Dr Micah Peters

Dr Micah Peters is a Research Fellow based in the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre (RBRC), UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences and the Director of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) National Policy Research Unit (Federal Office). Micah began in this inaugural role in 2018.

The Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre is a partnership between the University of South Australia and the Rosemary Bryant Foundation, which aims to strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce across the health and aged care system through the support and development of evidence-based healthcare.

The RBRC has developed a comprehensive research program focused on advancing the discipline of nursing and midwifery and patient care related to population and public health, workforce reform, safety and quality, clinical practice, patient outcomes, and integration into education. Its objective is to enhance innovative partnerships for healthcare research, to inform strategies for;

1. extending the capacity and capabilities of nurses and midwives to build a resilient, sustainable and collaborative workforce;
2. health system planning, evaluation and resourcing;
3. clinical care outcomes, and;
4. translation of evidence into practice.

Micah's role is to provide evidence-based research that supports the objectives of the ANMF’s Strategic Plan 2018-2023 and the ANMF’s mission to empower nurses, midwives, and carers to improve the health and well-being of all Australians. This includes developing and leading a coherent and coordinated policy research programme supporting the Federal Office to contribute to the continued growth and success of the ANMF and its branches.

Micah's aim is to develop and lead an effective federal-level policy and research program through the coordination of policy research activities and collaborations to attain;

• optimum delivery of safe, quality care by nurses, midwives, and carers;
• optimum personal and professional safety and well-being of nurses, midwives, and carers;
• increased public awareness of the contributions of nursing, midwifery, and carers;
• improved recognition of the nursing and midwifery professions as a powerful national voice;
• prominence of key nursing, midwifery, and carer issues in national policy, decision-making and debate, and;
• improved recognition of the ANMF as a source of high-quality education, evidence, and analysis for politicians and decision makers.

Micah's work contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the ANMF’s Strategic Plan 2018-2023 by:

• Building collaborative policy research relationships and networks with ANMF State and Territory Branches and external stakeholders.
• Promoting and supporting the production, synthesis, and evaluation of evidence into effective health and aged care policy and practice decision making.
• Managing and coordinating ANMF federal-level policy research activities.
• Working with ANMF senior staff and advising on potential opportunities for policy research.
• Representing the ANMF at local, national, and international policy research events.
• Managing the administration and quality assurance processes for ANMF research.
• Leading the ANMF's peer reviewed, scholarly journal the Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing (AJAN) as Editor-in-Chief.
• Develping evidence-based resources for ANMF members and the broader health and aged care sector (e.g. for COVID-19)

Micah has a background of over 12 years in research and teaching in health and social sciences and post-doctoral expertise in evidence synthesis, implementation science, and policy research. Micah has experience leading high-profile research projects funded by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), Stillbirth Foundation Australia, and the United Kingdom Department for International Development as well as rapid reviews for the New South Wales and Victorian Health Departments, NSW Cancer Institute, and the Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Health and has developed over 200 evidence-based recommended clinical practice resources and policy documents for clinicians and knowledge users. On behalf of the ANMF, Micah has led and contributed to many submissions including to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into COVID-19, and the Productivity Commission's Mental Health Inquiry.

Micah has also taught courses in the conduct of systematic reviews as well as the implementation of evidence-based practice in clinical settings around Australia and internationally and supervises higher degree students at UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences.

Selected roles and achievements:

• ANMF National Policy Research Adviser (Federal Office)
• Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Adelaide School of Nursing, University of Adelaide
• Editor-in-Chief, Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Associate Editor, International Journal of Nursing Studies
• Member, the Australian GRADE Centre
• Member, the Centre for Evidence-Based Pratice South Australia (CEPSA), Adelaide School of Nursing, University of Adelaide
• Led the development and publication of an internationally recognised methodology for undertaking and reporting scoping reviews and contributed to the development of PRISMA reporting guidelines (PRISMA-ScR)
• Led the development of evidence-informed guidelines for supporting parents affected by stillbirth, Stillbirth Foundation Australia (endorsed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Beyond Blue)
• Invited speaker at national and international conferences and workshops
• Published over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities and Social Science The University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Health Sciences The University of Adelaide