The BC Midwifery Network was established in January 2015 to engage midwifery constituents across British Columbia to work together to develop midwifery practice, education and research. Its purpose is to bring practising midwives, midwifery leaders, midwifery educators, researchers and midwifery students together to support the ongoing development of midwifery knowledge and practice and midwifery as a professional discipline. It will foster engagement, partnership, collaborative ways of working and engagement with other relevant disciplines.
Our Logo
Our logo is the Triskelion, symbolising the three connected dimensions to the BC Midwifery Network: Research, Education and Practice.
Aims
Our aims are to foster and support a social learning process where participants learn by collaboratively sharing ideas, finding solutions and building innovations.
Principles And Values
Working together as a group in a respectful and collegial way, valuing each other’s perspectives and contributions for the common purpose to achieve a shared vision.
Being honest, accurate, efficient and objective in our work together by conveying information truthfully, honouring commitments, reporting findings precisely, taking care to avoid errors, using resources wisely, avoiding waste and being guided by the results rather than by preconceived notions.
The BC Midwifery Network shall adopt UBC, Tri-council and all relevant midwifery research ethics principles. Ethical approval shall be sought for all research involving human subjects from all appropriate REB(s), informed consent should be sought from all research participants, and members shall properly protect the privacy and confidentiality of all research participants.
As a principle involves being open in the sharing of information, processes, plans, and actions. This involves demonstrating accountability, authenticity, responsibility and sustainability. For this to occur we believe that information should be open source, relevant and accessible.
Demands being answerable to actions and expects amelioration when commitments aren't met. As an organization we are accountable through measures of standard setting, investigation, answerability and sanction.
A just culture is a culture in which all parties are equal participants, have an equal voice and are equally accountable to one another. It is a culture built on respect where all parties have the right to feel safe and valued as a part of the culture. It implies an environment, whether it be physical or emotional, that respects differences and maintains a way of interacting and communicating that is respectful and mindful. An environment based on healthy communication, where it is safe to express oneself and to speak up without fear – that supports healthy conflict resolution - that encourages curiosity and welcomes inquiry – that models the concepts of mentoring and nurturing. A just culture organization has a known mission and its pursuits, policies and guidelines are grounded in identified values that are integral to its success.
Objectives
The specific objectives are to:
- Foster engagement and collaboration between members and the sharing of ideas, information and resources
- Build education and research capacity within the midwifery community in BC
- Develop midwifery knowledge and practice and foster the application and translation of findings to practice
- Identify education and research priorities in relation to midwifery in BC
- Develop a joint research program to address the priorities identified
- Facilitate research projects and support programs of participating members
- Promote discussion and debate around midwifery issues at the provincial, national and international levels
- Influence policy at the provincial and national level
- Disseminate findings provincially, nationally and internationally
