Professor Linda Deravin Wiradjuri
BNurs UNE, MHlthMgt UNE, PhD
University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Māori and First Peoples nursing and midwifery academics: Workforce profile across New Zealand and Australia
Dewar, J., Deravin, L., Bonner, A., Williamson, M., Atherfold, C., Nightingale, K., West, C., Gillespie, K., & Strickland, K.
15-minute Oral Presentation
Tuesday 10 December, 2:30pm
Purpose: Information about Māori and Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery academic workforce in the tertiary education sector across both Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) and Australia (Aus) is unknown. This study sought to understand the profile of this workforce.
Methods: A cross-sectional study involving all 43 organisations who are members of the Council of Deans Nursing and Midwifery ANZ using an online survey. Collected data was descriptively analysed.
Results: Thirty organisations responded (NZ n = 3, AUS n = 27) reporting a total of 55 Māori and Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander staff. Staff mean age was 45.6 years (range 22-64), and 42.6% held a PhD (42.6%) qualification. Most were employed at lecturer level (72.7%; includes associate and senior lecturers) in a full-time continuing position (69.1%). Ten were appointed into a professoriate level position (18.1%). Workload was allocated to teaching (39.4%), research (38.0%) and service/engagement (17.1%).
Conclusion: All NZ organisations employed at least one Māori academic staff member. Several Australian universities did not employ Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff. As most staff held lower-level academic positions, greater succession planning through increased mentorship and professional development is urgently needed in both countries.