La Trobe University has been appointed the lead academic institution for a major nursing and midwifery research partnership within Victoria's Parkville health precinct, following a highly competitive selection process.
The Nursing Research Academic Partnership, an initiative of the Parkville Local Health Service Network, brings together La Trobe, The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and the Royal Women's Hospital (RWH).
The collaboration is driven by a shared ambition to build nursing and midwifery research leadership and deliver meaningful improvements in patient care, workforce capability and health system outcomes.
The partnership will embed research directly within clinical practice and create clear research and leadership pathways for nurses and midwives.
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said the partnership complemented the University's ongoing $170 million Health Innovation Strategy and reflected La Trobe's deep commitment to health equity, innovation and its AI-first approach to workforce development and health system improvement.
"This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building nursing and midwifery research capability where it matters most - at the point of care," Professor Farrell said.
"By embedding research within clinical settings, we can accelerate translation into practice and deliver outcomes that matter for patients, clinicians and the broader health system."
La Trobe was selected for its exceptional standing in nursing and midwifery research, its proven clinical school model and long-standing relationships with hospital leaders and clinician-researchers.
Underpinned by La Trobe's nationally and internationally recognised research strengths, including work through the Judith Lumley Centre and the Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing, the partnership reinforces nursing and midwifery as central drivers of health system reform and the care economy.
School of Nursing and Midwifery Dean Professor Marie Gerdtz said La Trobe's established presence in the Parkville precinct would deliver impact from day one.
"This partnership allows us to scale that work, strengthen research capability and create new academic-clinical pathways that support nurses and midwives to grow as researchers while remaining embedded in practice," Professor Gerdtz said.
"By placing research at the centre of nursing and midwifery practice, this partnership translates frontline insight into better patient outcomes and system‑wide impact".
The partnership will support:
- Research embedded in clinical practice, accelerating translation from evidence to care
- Joint academic-clinical roles and expanded career pathways for nurses and midwives
- New professorial appointments, postdoctoral roles and up to 50 PhD scholarships
- Increased student placements and workforce development opportunities.
The Royal Children's Hospital Executive Director Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer Kath Riddell said RCH was delighted to confirm this vital research partnership and proud to be part of an initiative that placed nursing leadership at its core.
"This partnership will have a lasting impact for the RCH, the Parkville health network and more broadly the nursing profession.
"Embedding nurse researchers within clinical settings ensures our nurses have an opportunity to undertake research that is immediately relevant to practice, will strengthen care for our patients, while building research capability across our services and beyond."
The Royal Melbourne Hospital's Chief Nursing Officer Kethly Fallon said the RMH was "proud to be part of this partnership, which recognises the vital contribution of our nurses and the power of research to transform care.
"By working collaboratively across the Parkville precinct, we can strengthen our research culture, accelerate innovation and ensure both patients and staff benefit from our collective expertise."
Laura Bignell, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at the Royal Women's Hospital said research-informed nursing was essential to delivering high-quality, compassionate and equitable care.
"This partnership will allow our nurses and midwives to shape the future of clinical practice by contributing directly to evidence that improves patient care.
"By connecting academic expertise with the realities of frontline care, we can build a stronger workforce, foster innovation and ensure that women and newborns benefit from the very best that nursing research can offer."
