Clinical Education Lecturer Receives Research Grant

Edith Cowan University Clinical Education Lecturer Fiona Hildebrand is the recipient of an Australian Nurses Memorial Centre Rosemary Norman Research Grant.

High Quality Health Care

The grant provides opportunities for applicants in the later stages of their PhD or who are undertaking other nursing or midwifery postgraduate courses. Fiona’s PhD project focuses on supporting remote area nurses to grow their skills and confidence in the large range of clinical areas they cover to deliver high quality health care to some Australia’s most vulnerable.

“I am grateful to the Rosemary Norman foundation and family, and Australian Nurses Memorial Centre who recognise the need for a clinical supervision model for remote area nurses to be rolled out to industry,” says Fiona.

A Registered Nurse with a clinical background as a Remote Area Nurse working in primary health care across Australian in isolated communities, Fiona cares deeply about rural and remote individuals receiving equitable health care.

“Remote area nursing isn’t a well-known career field for nurses to venture into, but those who dip their toes in working in the most isolated communities in Australia find great job satisfaction,” says Fiona.

“A typical primary health care centre is physically distant from tertiary care centres, staffed by 3 to 5 nurses who are on-call 24 hours 7 days a week caring for people from cradle to grave.”

Fiona works within the University Department of Rural Health South West (UDRH SW) as a clinical educator supporting nursing students who are undertaking placements in WAs South West. The department focuses on health education, research, and workforce strategies to support the recruitment and retention of health professionals within a variety of community organisations in rural and remote areas.

The UDRH SW is funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care to focus on increasing multidisciplinary health training and learning opportunities.

Fiona was recognised at an award ceremony in March at the Australian Nurses Memorial Centre in Melbourne.