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Coast nursing director accepts USC appointment
University of the Sunshine Coast nursing research and teaching staff are delighted to have secured the support of a man who clearly has his finger on the pulse of the region’s nursing industry.
Sunshine Coast Health Service District Director of Nursing Services Graham Wilkinson last week accepted an appointment as a USC Adjunct Associate Professor when he attended a Nursing Showcase event at the University.
Mr Wilkinson, who is in charge of 1700 nurses in the district, said he aimed to bring about a greater sharing of resources between the industry and USC and be involved in discussions about joint opportunities and future curriculum.
"I’ll be actively engaged in the advisory committee and expanding links formally between the Sunshine Coast Health Services District and Nursing Services and the facilities of the Faculty of Science, Health and Education, particularly in the area of Nursing," he said.
"I think adjunct appointments are important to formally bridge the link between the profession and the education sector.
"It’s a proactive appointment to progress nursing. It’s not just a nice thing to do . . . it’s an important thing to do.
USC Chair of Nursing Professor Edward White said this appointment was significant because it sent a powerful signal that the service and tertiary sectors were serious about forging even stronger partnerships.
"Graham Wilkinson is the most influential person in the nursing service sector on the Sunshine Coast,’’ Professor White said. "He is well placed to canvass the opinions of his colleagues and he certainly has his finger on the pulse of what is happening with nursing on the Sunshine Coast."
Professor White said last week’s Nursing Showcase attracted 70 senior nurses from across the Coast and explored opportunities to improve patient care through cooperative initiatives in education, research and consultancy.
"The benefit to the University was in being able to tap into such a rich source of experience of practice-based issues from individuals who are best placed to identify them in their workplaces."
He said the input from the nurses would make USC’s teaching more relevant and contemporary.
Mr Wilkinson agreed, saying the Nursing Showcase had provided for "good, open, informed and robust discussion" about nursing.
The Nursing Showcase included a guided tour of USC’s state-of-the-art nursing, sport and exercise, and biomedical laboratories and a discussion about further ways to strengthen the partnership between the University, private health care providers and TAFE.
Next year, USC will offer a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree, replacing a Bachelor of Nursing program that has been run jointly with CQU in Rockhampton.