Parent holding a baby wearing pink clothes and a pink hat. The baby is smiling at the camera.

Gina Ishmael

Pacific SMILE: increasing access to midwifery simulation in Pacific countries

Simulation is a training method where students practice their skills in a controlled, realistic environment. It helps midwifery students become better and more confident in their skills.

All midwifery programs in the Pacific region use simulation, but they often face problems like not having enough equipment or dedicated spaces for practice.

This project brings new midwifery simulation labs to Pacific countries. Burnet will partner with education providers to help improve midwifery education. The goal is to make sure all midwifery education programs in Pacific Island countries can offer consistent standards of clinical simulation.

This project is known as Pacific SMILE (Simulation for Midwifery Innovation Learning and Education). It’s a Burnet institute initiative building on work undertaken through the UNFPA Transformative Agenda Program.

New, dedicated spaces for practice

Pacific SMILE will partner with schools, universities and midwifery teachers in 6 Pacific countries to create new and lasting simulation labs. These spaces will be used for training in midwifery, nursing, medicine, and Pacific Emergency Maternal and Neonatal Training (PEMNeT). They’ll be available for those in-training as well as those already working in the field.

How we’ll set up labs and train teachers

The project will start by figuring out what each country needs for their simulation labs. Each institution will receive equipment that needs very little electricity or internet if any. This equipment will be transported to each institution. Teachers will be trained on how to use the simulation equipment.

In 2024, the first simulation lab will be set up at the National University of Samoa. After that, there will be a 3-day conference about midwifery education and simulation. This first lab will help guide the setup of 6 more labs in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Kiribati in 2025.

Partners

Funding partners

Trotula Fund

Collaborators

Fiji National University, Fiji
Sangam Institute of Technology, Fiji
College of Nursing Education, Ministry of Health, Vanuatu
Solomon Islands National University, Solomon Islands
National University of Samoa, Samoa
Queen Salote School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tonga National University, Tonga
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Kiribati