor Deborah Davis and Dr Rosalyn Stanton

June 2022 - How to design a conference poster 

Presenter: Professor Deborah Davis and Professor Michael Roche

May 2022 - Nursing and Midwifery Grand Rounds

Presenter: Shaylan Rourke and Clare Stephenson 

Page last updated on: 8 Feb 2024