Calvary and University of Canberra partner for training, research

Calvary and the University of Canberra have partnered to provide future nurses, midwives and allied health professionals with practical, hands-on training in the workplace ensuring they are job-ready graduates.

Commenting on the three-year agreement, Calvary’s National Chief Executive Officer Martin Bowles said an ongoing partnership with the University was a natural fit.

“We are investing in our services in the ACT and developing a long-term relationship with a strong academic partner,” Bowles said.

The University of Canberra’s Faculty of Health Executive Dean, Professor Michelle Lincoln, said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Calvary, which reinforces our commitment to the ACT health workforce across all the settings in which health professionals work.

“The partnership will benefit our nursing, midwifery and allied health students through access to clinical placements, practical skills training and assessments, and research opportunities.

“By partnering with Calvary, we are adding to an already well-established clinical placement, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and research partnership that will stand our students in good stead as they progress through their respective courses and practical skills requirements to qualify in their chosen discipline. Through collaborative research we will foster innovation and evidence-based approaches to care,” Lincoln said.

Bowles said The University of Canberra was recognised for producing nurses, midwives and allied health professionals who were ready to enter the health workforce in the ACT once they had completed their studies.

“We want many of those passionate people working with us to make a difference in Canberrans’ health and wellbeing,” he said.

“We already have a great working relationship with University of Canberra and this MOU will assist that partnership to grow further into areas such as collaborative research projects, including in aged care, so that together we can help improve services and outcomes for older Australians.”

Calvary has 1500 staff working across its Calvary Bruce and Calvary John James private hospitals, Calvary Haydon aged care home, and home care services in the ACT. It is one of the largest providers of orthopaedic surgery, runs the only private maternity service in the Territory as well as an expanding mental health service, and offers a range of other medical and surgical services, including robotic surgery.

Image caption: Professor Paddy Nixon, Vice Chancellor, UC (left) and Martin Bowles, CEO Calvary (right). Image credit: Tyler Cherry, University of Canberra.