Ngaire Miller was a passionate nurse, midwife, academic and nursing pioneer. During her career, she was instrumental in transforming nursing education and practice. In particular, was her work around supporting the move of ‘on the job’ hospital based nursing training to a tertiary based education model. This was a key milestone in the development of nursing as a profession and there are now 17 Nursing Schools in New Zealand where studies comprise of 50% theory and 50% practical experience (hospital placements).

Ngaire became a registered nurse from the Auckland School of Nursing in 1964 and then a midwife at St Helens in 1966.  She then studied at Victoria University in Wellington and gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing in November 1969, a BA in Nursing Education and later, in 1979 a MA in Sociology, titled ‘The problems experienced by graduates of student based comprehensive nursing programmes as they provide nursing care in general hospitals’.  Ngaire published frequently in the NZ Nursing Journal promoting nursing as a profession in the 1970’s and 80’s.

Some of Ngaire’s education roles include being a tutor at the Central School of Nursing, Greenlane Hospital, educator at the Wellington Polytechnic and towards the end of her career, senior lecturer at Auckland Technical Institute.

Ngaire was determined in her approach to life. She remained active and interested in nursing till her death at 84.

When Ngaire passed away, her family decided they would like to honour her memory with something that truly represented her passions in life – nursing and education.  This newly funded award in her memory is to assist students to carry out a 3-5 week practical placement in a rural or provincial location as part of their study for an undergraduate or postgraduate pre-registration degree in Nursing or Midwifery.

Applications are open to students studying at AUT, the University of Auckland, MIT, Unitec, Massey University Auckland & Wellington, Whitireia New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington.

For regulations and application forms for this award, please click here.