Background

Discussion within the College about establishing the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration (JDMRC) took place over a number of years. As far back as 1997 midwifery educators discussed setting up some sort of research database that would allow the College to list midwifery research being undertaken in New Zealand. The National Committee picked this up and in 1998 the decision to establish the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Centre was made.

Initially Auckland University of Technology (AUT) was to provide the secretariat for the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Centre. All Schools of Midwifery and NZCOM would be partners in the JDMRC itself and it was planned to operate as multi-centered research sites collaborating under the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Centre title. However, by March 2002 it became clear that individual tertiary institutional priorities would make it difficult for any single School of Midwifery to host the Secretariat in the collaborative model that was envisioned by the College. The National Committee discussed various models for the JDMRC and acknowledged the need to start small and allow the Centre to develop. It was decided to hold discussions with midwifery educators to look at options and to bring back a proposal to the National Committee for ratification.

NZCOM National Office staff met with midwifery educators on 21 June 2002. From this meeting terms of reference  were recommended to National Committee along with a change of name to the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration to emphasise the collaborative nature of this venture.  These terms of reference were approved by the National Committee in July 2002 and the JDMRC was officially launched at the 2002 AGM.

Role and function of the JDMRC

As an NZCOM initiative the primary relationship of the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration is with the College. The Collaboration is a separate but associated entity.  Like the MMPO and MERAS, the JDMRC fulfils a specific function on behalf of the College.  The main role of the JDMRC is to promote and manage research activities for the New Zealand midwifery profession and to support the on-going utilisation of evidence in midwifery practice.

The initial structure of the JDMRC is as a Sectretariat serviced by NZCOM National Office staff. This structure will grow and change as the role and function of the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration becomes clearer, and as midwifery research develops in New Zealand.

The Collaboration is initially undertaking the following activities. Over  time these activities are likely to expand as the Collaboration develops and its role and function change.

The Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration will:

• Provide liaison between the various pre-registration and post-registration midwifery education institutions to maintain an active and up-to-date database of midwifery student research activities
• Develop and maintain a national database of completed midwifery research in New Zealand 
• Promote collaboration and facilitate liaison between midwifery researchers
• Promote and facilitate collaborative multi-disciplinary research projects between midwives and other organisations such as consumers, healthcare service providers and educational institutions
• Encourage researchers to acknowledge any support received from the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration 
• Encourage educational institutions and DHBs to recognise the benefit of collaboration with the JDMRC and consider ways to formalise this collaborative relationship
• Develop and maintain a database of midwives qualified to supervise research and examine research at postgraduate level
• Provide advice to NZCOM on research matters
• Provide advice to midwife researchers on research issues and preparation of reports for publication in NZCOM Journal
• Develop and update JDMRC page on NZCOM website
• Develop resources for midwife researchers in relation to sources of research funding
• In collaboration with NZCOM run a biennial National Research Forum on the alternative year to the NZCOM Conference. This research forum to promote postgraduate midwifery research activities, DHB midwifery research activities and provide a forum for sharing findings.
• In collaboration with NZCOM continue development of midwifery reference library as a resource for midwives 
• Identify research needs for midwifery and maternity in New Zealand and encourage researchers to undertake these projects

Later developments may include advising on or managing NZCOM research grants; employing researchers and undertaking research projects on behalf of NZCOM; making funding applications; undertaking contract work in relation to research or audit projects for other agencies; facilitating collaborative international midwifery research; collaborating with DHBs on research directions/activities.

In the long term the Joan Donley Midwifery Research Collaboration aims to become a recognised focus for midwifery research in New Zealand.