Staff Profile 

To shine the spotlight on staff involved in research at our service, we will share a series of staff profiles over the next few issues.

Andrea McLean

Andrea is a registered nurse currently working on Surgical Ward 1 at Albury Hospital. Recently returning to nursing after pursuing some arty endeavours, Andrea was drawn back by her interest in getting involved in research.  

Andrea took the time to chat with me after finishing night shift, followed by completing coursework for the research course she is undertaking.

With diverse nursing experience, Andrea has come across research within her roles but has never been formally involved in a research project. Curious about the evidence behind best practice and wanting to play a role in future best practice, Andrea was on the look out for how to get involved in the research space.  

Andrea came across the PRAXIS PROgress Program advertised in a past Research and Library newsletter and contacted the Research Office. With help from Kate, our Clinical Trials Coordinator, Andrea secured a funded place on the program. The PROgress Program is an immersive, career-accelerator designed to equip students with the essential skills and experience to step confidently into a role in the clinical research sector. Andrea is enjoying the course and has recently met with her mentor, previous Clinical Trial Coordinator at the Border Medical Oncology Research Unit.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the funders that have enabled Andrea to undertake this course; Safer Care Victoria and our Regional Clinical Trial Coordination Centre (RCCC).

With the course under her belt, keen interest in research and critical thinking skills learned through nursing practice, Andrea will be ready for future research positions. We look forward to following Andrea on her journey into research and wish her the best of luck.

Research Round Table CoP August meeting

The next Research Round Table Community of Practice meeting will be held this Wednesday 27th August 1-2pm.

This month we will hear from Francis Wong and Vanessa Crosby about the registries currently underway within their departments.

Research Office staff will then give a brief presentation on how to find and join a registry, and the current registries underway at our health service.   

July 2025 | We heard from our AWH/UNSW research coordinator, Maria Van Leeuwen, who gave an engaging presentation on her influential work in population health. We also heard from the AWH PHU team about their current projects. 

May 2025 | We heard from a line-up of our peadiatrics team and recent UNSW medical students about their contribution to local paediatrics research.

March 2025 | We heard from Dr Stacey Rich, who gave a wonderful presentation on qualitative and co-design research.

Research Office staff touched on how to involve consumers in research at our service.

For more past presentations, visit the Research Office Education & PD page.

AWH/UNSW Regional Research Symposium

The theme for the AWH/UNSW Regional Research Symposium 2025 is "Stronger Together: Advancing Regional Research Through Collaboration".

Join us for an evening of innovative discussions and exciting presentations. 

This in-person event is a great opportunity to connect with fellow researchers, share ideas, and gain new insights about how collaborative research benefits us all.

Buy your tickets below and we'll see you there!

Where: The Cube Wodonga

When: Tuesday 14th October, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM.

Symposium schedule:

About clinical registries

What is a clinical registry?

Clinical registries are databases that operate within an overall governance and management structure to systematically collect health-related information on individuals who are:

• Treated with a particular surgical procedure, device or drug,
• Diagnosed with a particular illness, or
• Managed via a specific healthcare resource

Clinical registries are observational in nature and observe practice in the real world without dictating the care to be given.

They can be used to collect data for quality and/or research purposes.

How to find a clinical registry

Browse the Australian Register of Clinical Registries and filter using your discipline.

How to join a clinical registry 

Some registries don’t require site principal investigators; patients enter data themselves. Clinicians can point patients towards the registry or print posters etc. For example, the National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials (NECST) Registry

Other registries require you to contact the registry and become a site principal investigator. For example, the Australasian Pelvic Floor Procedure Registry (APFPR)

Once you have identified a registry and are interested in becoming a site PI,

1. Contact the registry coordinator.
2. If they would like you to become a site PI, contact the Research Office.
3. We will work with you and the registry coordinators to complete the ethics and governance process

August publications

AWH author/s: Bern Squires

Title and link: Surgical bundle sustainability in caesarean section births: An integrative review

AWH author/s: Nicole Webb

Title and link: Geriatric oncology in the Instagram era: A pilot randomised controlled trial of adjunct PhotoVoice versus usual care to enable cancer supportive care

AWH author/s: Michael Njovu & David Rutherford

Title and link: Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital

Research Office Reminders

New project submission dates

Draft protocols for new projects are submitted to the Research Office at least one month before submission is due to the AWH Human Research Ethics Committee (AWHHREC). After review by the Research Office, researchers will be guided through submission to the AWHHREC on ERM. 

Publication prizes

UNSW School of Clinical Medicine Publication Prizes

Academic and conjoint staff with publications in the calendar year 2024 are invited to apply. 

The Rural Clinical Campuses are awarding annual publication prizes for the following categories:   

1. ILP/Hons Students (with Primary supervisor in the Discipline during the year enrolled)  
2. HDR Students (with Primary supervisor in the Discipline)  
3. Early- and Mid-Career (EMCR) – Level A-C Academics or conferred title holders (e.g., Conjoints/Adjunct staff), or professional staff in research-related roles 
4. Senior – Level D/E Academics or conferred title holders (e.g., Conjoints/Adjunct staff)  

Pleas use this link to access the online entry form, or contact alexander.mccoll@unsw.edu.au.

Upcoming conferences

10th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium

• Theme: ‘Research from the heart – shaping rural & remote health futures’.
• 8–9 October 2025
• Alice Springs

AWH/UNSW Regional Research Symposium

• Theme ‘Stronger Together: Advancing Regional Research Through Collaboration’.
• 14 October 2025
• The Cube, Wodonga

For information on other conference, visit the National Rural Health Alliance website.