At the University of Sydney’s invitation, Network Nursing Agency (NNA) has co-facilitated a workshop, the outcomes of which will help guide the education of Australia’s nurses of the future.
In a recent case study we outlined the vital role performed by clinical facilitators to support nursing education. NNA has worked with universities in Sydney for more than a decade and developed important partnerships with their nursing programs. The case study outlined the invitation to advise on the establishment of a nationally recognised and transferable qualification for clinical facilitators.
NNA Operations Manager Niamh Whyte says the workshop was the next step in this process and brought agency facilitators and university-hired facilitators together for the first time.
“We focused on establishing a unified understanding of the expectations, best practices, and guidelines essential for effective facilitation,” Niamh said.
“It was a fantastic opportunity for both groups to share insights, strategies, and challenges, fostering a community of practice that will ultimately benefit the students and the broader university community.”
The University of Sydney has been ranked as Australia’s number one for nursing and ranked number 12 globally*. Its nursing program is one of the country’s most progressive, with the curriculum evolving to include Culture Safety and integrating indigenous awareness and education into its patient centred care framework. As the university’s exclusive supplier of agency facilitators, NNA will be supporting their students on clinical placement, ensuring this framework is applied.
Niamh said the session with the university’s own nursing educators also presented a great opportunity to reflect on what her team does well and enhance understanding of how their client’s needs continue to evolve.
“We've worked diligently to ensure our facilitators are not only experts in their respective fields but also skilled in creating engaging, inclusive, and productive learning environments,” she said.
“This workshop is just one example of how we're actively responding to the evolving needs of the university and strive for excellence in everything we do.”