The three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed today, serves as a commitment to health research, improving learning outcomes for students and growing Canberra’s healthcare workforce.

Calvary’s National Chief Executive Officer Martin Bowles said an ongoing partnership with the University was a natural fit.

“Calvary is one of the largest providers of health and aged care services in Canberra, and the University is one of the ACT’s leading health education and research institutions,” Mr Bowles said.

“We are investing in our services in the ACT and developing a long-term relationship with a strong academic partner.”

University of Canberra’s Faculty of Health Executive Dean, Professor Michelle Lincoln, said the arrangement would enhance opportunities for nursing, midwifery and allied health students equipping them for their careers in healthcare.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Calvary, which reinforces our commitment to the ACT health workforce across all the settings in which health professionals work,” Professor Lincoln said. “The partnership will benefit our nursing, midwifery and allied health students through access to clinical placements, practical skills training and assessments, and research opportunities.

“By partnering with Calvary, we are adding to an already well-established clinical placement, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and research partnership that will stand our students in good stead as they progress through their respective courses and practical skills requirements to qualify in their chosen discipline. Through collaborative research we will foster innovation and evidence-based approaches to care,” Professor Lincoln said.

Professor Paddy Nixon, Vice Chancellor, UC (left) and Mr Martin Bowles, CEO Calvary (right). Photo credit: Tyler Cherry, University of Canberra

Mr Bowles said The University of Canberra was recognised for producing nurses, midwives and allied health professionals that were ready to enter the health workforce in the ACT once they had completed their studies.

“We want many of those passionate people working with us to make a difference in Canberrans’ health and wellbeing,” he said.

“We already have a great working relationship with University of Canberra and this MOU will assist that partnership grow further into areas such as collaborative research projects, including in aged care, so that together we can help improve services and outcomes for older Australians.”

Calvary has 1500 staff working across its Calvary Bruce and Calvary John James private hospitals, Calvary Haydon aged care home, and home care services in the ACT. It is one of the largest providers of orthopaedic surgery, runs the only private maternity service in the Territory, an expanding mental health service and offers a range of other medical and surgical services, including robotic surgery.