Danielle Meddemmen
The University of Canberra’s Disciplines of Nursing and Midwifery have been recognised for their consistent efforts across the health fields, ranking in the top 150 nursing schools globally for the first time.
The University was one of just 19 Australian providers in the top 150 globally, in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Nursing.
The Faculty of Health’s Head of School, Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Professor Karen Strickland said this achievement was even more impressive in light of working through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been so challenging over the last year and a half, but these results have been achieved through the hard work of our whole team,” she said.
“UC is the main supplier of the local and regional nursing and midwifery workforce, and plays a significant role in our partnership with ACT Health, research outcomes and engagement with the community as a civic university.”
The QS University World Rankings assess universities on a range of performance outcomes, including across research, teaching and employability.
Staff gathered on Friday afternoon to celebrate the achievement, with Alice Westwood, the 2020 Nursing graduate with the highest grade point average (GPA), as a guest speaker.
“I started my degree after receiving exceptional nursing care myself, and from day one I remember thinking I was meant to be there,” Ms Westwood said.
“I came to my first lecture with my four-week-old (corrected) strapped into my baby carrier, and the Clinical Liaison Nurse Julie Blackburn came over to me to ensure I was comfortable feeding in the lecture theatre, and that I wasn’t going to get up and miss anything.”
Friday afternoon’s event came just after the faculty celebrated International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May).
The event was also attended by ACT Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Anthony Dombkins, who applauded the University on its performance in the rankings.
“The quality of care that is provided by the bedside is only as good as the education the nurses and midwives receive,” he said.
“The University of Canberra truly deserves that accolade of being acknowledged as a leader in nursing and midwifery education.”
More information on the QS University rankings can be found here.
