The Hunter New England Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre

Gena plays a key role within the Centre, providing strategic research leadership across the District. 

She is a registered nurse and a Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle.

Her research interests are in persistent pain conditions, and the early identification, stratification and management of patients transitioning from acute to chronic pain states.

She is passionate about improving patient and service outcomes through the conduct of practice-based enquiry and the translation of evidence into clinical practice.

Se Ok supports nursing and midwifery clinician researchers across the District and the NMRC's collective work in achieving its strategic research goals. 

She has in-depth experience in project management and in securing competitive funding for projects.

Se Ok is registered nurse and a Conjoint Lecturer at the College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle.

Sophie is a post-doctoral researcher and registered nurse. At NMRC, she focuses on research capacity building and optimising clinical research within the District.

Sophie also works as a Research Officer with the Population Health Maternal Health Team at the University of Newcastle.

Her clinical and research interests include the psychosocial impacts of cancer and chronic disease, older people, people with dementia and the implementation of evidence to change practice.

Sophie's research has a translational focus using mixed and qualitative research methodologies within a clinical setting.

Michelle works with the NMRC as a consultant, working with individuals and teams to develop and implement of practice-based research.

She is passionate about linking clinicians with resources and helping them to have successful projects. Michelle has supported award-winning projects at a District, state and national level.

Michelle has excellent skills in research design and process with a particular focus on implementation. She has a strong publication record and success in securing competitive funding.

Maralyn works with the NMRC as a consultant. She is an experienced clinician, academic and researcher with over 30 years engagement in health services research. 

Maralyn's experience includes a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods from epidemiological studies and clinical trials to ethnography. 

Her main research focus is on generating evidence of effective care and translating evidence into practice.

Vicki works with the NMRC as a consultant on a casual basis. She was a Chair in Rural Nursing jointly funded by the University of New England and Hunter New England LHD.

At NMRC, Vicki supports nurse and midwife researchers and clinical practice research. She provides mentoring, critical companionship and research higher degree supervision for aspiring researchers.

Her research interests span experiences of illness and health care, nursing workforce, inter-professional practice and patient safety. 

Vicki's skills include practice improvements, qualitative methods and mixed methods research. 

Kamana is a research officer at NMRC. She supports our research staff, activity and processes, and is a member of several research teams.  

She has extensive experience in research project management, preparing research grant submissions, project planning and coordination, data management, ethics submissions and writing publications for peer-reviewed journals and project reports.

Jean is a research officer at NMRC and plays an important role in helping us to achieve our strategic research goals. 

She has extensive experience in data and project management, clinical trial management, research and questionnaire design, and statistical analysis. 

Jean has co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles. She has extensive experience programming in several statistical software.

Laura is a research assistant at NMRC and supports us with research grant submissions, literature reviews, project management and coordination, data collection and analysis. 

She has experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods. She previously worked on a an NMRC supported research project - The 'No CAUTI' project. 

The nonrandomised, controlled intervention study focused on reducing inappropriate catheterisation to prevent Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) through a hospital-wide, bundled catheter care (BCC) approach.

Sylvia is the Administration Support Officer at NMRC. She is the first point of contact at our centre and helps with all enquiries. 

She has extensive experience in providing administration support to executive staff, clinicians, nursing and allied health staff.  Sylvia will be the first point of contact for the NMRC and will help with all enquiries.

She has worked in Hunter New England LHD for 30 years, starting in the paediatric department and working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for many years.  

Peter is the Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) and Program Manager, Health Protection at Hunter New England Population Health. 

He leads a team of CNCs, public health physicians and staff in the control of communicable diseases for the Hunter New England LHD. 

Peter has worked in public health in rural and regional Australia for more than 30 years. He has also worked in Pacific countries on TB programs, strengthening public health research capacity and disease control. 

He has experience in immunisation, communicable disease control, zoonoses, public health emergencies, and Aboriginal health. He also brings a strong rural and equity focus to all aspects of public health and experience in research capacity building and community-based research.

Peter has authored more than 75 publications and is a lead investigator on several funded research projects. He has strengths in using mixed methods and translational research, and several public health approaches.

Trent is a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) in the Cardiology department at John Hunter Hospital. He is also a Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle's faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. 

He is actively involved in system development and monitoring cardiology systems in Hunter New England LHD. He has co-authored papers on ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) systems and health outcomes of cardiology patients.

With more than 20 years of acute cardiology experience, he has a special interest in clinical research and cardiology systems; specifically, in examining adverse events and quality improvement.

He is passionate about training the next generation of nurses and leading clinical system implementation. 

Trent has won several competitive grants and research awards. Recently, he was awarded the Hunter New England Clinical Health Services Fellowship to set up cardio-oncology clinical systems across the District.

Using mixed method evaluation, this project analyses post-discharge follow-up phone calls (FUPCs) intervention in a large local health district in NSW Australia.

Project overview

Hunter New England LHD (the District) has implemented FUPCs within 24 hours of discharge in its hospitals since 2013. 

This implementation is part of the Patient Care Essentials program within the Excellence: Evidence Based Leadership Framework. 

The study aims to evaluate FUPCs to better understand current practices and processes and refine interventions across various scenarios in the District.

The RE-AIM theoretical framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) will guide a mixed methods evaluation. 

Quantitative and text data will be sourced from historical service data and online surveys of key stakeholder groups responsible for FUPCs (nursing and midwifery clinicians and unit managers). 

Qualitative data will be collected from focus groups that have recruited inpatient and ward-based nursing and midwifery clinicians and unit managers. This data will also include telephone interviews with patients who have previously responded to FUPCs. 

Team members

• Dr Sophie Dilworth
• Associate Prof Michelle Giles
• Dr Gena Lieschke
• Dr John Wiggers
• Ms Kamana Bantawa
• Ms Evelyn Palominos-Letelier
• Ms Stacey Simpson
• Mr Michael Fahy
• Prof Maralyn Foureur

This project examines the effectiveness, feasibility and impact of an embedded emergency department nurse practitioner model of care.

Project overview

Access to essential healthcare services, including emergency care has been weakened because of workforce shortfalls in the health sector, especially in rural and remote regions. 

Due to the challenges in attracting and keeping suitable qualified medical and nursing staff, many health care facilities have had to deploy expensive contingency plans, including the commissioning of out-reach medical services.  

It was found that emergency department nurse practitioners have been effective in managing patients who come to emergency departments with non-life-threatening conditions. They proved effectiveness in providing prompt, effective high-quality care that patients accept and easily adopted by other services. 

This study will evaluate if a similar model implemented in 4 rural emergency departments in Hunter New England Local Health District is effective, practical, acceptable and cost-effective in keeping emergency services within rural health districts.

Team members

• Associate Professor Michelle Giles
• Mr Michael Fahy
• Dr Sophie Dilworth
• Dr Christopher Oldmeadow
• Professor Jennifer May
• Mr Mathew Lutze
• Ms Josephine Burton
• Professor Maralyn Foureur
• Associate Professor Peter Massey
• Dr Gena Lieschke

This project aims to support successful applicants in building research literacy and skills by taking part in applied clinical research and mentoring. 

Project overview

This district-wide project aims to understand the current level of available nursing and midwifery skills, resources and opportunities, and the role of nurses and midwives as research team members. 

Project overview

As the role of research in ensuring best practice outcomes grows, there is limited knowledge about nursing and midwifery engagement in research. 

Practice-based translational research has broadly changed the roles and activities of nurses and midwives.  

It is important to understand nurses' and midwives' response to this change and find ways to improve their participation in research. 

The study includes a cross-sectional online survey of all nurses and midwives in Hunter New England Local Health District, which will inform our goal of making research, research expertise and processes a standard practice in nursing and midwifery.

Funding 

$7500 from HMRI Clinical Research Design, Information Technology and Statistical Support (CReDITTS) 

Publications

• Towards translational research participation for nurses and midwives: a mixed method study (February 2022) 

Team members

• Associate Professor Michelle Giles
• Professor Vicki Parker
• Dr Se Ok Ohr
• Dr Gena Lieschke
• Professor Maralyn Foureur
• Ms Evelyn Palominos-Letelier
• Ms Jean Ball
• Ms Kamana Bantawa

This project aims to reduce unnecessary hospital and emergency department admission requests from residential aged-care facility (RACFs) residents.

Project overview

The project will build on the pilot project completed at John Hunter Hospital in 2018. The study will analyse how using interactive telehealth (PACE-IT) for RACF residents can strengthen partnerships, decision-making and communication between Emergency Departments and RACFs.

Interactive telehealth technology assists with visual assessments, easier information sharing and decision making. The aim is to improve communication and increase the skill and confidence of RACF staff to deliver prompt care to their resident(s).

Funding

$751,000 from NSW Health Translational Research Grant Scheme

Awards

Hunter New England Health Execellence Awards 2021

Publications 

• November 2022: Scoping Review: Does telehealth influence the decision to transfer residents of residential aged care facilities to emergency departments?
• September 2022: Qualitative Descriptive Study: Experiences of nurses working in RACFs and EDs utilising visual telehealth consultation to assess the need for RACF resident transfer to ED
• December 2020: COVID-19 preparedness in aged care: A qualitative study exploring residential aged care facility managers experiences planning for a pandemic
• July 2020: PACE-IT study protocol: a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the implementation of telehealth visual assessment in emergency care for people living in residential aged care facilities

Team members

• Ms Carla Sunner
• Associate Professor Michelle Giles
• Professor Maralyn Foureur
• Dr Carolyn Hullick
• Ms Roslyn Barker
• Ms Jenny Rutherford
• Professor Vicki Parker
• Dr Rod Ling
• Dr Christopher Oldmeadow
• Ms Kathryn Cain
• Ms Melissa Jolliffe
• Ms Miriam Eaton
• Dr Se Ok Ohr
• Ms Jean Ball
• Ms Sophie Dilworth
• Ms Kamana Bantawa

This project tracks post-caesarean section surgical site infections (CS SSIs) in women after being discharged from hospital.

Project overview

The aim of the project is to increase the accuracy of identifying CS SSI by improving data access, setting up a baseline and ongoing monitoring across Hunter New England LHD (the District). 

The study proposed the use of a Healthtracker surveillance system to:

• help health services actively prevent CS SSI. 
• improve patient-reported CS SSIs using an automated SMS service linked to a personalised online CS SSI survey. 

Funding

• $26,378 from the Hunter New England LHD Improvement Project Grant
• $7500 from the HMRI Statistical Support Grant

Awards

Hunter New England Health Excellence Awards 2021

Publications

• May 2021: What gets measured gets noticed. Tracking surgical site infection post caesarean section through community surveillance: A post intervention study protocol
• Submitted: Usability and effectiveness of HealthTracker for surgical site infection surveillance: an intervention study, Journal of Advanced Nursing

Team members

• Associate Professor Michelle Giles
• Dr Se Ok Ohr
• Ms Sally Munnoch
• Ms Mandy Hunter
• Mr Jeff Deane
• Professor Maralyn Foureur
• Associate Professor John Ferguson
• Mr Patrick Cashman
• Dr Andrew Woods
• Dr Christopher Oldmeadow

This project applied an evidence-based catheter care bundle to reduce inappropriate catheterisation to prevent Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI).

Project overview

The No CAUTI project was a non-randomised, controlled intervention study. It applied an catheter care bundle across 4 acute care facilities with the aim to:

• reduce indwelling urinary catheter (IDC) use and prevent CAUTIs.
• improve adult inpatient safety.

Implementation strategies included:

• training the trainer
• medical education
• monitoring and feedback 
• developing and helping with ward-based education and resources.

These key elements were common to all intervention sites. However, there was a degree of flexibility with the implementation groups at each facility to address any unique settings.

Funding

NSW Health Translational Research Grant Scheme 

Awards

• Hunter New England Health Excellence Awards 2015
• Harry Collins Award for Infection Prevention 2015
• ACHS QI Award for Clinical Excellence and Patient Safety 2015

Publications

• May 2017: Avoiding inappropriate urinary catheter use and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI): a pre-post control intervention study
• August 2019: Variations in indwelling urinary catheter use in four Australian acute care hospitals
• December 2019: Implementation of a multifaceted nurse-led intervention to reduce indwelling urinary catheter use in four Australian hospitals: a pre- and postintervention study
• May 2020: Barriers and facilitators to implementation of a multifaceted nurse-led intervention in acute care hospitals aimed at reducing indwelling urinary catheter use: a qualitative study
• August 2021: Administration of indwelling urinary catheters in four Australian Hospitals: cost-effectiveness analysis of a multifaceted nurse-led intervention

Team members

• Associate Professor Michelle Giles
• Ms Wendy Watts
• Professor Vicki Parker
• Professor Anthony O'Brien
• Ms Jennie King
• Ms Alison Harris
• Ms Laura Graham
• Dr John Ferguson
• Dr Caroyln Hullick
• Dr Belinda Suthers
• Mr Peter MacIsacc
• Ms Jean Ball
• Ms Sally Milson-Hawke
• Ms Michelle Paul
• Ms Leanne Frazer
• Mr Andrew Searles
• Mr Rod Ling

This study looked at how Advance Care Planning (ACP) can be normalised for people with chronic disease in acute and community settings. 

Project overview

The study's aim is to address how ACP can be normalised into practice and if it increased 'planning ahead' practices in acute and community settings. 

The intervention used a ward or unit ACP expert to normalise the practice in nominated wards and units for 6 months.

Funding

$491,584 from Round 2 of the NSW Health Translational Research Grant Scheme

Publications

• May 2019: Study protocol to investigate the efficacy of normalisation of Advance Care Planning (ACP) for people with chronic diseases in acute and community settings: a quasi-experimental design
• April 2021: Prevalence of advance care planning practices among people with chronic diseases in hospital and community settings: a retrospective medical record audit
• July 2021: A cost-consequence analysis of normalised advance care planning practices among people with chronic diseases in hospital and community settings
• September 2021: Efficacy of Normalisation of Advance Care Planning (NACP) for people with chronic diseases in hospital and community settings: a quasi-experimental study
• September 2021: Nurse-led normalised advance care planning service in hospital and community health settings: a qualitative study
• Submitted: The implications of advance care planning for future policy, practice and research: a review advance care directives and a cross-sectional survey, BMC Palliative care

Team members

• Dr Se Ok Ohr
• Mr Peter Cleasby
• Dr Tomiko Barrett
• Prof Sally Chan
• Dr Peter Saul
• Associate Professor Sarah Jeong
• Mr Michael David

This study looked into increasing capacity to manage young people with mental health concerns at Emergency Departments (EDs). 

Project overview

The physical and mental health of young people needs an integrated approach at all acute hospitals, including EDs.

The project considered how training ED health professionals and having a system in place could help:

• properly manage young people with mental health issues.
• reduce the stigma (shame) associated with mental health.
• enable service users and carers to have a 'whole person' viewpoint (this is what they want). 

The project assessed how the KALMs pathways (Kids Acute Liaison in Mental Health) helped to improve patient journeys at the ED, including:

• reducing the length of stay.
• increased rates of patient and parent satisfaction.
• increased capacity for paediatric registrars to conduct mental health assessments.

Publications

• October 2020: Innovative pathway for managing children and adolescents with mental health concerns in the emergency department: An intervention feasibility study

Team members

• Dr Balkrishna B Nagarsekar
• Ms Jackie Townsend
• Ms Rachael Comeford
• Dr Se Ok Ohr
• Mr Matthew Clapham
• Ms Michelle Giles

These resources can help you develop your research project, explore what is being done (or has already been done) and talk to people working in your area of interest.

• Innovation Exchange - Agency for Clinical Innovation
• Hunter New England Health Libraries - Resources
• Research guides - The University of Newcastle, Australia
• Cochrane Reviews - Cochrane Library
• Doing research together resource - NSW Regional Health Partners
• HealthStats NSW
• Bureau of Health Information

Developing and refining research design is important to make sure your research answers your clinical question(s).

We encourage you to consult with experts in research design and methods as you develop and refine your research concept.

Contact us for support you with research.

Once you find an opportunity, contact us or the Hunter New England Research Office to make sure your project meets the opportunity's requirements.

• GrantConnect
• Australian Research Council
• Hunter New England Research Office programs
• NHMRC Medical Research Future Fund
• Agency for Clinical Innovation Funding
• Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)
• NSW Health and Medical Research Grants
• NSW Health Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMo)
• NSW Health Translational Research Grant Schemes
• HMRI Healthcare Transformation Research Program
• NSW Health Grants and Scholarship Opportunities
• Australian College of Nursing Scholarships, Grants and Awards
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Funding

Once you have decided on your research question and approach, writing your research proposal will help communicate your ideas to funding bodies and collaborators. 

Our District's strategies, plans and reports can help you align your research to our priorities and goals.

To request NMRC for support, fill out our consultation request form to get started. 

These online resources can help inform your research proposal:

• The Nurse Author and Editor
• NSW Health Guide to Setting Research Priorities
• Writing a research proposal - Monash University
• NSW Health Aboriginal Health Impact Statement
• Research Ethics and Governance Information System (REGIS)
• Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026
• Communicating your research toolkit - The Health Foundation (UK)

Getting support

You may choose to work with co-investigators or external support to manage parts of the research process.

Hunter Medical Research Institute and the Agency of Clinical Innovation offer research project support and implementation support. 

Gathering and extending skills

You may also want to build or extend your research skills in a particular area, method or other aspects of research design and conduct. 

Consider these training and education opportunities and resources related to research skills development. 

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation offer state and territory members education and professional development programs.

The International Council of Nurses house up to date information of importance to nurses worldwide.

Connect and collaborate with other researchers in Hunter New England LHD (the District) and NSW.

For more information about joining these initiatives or workshops, contact us.

• Aspiring Clinician Researchers' Peer Support Network: This peer-to-peer network connects like-minded clinicians who:
  • are thinking about taking on new research.
  • have started a research higher degree.
  • want support navigating the PhD process.
     
• Nurse and Midwife Consultant Clinical Research Internship: Our internship is led in partnership with the University of Newcastle and University of New England. This internship consists of 6 one-day research workshops held 3 weeks apart with an ongoing mentorship through to project completion. 
  
  It is specifically for Clinical Nurse and Midwife Consultants working in the District, and helps them to:
  • build research literacy and skills.
  • participate in applied clinical research and mentoring. 
  • develop skills in researching clinical practice issues, translational research methods and implementation science.
  • access and critique existing research.
  • integrate research into everyday clinical practice. 
     
• Nursing and Midwifery Research Publication Register: The register lists published research articles by our District's nurses and midwives. Email us to add your new published paper to the register.
   
• Nursing and Midwifery Research Register: You can register your research to expand your research network and reach. To register your study, call (02) 4924 6720 or email HNELHD-NMRC@health.nsw.gov.au 
   
• Writing your journal article in 12 weeks workshop: This weekly 2-hour workshop is held every Friday. The workshop helps nursing and midwifery novice writers to publish and share their great work. These workshops focus on:
  • providing writing structure.
  • practical writing tips.
  • addressing common issues with publishing an article.