Nurses and midwives ‘at the bedside’ are being encouraged to take a lead role in research under an innovative grants program developed by the Rosemary Bryant Foundation.
The Australian charity dedicated to nursing and midwifery research is offering $55,000 in funding to nurses and midwives seeking to advance the care they provide.
“Our grant program is unique because we want to hear from the people who are at the bedside, in the emergency department, in the labour ward and out in the community—they are the people best positioned to identify ways to improve nursing and midwifery care,” says the Foundation’s namesake Dr Rosemary Bryant AO.
“Nurses and midwives interact with patients and the wider community on a daily basis so it is apt for them to lead and direct the research projects that will impact the people they provide care to everyday,” she says.
As Australia’s first Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer and renowned Australian champion of the nursing profession, Dr Bryant strongly believes these grants will enable nurses and midwives to explore untapped opportunities to improving care.
“These grants have a specific focus on research topics that may not have been previously investigated. The funding also aims to foster early career researchers as well as nurses and midwives who may be new to research.
The distinctive grants program—and its role in empowering nursing and midwifery leadership at the bedside—has attracted the support of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), which represents more than 275,000 nurses, midwives and personal care assistants across the nation.
ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler agrees nurses and midwives have the ability to have a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of the community.
“Nurses and midwives account for the greatest proportion of the nation’s health care workforce. They are a powerful group of well-educated professionals who can and do make a significant contribution to the research community,” Ms Butler says.
Dr Bryant says the support of the ANMF, along with nursing and midwifery super fund HESTA, has helped make the grants a reality.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM warmly welcomed funding being provided by the Rosemary Bryant Foundation to further nursing and midwifery research.
“We are proud to have supported the Rosemary Bryant Foundation since its launch in 2017 so nurses and midwives have more opportunities to lead the way to advance patient care,” Ms Dabars says.
The four Rosemary Bryant Foundation research grants have a total value of $55,000 and are open to applications until 4 October 2019. All applications will be assessed and evaluated by a Grants Committee of leading research and industry experts.
People can learn more and apply for funding by visiting www.rbf.org.au or by emailing info@rbf.org.au
Media Contact: Claire Dollard, Foundation Manager
0438 473 702 | claire@rbf.org.au
