New Dean of Nursing and Midwifery Ysanne Chapman is confident there will be many opportunities for joint research and education projects involving hospitals and healthcare agencies in the coming year.

"Several hospitals in the region are being rebuilt and are expanding and our School of Nursing and Midwifery is embroiled in their expansion," she said.

Professor Ysanne Chapman

Professor Chapman said she had enjoyed her first three months as Dean, especially noting the 'can do' attitude of staff.

"The staff are an exciting crew who work well together to promote the mission of CQUniversity," she said.

"Individuals within the School have achieved personal and professional goals and won several accolades over the past three months.

"At Noosa campus Marc Broadbent has been invited to be a member of a clinical reference group to review triage processes in Australia and Carina Anderson successfully transferred her higher degree candidature to a PhD program, while at Bundaberg Susan Alexander gained her PhD.

"In Rockhampton, Dr Trudy Dwyer and Dr Kerry Reid-Searl were appointed as Associate Professors in the recent promotion round and Kerry has championed MASK-ED into a viable product for CQUniversity to celebrate.

"At Mackay, Maude Chapman and Anne Eaton took a group of nursing and midwifery students to Nepal to work in resource poor services. Anne was also the recipient of a Dean's award for teaching excellence.  Professor Brenda Happell has successfully developed the Masters of Mental Health for commencement in 2011.

"We are poised to be a strong School in 2011:  increases in student preferences will hopefully translate into a larger student cohort; greater collaboration between the School and industry partners; development of exciting programs at both undergraduate and post graduate levels; and the establishment of a strong professoriate that will assist the development of increased research and scholarship."

Professor Chapman said the challenges to be faced include increasing demands and costs of clinical placements in the region and the need to find additional, non-traditional ways of assisting nursing and midwifery students to become work ready.

"The global launch of MASK-ED in March will facilitate these developments. The establishment of a Collaborative Research Network lead by Professor Brenda Happell will promote research and scholarship in health-related issues.

"The School also is forging links between other disciplines in CQUniversity - the feasibility of dual degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are being addressed.

"Early discussions with TAFE proffer the development of collaboration in both teaching and research at Mackay and Rockhampton."