• Charles Sturt University to host nurses and midwives conference in Orange on Thursday 8 May

Rural, regional and remote healthcare will be the focus of an upcoming conference at Charles Sturt University in Orange for nurses and midwives working across NSW.

Charles Sturt University and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) will host its second joint Rural, Regional and Remote Nurses and Midwives Professional Development Conference for nurses and midwives with a focus on issues in rural and regional communities.

The last conference in 2023 was held at Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie with this year’s event to be held at the Orange campus on Thursday 8 May from 9am to 5pm.

The conference is aimed at nurses and midwives and students working in rural, regional and remote areas across Australia. It will feature presentations, panel discussions and sessions by industry leaders, researchers and professionals in the healthcare sector.

The program will highlight innovative practices in nursing and midwifery and cover topics such as digital health, paediatric services in rural areas, nurse practitioner care models, mental health nursing, workforce upskilling and retention strategies.

Participants can also attend an industry expo and optional tour of Charles Sturt’s simulation facilities.

Head of the Charles Sturt School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences Professor Kerryn Butler-Henderson said the conference aims to improve professional skills, support workforce development and foster collaboration.

“The conference is an opportunity to connect regional nurses and midwives, share knowledge, and showcase innovative practices that address challenges in rural, regional, and remote healthcare,” she said.

Speakers will include representatives from Charles Sturt’s Three Rivers Department of Rural Health, Charles Sturt’s School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, the Western NSW Local Health District, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, Ramsay Dudley Health, Torie Finnane Foundation, Orange Midwifery Group Practice, and nurses and midwives currently working in rural and remote areas.

Charles Sturt offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate options in nursing and midwifery, including the Bachelor of Nursing and Graduate Diploma of Midwifery.

Postgraduate nursing certificates specialising in aged care, clinical education, leadership and management, and rural and remote care are available for people to expand their existing qualifications and skillsets.

Professor Butler-Henderson said Charles Sturt is dedicated to upskilling the regional nursing and midwifery workforce and training career-ready graduates.

NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary Mr Michael Whaites acknowledged the importance of the upcoming conference in Orange.

“Nurses and midwives have the capacity to significantly improve healthcare equity, accessibility, and outcomes in local communities, but ongoing investment is needed in the healthcare workforce, through undergraduate and continuing professional education processes,” he said.

“We must all work together to cultivate workplace cultures that are conducive to nurturing and retaining nurses and midwives through creating fulfilling careers in rural, remote and regional settings. 

“This conference in partnership with Charles Sturt University helps this work.”

The Rural, Regional and Remote Nurses and Midwives Professionals Development Conference will be held at Charles Sturt in Orange on Thursday 8 May from 9am to 5pm. Registrations are now open.