Professor Emerita Mary Chiarella
Professor Mary Chiarella is Professor of Nursing at Sydney Nursing School and an internationally renowned nurse leader with a distinguished career in nursing services. She has qualifications in Nursing, Midwifery and Law and conducts research covering three broad themes: (a) safety & quality (b) law, ethics and regulatory issues; and (c) improvements in nursing practices/models of care. Professor Chiarella’s over-40-year career began as a clinical nurse in the UK. She established the world’s first postgraduate degree in midwifery (Doctor of Midwifery) at UTS, which has been completed by many of Australia’s and New Zealand’s current midwifery leaders. In 2001, as Foundation Professor of Nursing at Corrections Health (now Justice Health) with UTS, she was instrumental in developing key competence requirements for the organisation’s nurses and in the official recognition of a new scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners in NSW, the Justice Health Nurse Practitioner. As Chief Nursing Officer for NSW Health (2003-2004) she helped achieve a significant increase in the number of Nurse Practitioners in NSW and initiated the development of the framework for the first publically-funded home-birth midwifery program in NSW. During her time as Chair of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, she led the regulatory negotiations for nurses and midwives within the new national registration scheme. In 2008, Professor Chiarella was invited to the WHO Nursing and Midwifery Directorate, Geneva, to develop a compendium of nurse-led Primary Health Care models including a review of global models of care from 38 countries.In 2009, she was one of three independent board members of Health Workforce Australia appointed by the then Commonwealth Government Health Minister Nicola Roxon. From 2009 to 2015 she was the NSW practitioner representative on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and Chair of the Policy Committee of the NMBA. She is a Member (representing nursing) of the Clinical Ethics Advisory Council for NSW Health
Professor Chiarella’s research interests include legal, policy and ethical issues in nursing and health care delivery. Examples of her research include an international review of nursing regulation; an examination of the legal and professional status of nurses; reviews and analyses of disciplinary decisions of professional tribunals; and an international review of policy in end-of-life care. She has conducted a state-wide review of advanced practice roles for the Nursing and Midwifery Office of NSW Health, a review of the disciplinary decisions of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Board, and of the implementation of Nurse Practitioners in South Australia, and evaluated the continuing competence framework for the New Zealand Nursing Council. In addition to the global review of nurse-led models of primary health care for the WHO, she has reviewed its policy and leadership in primary health care and policy development related to MDG 5.
Currently, Professor Chiarella leads a study (funded by an ARC Linkage grant), which compares the complaints and notification system under the national regulatory scheme for health practitioners with that of NSW. The 5-part project involves (i) comparative data analysis of complaints (ii) tracking journeys of 500 complainants (iii) survey of decision-makers in the complaints process (iv) survey of complainants (v) comparative legal analyses of statutes in different countries including Australia.
Future research will address whether competence can be assured through regulation, via a three-part study including (a) the analysis of case law in relation to prosecutions for poor performance, (b) an international review of policy relating to competence, and (c) an observational study on competence assessment (using competence assessors as subjects).
Forthcoming Publications
Walton M., Kelly P. J., Chiarella E.M., Carney T., Bennett B., Nagy M.and Pierce S. (2019). Profile of the most common complaints for five health professions in Australia. Australian Health Review https://doi.org/10.1071/AH18074
Primary supervisor, Anna-Lyse de Guio, "The interrelationship between primary health care models integrating family health and mental health and the competencies required for them", PhD in progress
Primary Supervisor, Siew Fun Liew, MPhil in progress
Primary Supervisor, Sybele Christopher, PhD in progress
Primary Supervisor, Scott Lamont, PhD in progress
Primary Supervisor, Jane Currie, PhD in progress
Primary Supervisor, Polly Grainger, PhD in progress
Primary Supervisor, Matthew Dutton, MN (Hons) in progress
Co-supervisor, Scott Lamont, MN (Hons), completed 2011
Primary Supervisor, Joanne Zhang, BN (Hons) completed 2011
Principal supervisor, Jann Foster, “The construction of the Nurse Practitioner role in New South Wales: An ethnographic study”, PhD completed 2010
Principal supervisor, Rachael Vernon “Legislation and policy drivers in competence requirements for registered nurses in New Zealand”, PhD completed 2013
Rachael received a Fulbright Senior Scholarship from the NZ Fulbright Chapter in 2010, the first nurse to receive the award in more than 35 years.
Co-supervisor, Greg Fairbrother “team based versus patient allocation systems in nursing: a comparative evaluation”, PhD completed in 2010
Co-supervisor, Suellen Allen, “The safety culture of maternity services in NSW", PhD completed 2009
Principal supervisor, Marcos Canda, "Home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS in the City and Province of Maputo, Mozambique”, MN completed 2008
Principal supervisor, Mahalakshmi Ekambareshwar, “Evaluation of IIMS education and training and does web-based IIMS training support incident reporting”, MHS (Hons) completed 2009
Principal supervisor, Bernadette Eather, Failure to rescue: “The role of nurses in intervening for patients at risk in the acute ward setting”, DN completed 2009
Principal supervisor, Lisa Colley, “Why do Nurses write Poetry”, MA Completed 2007
Co-supervisor, Robyn Rosina, “Young people and chronic illness: A more responsive healthcare world”, DN Completed 2007
Panel supervisor, Janine Bothe, “An evolution of day surgery nursing: An action research process to improve principles of care for people having complex day surgery”, DN completed 2006
Principal supervisor, Beverley Mackay “An analysis of forces influencing innovative roles in Primary Health Care Nursing”, DN Completed 2006
Co-supervisor, Lois Hamlin, Setting the standard: “The role of the Australian College of Operating Room Nurses”, DN Completed 2006
Co-supervisor, Shelley Tranter, “From machine to patient: Shifting the focus of care within a hospital haemodialysis unit”, DN Completed 2006
Co-supervisor, Jenny Dempsey, “Fighting falls with actions research, a practice development project”, DN Completed 2006
Principal supervisor, Frances Hughes “Policy, politics and nursing: A case study of policy formation in New Zealand”, DN Completed 2005
In 2001, Frances was the first nurse to be awarded the Harkness Fellowship in Healthcare from the Commonwealth Fund in New York.
Editorial boards and review panels
- Collegian Editorial Board (2007 to present)
- Journal of Advanced Nursing Editorial Board (2006 to present)
- Australian Health Law Bulletin Editorial Board (until 2001)
- Health Care Analysis Editorial Board (until 1998)
- Clinical Excellence for Nurse Practitioners Editorial Board
- Reviewer: Nursing Inquiry, BMJ, Australian Health Review
1994-1995 Scholarships awarded by Edith Cavell Trust ($30,000), New South Wales Nurses' Registration Board ($7500) and Joyce Wickham Memorial Nursing Scholarship ($2000) to undertake full time study for PhD in 1994 total funds allocated $39,500
1984 Stuart Gershman Memorial Prize for Highest Marks in Criminal Law and Foundations of Law
1977 Edna Shaw Memorial Prize for the Highest Marks in Midwifery Nursing and Ward Practicals
Charles Ley Memorial Prize for the Highest Marks in the Midwifery Paper and Doctors Oral Examination
Thomas Dixon Hughes Memorial Prize for the Highest Aggregate Marks in the Midwifery Course
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Neonatal nursing in the contemporary Australian health care system, perspectives of neonatal nurses, neonatologists and parents of newborns admitted to neonatal units | Shelley REID |
Selected publications
(Elsevier, 2013)
(Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2010)
(Churchill Livingstone, 2008)
(Elsevier, 2007)
Publications
Books
- Staunton, P., Chiarella, M. (2013). Law for Nurses and Midwives, 7th Edition. Sydney: Elsevier.
- Vernon, R., Chiarella, M., Papps, E., Dignam, D. (2010). Evaluation of the Continuing Competence Framework. New Zealand: Nursing Council of New Zealand.
- Chiarella, M., Staunton, P. (2008). Nursing & The Law. Sydney, Australia: Churchill Livingstone.
Book Chapters
- Chiarella, M. (2013). Legal Implications in Nursing Practice in Australia. In Jackie Crisp, Catherine Taylor, Clint Douglas, Geraldine Rebeiro (Eds.), Fundamentals of Nursing 4th Edition, (pp. 160-179). Chatswood, Sydney: Mosby.
- Chiarella, M., Staunton, P. (2013). Professional Regulation of Nurses and Midwives. In Vukelich, D. (Eds.), Law for Nurses and Midwives, 7th Edition, (pp. 253-287). Sydney: Elsevier.
- Chiarella, M. (2009). Legal implications in nursing practice. In Crisp & Taylor (Eds.), Potter & Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing, (pp. 350-368). Sydney, Australia: Elsevier.
Journals
- Kerridge, I., Stewart, C., Scully, J., Chiarella, M., Hamblin, J., Johnson, A., Ryan, C., Sheahan, L., Skowronski, G. (2023). Conscientious and Institutional Objection to Voluntary Assistance in Dying: An Ethico-Legal Critique. Journal of Law and Medicine, 30(4), 806-821.
- Burton, J., Chiarella, M., Waters, D. (2022). Historical Context of Custodial Health Nursing in New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 18(4), 221-228. [More Information]
- John McKitterick, D., Corsini, N., Peters, M., Chiarella, M., Eckert, M. (2022). International nursing students' perceptions and experiences of transition to the nursing workforce - A cross-sectional survey. Nurse Education in Practice, 59, 103303-1-103303-9. [More Information]
Research Reports
- Chiarella, M. (2008). Australian Government National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Discussion Paper: New and emerging nurse-led models of primary health care, (pp. 1 - 51). Canberra, Australia: Australian Government National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
- Adrian, A., Chiarella, M. (2008). Nurse Practitioners in South Australia: Report for the review of processes for the implementation of the role, (pp. 6 - 106). Adelaide, South Australia, Australia: Nursing and Midwifery Office, SA Health.
- Chiarella, M., Hardford, E., Lau, C. (2008). Report on the evaluation of Nurse/Midwife Practitioner and Clinical Nurse/Midwife Consultant Roles, SHPN (NAMO) 080109, (pp. 7 - 50). Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Health.
2023
- Kerridge, I., Stewart, C., Scully, J., Chiarella, M., Hamblin, J., Johnson, A., Ryan, C., Sheahan, L., Skowronski, G. (2023). Conscientious and Institutional Objection to Voluntary Assistance in Dying: An Ethico-Legal Critique. Journal of Law and Medicine, 30(4), 806-821.
2022
- Burton, J., Chiarella, M., Waters, D. (2022). Historical Context of Custodial Health Nursing in New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 18(4), 221-228. [More Information]
- John McKitterick, D., Corsini, N., Peters, M., Chiarella, M., Eckert, M. (2022). International nursing students' perceptions and experiences of transition to the nursing workforce - A cross-sectional survey. Nurse Education in Practice, 59, 103303-1-103303-9. [More Information]
- Reid, S., Bredemeyer, S., Chiarella, M. (2022). Perceptions of parents and healthcare professionals on family centred care in Australian neonatal units. Journal of Neonatal Nursing. [More Information]
2021
- John McKitterick, D., Peters, M., Corsini, N., Chiarella, M., Eckert, M. (2021). International nursing students' and new graduates' experiences of transition to the nursing workforce: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 19(4), 874-882. [More Information]
- John McKitterick, D., Peters, M., Corsini, N., Chiarella, M., Eckert, M. (2021). International nursing students’ and international nursing graduates’ experiences of transition to the nursing workforce: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. Nurse Education in Practice, 55, 103147-1-103147-10. [More Information]
- Reid, S., Bredemeyer, S., Chiarella, M. (2021). The evolution of neonatal family centred care. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 27(5), 327-333. [More Information]
2020
- Dahlen, H., Hazard, B., Chiarella, M. (2020). 'How COVID-19 Highlights an Ongoing Pandemic of Neglect and Oppression When It Comes to Women's Reproductive Rights. Journal of Law and Medicine, 27(4), 812-828. [More Information]
- Blackwood, S., Chiarella, M. (2020). Barriers to uptake and use of codes of ethics by nurses. Collegian, 27(4), 443-449. [More Information]
- Dahlen, H., Hazard, B., Chiarella, M. (2020). How COVID-19 Highlights an Ongoing Pandemic of Neglect and Oppression When It Comes to Women's Reproductive Rights. Journal of Law and Medicine, 27(4), 812-828.
2019
- Vernon, R., Chiarella, M., Papps, E., Lark, A. (2019). Assuring Competence or ensuring performance. Collegian, 26(3), 399-406. [More Information]
- Lamont, S., Stewart, C., Chiarella, M. (2019). Capacity and consent: Knowledge and practice of legal and healthcare standards. Nursing Ethics, 26(1), 71-83. [More Information]
- Chiarella, M., Vernon, R. (2019). Insights into insight: analysis of case files of nurse and midwife registrant performance complaints. Collegian, 26(3), 341-347. [More Information]
2018
- Bennett, B., Carney, T., Chiarella, M., Walton, M., Kelly, P., Satchell, C., Beaupert, F. (2018). Australia's National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Practitioners: A National Approach to Polycentric Regulation? Sydney Law Review, 40(2), 159-181.
- Christopher, S., Fethney, J., Chiarella, M., Waters, D. (2018). Factors influencing turnover in GenX nurses: Results of an Australian survey. Collegian, 25(2), 217-225. [More Information]
- Nagy, M., Chiarella, M., Bennett, B., Walton, M., Carney, T. (2018). Health care complaint journeys for system comparison. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 31(8), 878-887. [More Information]
2017
- Christopher, S., Waters, D., Chiarella, M. (2017). Are your Gen X nurses satisfied? Nursing Management, 48(8), 24-31. [More Information]
- Currie, J., Chiarella, M., Buckley, T. (2017). Collaborative arrangements and privately practising nurse practitioners in Australia: Results from a national survey. Australian Health Review, 41(5), 533-540. [More Information]
- Carney, T., Walton, M., Chiarella, M., Kelly, P. (2017). Health complaints and practitioner regulation: justice, protection or prevention? Griffith Law Review, 26(1), 65-88. [More Information]
2016
- Satchell, C., Walton, M., Kelly, P., Chiarella, M., Pierce, S., Nagy, M., Bennett, B., Carney, T. (2016). Approaches to management of complaints and notifications about health practitioners in Australia. Australian Health Review, 40(3), 311-318. [More Information]
- Lamont, S., Stewart, C., Chiarella, M. (2016). Decision-making capacity and its relationship to a legally valid consent: ethical, legal and professional context. Journal of Law and Medicine, 24, 371-386.
- Lamont, S., Stewart, C., Chiarella, M. (2016). Documentation of Capacity Assessment and Subsequent Consent in Patients Identified With Delirium. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 13(4), 547-555. [More Information]
2015
- Christopher, S., Waters, D., Chiarella, M. (2015). Can Generation Y nurses supply areas of shortage? New graduate challenges in today's job market. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33(2), 35-44.
- Fairbrother, G., Chiarella, M., Braithwaite, J. (2015). Models of care choices in today's nursing workplace: where does team nursing sit? Australian Health Review, 39(5), 489-493. [More Information]
- Currie, J., Chiarella, M., Buckley, T. (2015). Preparing a Realist Evaluation to Investigate the Impact of Privately Practising Nurse Practitioners on Patient Access to Care in Australia. International Journal of Nursing, 2(2), 1-10. [More Information]
2014
- Chiarella, M., Adrian, A. (2014). Boundary violations, gender and the nature of nursing work. Nursing Ethics, 21(3), 267-277. [More Information]
- Beaupert, F., Carney, T., Chiarella, M., Satchell, C., Walton, M., Bennett, B., Kelly, P. (2014). Regulating healthcare complaints: a literature review. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 27(6), 505-518. [More Information]
- Dutton, M., Chiarella, M., Curtis, K. (2014). The role of the wound care nurse: an integrative review. British Journal of Community Nursing, 19(Sup3), S39-S47. [More Information]
2013
- Currie, J., Chiarella, M., Buckley, T. (2013). An investigation of the international literature on nurse practitioner private practice models. International Nursing Review, 60(4), 435-447. [More Information]
- Lamont, S., Jeon, Y., Chiarella, M. (2013). Assessing patient capacity to consent to treatment: an integrative review of instruments and tools. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22(17-18), 2387-2403. [More Information]
- Vernon, R., Chiarella, M., Elaine, P. (2013). Assessing the Continuing Competence of Nurses in New Zealand. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 3(4), 1-6. [More Information]
2012
- Fowler, C., Lee, A., Dunstan, R., Chiarella, M., Rossiter, C. (2012). Co-producing parenting practice: learning how to do child and family health nursing differently. The Australian Journal of Child and Family Health Nursing, 9(1), 7-11.
- Westgarth, F., Chiarella, M., Tranter, S. (2012). The Haemodialysis Models of Care Program. Renal Society of Australasia Journal, 8(1), 23-30.
2011
- Vernon, R., Chiarella, M., Papps, E. (2011). Confidence in competence: legislation and nursing in New Zealand. International Nursing Review, 58(1), 103-108. [More Information]
- Chiarella, M., Roydhouse (nee Kronish), J. (2011). Hospital churn and casemix instability: implications for planning and educating the nursing workforce. Australian Health Review, 35(1), 95-98. [More Information]
- Chiarella, M. (2011). The quiet heroes. Nursing Standard, 25(43), 22-23. [More Information]
2010
- Chiarella, M., Parker, V., Patterson, K. (2010). Advances in contemporary modeling of clinical nursing care. Foreword. Contemporary Nurse, 35(2), 131-132. [More Information]
- Chiarella, M., Salvage, J., McInnes, E. (2010). Celebrating connecting with Communities: coproduction in global Primary Health Care. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 11(2), 108-122. [More Information]
- Vernon, R., Chiarella, M., Papps, E., Dignam, D. (2010). Evaluation of the Continuing Competence Framework. New Zealand: Nursing Council of New Zealand.
2009
- Dunston, R., Lee, A., Boud, D., Brodie, P., Chiarella, M. (2009). Co-Production and Health System Reform - From Re-Imagining to Re-Making. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 68(1), 39-52. [More Information]
- Chiarella, M. (2009). Legal implications in nursing practice. In Crisp & Taylor (Eds.), Potter & Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing, (pp. 350-368). Sydney, Australia: Elsevier.
2008
- Chiarella, M., Thoms, D., Lau, C., McInnes, E. (2008). An overview of the competency movement in nursing and midwifery. Collegian, 15, 45-53. [More Information]
- Cashin, A., Chiarella, M., Waters, D., Potter, E. (2008). Assessing nursing competency in the correctional environment: the creation of a self-reflection learning and development tool. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 24(6), 267-273. [More Information]
- Chiarella, M. (2008). Australian Government National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Discussion Paper: New and emerging nurse-led models of primary health care, (pp. 1 - 51). Canberra, Australia: Australian Government National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
2007
- Chiarella, M., Staunton, P. (2007). Law for Nurses and Midwives, 7th Edition. Sydney: Elsevier.
- Chiarella, M. (2007). Redesigning models of patient care delivery and organisation: building collegial generosity in response to workplace challenges. Australian Health Review, 31(Suppl 1), S-109-S-115.
- Chiarella, M., Duffield, C. (2007). Workforce issues in palliative and end-of-life care. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 9(6), 334-341. [More Information]
2006
- Wand, T., Chiarella, M. (2006). A conversation: Challenging the relevance and wisdom of separate mental health legislation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 15(2), 119-127. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2012
- National registration of health practitioners: a comparative study of the complaints and notification system under the national system and in NSW, Chiarella M, Walton M, Bennett B, Carney T, Kelly P, Foster J, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)
2011
- LNK: 2011/Round2/ARC LP110200075, National registration of health practitioners: a comparative study, Bennett B, Carney T, Chiarella M, Mellish D, Walton M, Health Professional Councils Authority/Project Support
