Since commencing as the new Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences in September, Professor Tracy Humphrey has hit the ground running in shaping the future of the college. We hear about what attracted her to nursing and midwifery at the very beginning and how the new Flinders HealthCARE Centre will be a catalyst for innovation moving forward.

 

How have you found the move into your new Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences role so far?

I am delighted to be at Flinders University and leading the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The welcome I have received has been warm, friendly, and supportive. My first experience of Flinders University was when I visited in 2018 with colleagues in Edinburgh. The overwhelming impression I was left with was that of student-centredness and I am pleased that remains the case seven years later. It is also wonderful being on a University campus like Bedford Park that is expansive, diverse and has lots of green space. I am enjoying my walks between Sturt Precinct, the Health and Medical Research Building, Flinders Medical Centre and the Student Hub on the hill. I have arrived at a time of opportunity for Flinders University and am genuinely excited about the future.

 

What attracted you to nursing and midwifery at the very beginning of your career?

I never wanted to do anything else. I remember being intrigued and in awe of women’s ability to birth and nurture a baby and I knew it would be a privilege to be with them during that precious time in their lives. That was before I was aware of midwifery and when I started to understand about their role as an advocate, in optimising normality and providing continuity of carer, I knew that it was the career for me.

 

How do you hope to shape the College into the future? Are there any standout initiatives you look forward to leading?

I hope to lead the College to be at the forefront of collaborative education, research and practice. The number and diversity of health disciplines in the College together with the disability and inclusive team, gives us a unique opportunity to respond in a comprehensive way to the increasing demands on health services and the complex needs of society. The new Flinders HealthCARE Centre will be an environment for us to innovate and demonstrate these concepts for the benefit of students, staff and our community who will use our health and social services. It is an exciting initiative to be leading in conjunction with the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, the College of Medicine and Public Health, services and our partners.

 

Where do you like to a grab a coffee or bite to eat when down at Sturt or FMC?

I don’t drink coffee, but I am partial to a Chai and Grind and Press do a great one. The Daily Kitchen at Sturt does a very tasty peanut butter slice as a snack and for lunch Jeju in the Health and Medical Research Building is my favourite.

 

Tell us about your ideal weekend.

My ideal weekend is going for a long run at the beach, walking my dog with my husband in the hills, shopping at the markets and cooking dinner for friends with some South Australian wines to match.