La Trobe University to lead major nursing research partnership in Parkville

La Trobe University has been selected to lead a major new nursing and midwifery research partnership in Melbourne’s Parkville health precinct, in a significant collaboration with three of the city’s leading hospitals.

The new Nursing Research Academic Partnership has been established by the Parkville Local Health Service Network and will link La Trobe with The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Royal Women’s Hospital.

The partnership is aimed at strengthening nursing and midwifery research across the region, while also creating a clearer academic and leadership pathway for nurses and midwives working in clinical settings.

At its core, the plan is designed to bring research closer to frontline care by integrating it more directly into daily hospital practice. The goal is to improve patient care, enhance the capability of medical teams and support stronger health system performance.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said the collaboration would help ensure research was being applied where it was most needed.

“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building nursing and midwifery research capability where it matters most – at the point of care,” he said.

La Trobe said it was chosen because of its strong record in nursing and midwifery research, its clinical school model, and its long-term relationships with hospital leaders and clinical researchers in the region. The university said the partnership also aligns with its broader focus on health innovation and workforce development.

School of Nursing and Midwifery Dean Professor Marie Gerdtz said La Trobe’s existing presence in Parkville meant the initiative could move quickly.

“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,” she said.

Under the partnership, new opportunities are expected in research, education and career development. These include joint academic and clinical roles, broader career pathways, new professorial and postdoctoral positions, and up to 50 PhD scholarships.

The initiative is also expected to increase student placement opportunities and support workforce development in one of Victoria’s most important health precincts.

Hospital leaders involved in the partnership said it would help build a stronger research culture while keeping nursing and midwifery closely connected to patient care.

Royal Children’s Hospital executive director of nursing and chief nursing officer Kath Riddell said placing nurse researchers in clinical environments would give staff the opportunity to carry out research directly related to daily care. Royal Women’s Hospital chief nursing and midwifery officer Laura Bignell added that evidence-based care was critical to delivering high-quality, compassionate and equitable healthcare.

With new research roles, training pathways and student opportunities set to emerge, the partnership is expected to deepen La Trobe’s presence in Parkville while strengthening the role of nursing and midwifery in shaping future healthcare.