Postgraduate Forum - Australian Nursing in a Global Context

In 2008 the QUT School of Nursing and Midwifery celebrated a major milestone of thirty years of higher education for Queensland nurses. Much has been achieved and it was time to celebrate these achievements. 

In 1978 the then Nursing Department at the Queensland Institute of Technology commenced three post-registration diploma courses for nurses with an enrolment of 51 students. These courses were a major step forward for nursing and nurse education and were the first tertiary level courses for nurses in Queensland.  In 2008, with an enrolment of 2,600 students, the School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of the country’s leading providers of undergraduate and postgraduate education for nurses.

As part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations, our Postgraduate Forum was addressed by our first commonwealth Chief Nurse, Ms Rosemary Bryant, and international nurse consultant, Ms Fadwa Affara, who spoke about the future of Australian Nursing in a Global Context. We would like to invite you to watch the Postgraduate Forum video recording to listen to their amazing careers and to learn about where your postgraduate studies may lead to.

Head of School Professor Helen Edwards

Postgraduate Forum

The Postgraduate Forum, held 30 September 2008 at the Brisbane Convention Centre, was an exciting opportunity to hear national and international nursing leaders discuss how they see Australian nursing in a global context. Nursing is undergoing significant changes in Australia and at an International level. The importance of nurses undertaking postgraduate study to enhance their capacity in these specialists’ roles has never been so important, with the role that universities play in preparing nurses for these advanced and new roles being vital. The forum was also a great opportunity to see the range of postgraduate programs in nursing offered at QUT and to meet the experts who deliver these cutting edge courses.

Postgraduate Forum Guest Speakers

Fadwa A. Affara, RN, RNT MA, MSc
International Nurse Consultant, Education and Regulation Policy

Now retired from ICN, Fadwa undertakes extensive consultancy work for ICN, WHO and other agencies, particularly in the field of professional regulation and education. She co chairs the American Nurses Credentialing Centre’s Governing Council of the Institute for Credentialing International, and was conferred the President’s Award for Leadership in 2007... Read Fadwa's Biography

Rosemary Bryant

Chief Nurse & Midwifery Officer, Department of Health & Ageing

Rosemary was elected as the Second Vice President of the International Council of Nurses in 2005. She has had a broad experience in policy development both in nursing and the broader health sector. Her academic interests revolve around the regulation of health professionals... Read Rosemary's Biography