Nursing celebrates 20 years

Some of the city’s most influential and respected nurses will gather this Wednesday, June 23 to celebrate USQ Department of Nursing and Midwifery’s 20th anniversary.

The function, to be held at Platform 9 in Toowoomba, will attract close to 70 University leaders, nurses, University staff and alumni who have been involved with the Department since its inception two decades ago, within the Faculty of Sciences.

Former Dean of Nursing at Moravian College in South Carolina, Professor Janet Sipple, worked in USQ’s Nursing Department as their first visiting scholar in 1990 and will be guest speaker at the anniversary dinner.

USQ Head of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Cath Rogers-Clark, who assisted in the establishment of the Department in 1990, said the event was an opportunity to acknowledge USQ Nursing’s many achievements during the past 20 years.

'Our focus for the event is celebrating not only our achievements but also our nursing spirit, collegiality and united dedication to the future of nursing and midwifery,' Professor Rogers-Clark said.

'Back in 1990, 172 first-year students commenced their university education, in a ground-breaking nursing program which was built with strong partnerships between USQ and local health services.

'These partnerships have continued to develop and strengthen over the past 20 years, with a number of nurses now employed jointly by the university and local health services.

'Offering nurses a university education puts nurses the same professional standing as other health professionals, which is as important today as it was 20 years ago.'

Between 1993 and 2008, more than 4200 students have graduated from USQ Nursing and Midwifery programs.

'These USQ alumni work across Australia and internationally, with many in key leadership positions and some now working at USQ as members of the academic staff. We offer nursing education from the undergraduate to PhD level, within our local area but also at our Fraser Coast campus.

'Our postgraduate programs are offered worldwide via distance education, so our reach is truly international.'

The anniversary dinner is by invitation only and will begin at 6.30pm.