Ms. Michele McGrath
Senior Lecturer in Nursing
Faculty of Health Sciences - School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine
Areas of expertise: critical care nursing; acute & medical nursing; clinical governance; quality & safety in healthcare; leadership & management
Phone: (03) 9953 3191
Email: michele.mcgrath@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Melbourne Campus
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7762-8937
Michele is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine at Australian Catholic University. Michele lectures into both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Nursing Programs and has held multiple academic and clinical portfolios. Michele currently holds the Academic Lead Postgraduate Development and Innovation portfolio which involves undertaking governance procedures, developing academic content and collaborating with the ACUO digital team for the transfer of postgraduate specialty units in the suite of Master of Clinical Nursing course to the ACUO platform.
Michele is currently undertaking a National program of research as a PhD candidate entitled 'Work Readiness: A National Exploration of Australian Nurse Transition Programs. The purpose of the study is to examine the structure, content and concepts included in existing Transition Programs (TPs) across Australia, using a work readiness lens, to better understand how TPs address the perceived gap in WR skills and attributes; and facilitate the safe transition to clinical practice for novice nurses.
Michele is passionate about the delivery of quality and safe care to mitigate risk and preventable harms for patients and her Honours Thesis entitled 'Clinical governance and care of older persons in acute care' reflected this focus. Michele has published work from her thesis in the Journal of Clinical Nursing and ResearchGate.
Michele's other qualifications include a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing), Master of Nursing Practice (Leadership and Management), Postgraduate Diploma in Critical Care and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. With 33 years' experience in academic and clinical nursing settings, leadership and management roles within the healthcare and tertiary sectors, Michele has successfully managed large education and nursing teams to provide services in alignment with organisational strategy and goals to achieve key performance indicators.
Michele has been the recipient of a number of awards for academic achievement, excellence and innovation; and she has been an invited speaker on occasions at the ACU Learning and Teaching Conference and the ACCCN Victorian Symposium.
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Select publications
- McGrath, M., Botti, M., & Redley, B. (2017). Clinicians' perceptions and recognition of practice improvement strategies to prevent harms to older people in acute care hospitals. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(23-24), 4936-4944. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13978
- Redley, B. & McGrath, M. (2014). Have you SCAND MMe Please? to prevent harm in older emergency medical admissions to acute hospitals [Poster]. ISQUA14-1436, 31st International Conference, Rio deJaniero. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernice-Redley/publication/269222986
Projects
- McGrath, M., Blakey, N., Peeler, A., Pedrosa, C., Sudeer, B., & Edwards, G. Video vignettes to catalyse clinical-reasoning and authentic simulation learning experiences. Australian Catholic University Learning and Teaching Grant AU$5000
- Peeler, A., Lewis, G., McGrath, M., Bayley, C. & Drury, P. What teaching strategies enhance student learning and engagement? Australian Catholic University Learning and Teaching Grant AU$5000
- 2017 TAG Team Patient Safety Simulation Project. Reference Group member
Accolades and Awards
- 2023 Jan 1st - June 30th ACU Research Study Program recipient. PhD program of research 'Work Readiness: A National Exploration of Australian Nurse Transition Programs.
- 2021 Certificate of Achievement 'for achieving excellent tutor scores in all categories in the semester 2, SELT results - Explains key ideas or concepts clearly, Encourages active participation in the unit, Responds to student needs and concerns and Demonstrates quality teaching'
- 2020 Certificate of Achievement 'for achieving excellent tutor scores in all categories in the semester 2, SELT results - Explains key ideas or concepts clearly, Encourages active participation in the unit, Responds to student needs and concerns and Demonstrates quality teaching'
- 2019 Certificate of Achievement 'for achieving excellent tutor scores in all categories in the semester 2, SELT results - Explains key ideas or concepts clearly, Encourages active participation in the unit, Responds to student needs and concerns and Demonstrates quality teaching'
- 2013 Deakin University Award for Elsevier Australia Award. Awarded for the highest achieving Master of Nursing Practice student.
- 2011 ACCCN Victorian Symposium. Winner of free papers entitled "Growing our Own." A presentation about Epworth Richmond's innovative approach to developing a Novice Development Program to address the competing priorities of volume staffing for Epworth Healthcare's redevelopment and clinical competence.
- 2006 J. R. Medical Books Prizes Award. For best all-round Academic and Clinical performance by a student enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Critical Care) Deakin University.
- 2006 Victorian Heart Centre Clinical Excellence Award. For outstanding clinical nursing practice in the Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Critical Care) conducted by the Epworth Hospital in conjunction with Deakin University.
Appointments and Affiliations
- 2022 to current: Academic Lead PG Development and Innovation. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
- 2021 to current: Senior Lecturer in Nursing. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
- 2015-2021: Lecturer in Nursing. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
- Postgraduate Coordinator - Master of Clinical Nursing. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
- Postgraduate Deputy Coordinator - Master of Clinical Nursing. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
- Deputy Clinical Coordinator (Undergraduate). School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
- 2013-2015 Lecturer in Nursing. School of Nursing & Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood.
- Undergraduate Clinical Coordinator. School of Nursing & Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood.
- 2011-2013 Nursing Education Manager, Epworth Healthcare Richmond
- 2009-2011 Cardiac Educator: Cardiac ward staff; Post Graduate Critical; Care students; Introduction to Critical Care & Grade 2 Year 2 Development program students. Epworth Healthcare Richmond.
- 2008-2009 Critical Care Registered Nurse: Team Leader Cardiac/Coronary Care, Epworth Healthcare Richmond
- 1992-2008 Registered Nurse
Editorial roles
- 2020 Contemporary Nurse - Reviewer
Public engagement activities
- 2018 Sept - 2022 November Board Director: Eva Tilley Memorial Home. Voluntary position
- 2018 Sept - 2022 November Clinical Governance Committee Member: Eva Tilley Memorial Home. Voluntary position
