Queensland’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Professor Shelley Nowlan, has become the first nurse appointed to the World Organisation of Family Doctors’ (WONCA) International Working Party on Rural Practice Council.
WONCA is an organisation with official collaborative relations with the World Health Organisation (WHO). WONCA’s focus is on improving quality of life through defining and promoting its values and fostering and maintaining high standards in general practice and family medicine.
Shelley’s appointment was applauded by Associate Professor Bruce Chater, Chair of Queensland Health’s Statewide Rural and Remote Clinical Network and secretary of WONCA’s International Working Party on Rural Practice Council.
“WONCA identified that involving nurses and midwives in this previously exclusively medical working group would help ensure sustainability in realising our goals” Bruce said.
Shelley said having the opportunity to represent the contribution that nurses and midwives make in rural clinical care through WONCA aligns with a personal passion.
“WONCA will provide me with a unique opportunity to contribute internationally to improve health outcomes for those requiring primary care in rural settings,” Shelley said.
“I’ll also be able to ensures the voices of nurses and midwives from around the world will be heard and contribute to the ongoing sustainability of healthcare.
WONCA is an unusual, yet convenient acronym comprising the first five initials of the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians. WONCA's short name is World Organization of Family Doctors.
