In 1945, Sir James William Barrett made a bequest to The University of Melbourne to provide a lecture on a subject of interest to Nursing and Medical professors and 1953, an inaugural Marian Barrett Lecture was delivered. Since 1997, the Marian Barrett Lecture has become an annual event and a highlight of our Nursing calendar at The University of Melbourne. Watch a recording of last year's Marian Barrett Lecture here.

Digital ways of working have become routine for many parts of our lives, including in health and care environments. The increasing use of digital systems to collect and provide information to nurses to help support care has potential impacts on increasing safety and efficiency of practice. However, there are also concerns that this may lead to issues with access to and delivery of care in an equitable way across vulnerable populations. This lecture will explore the role of digital technologies in nursing practice. It will consider how nursing can adapt to an increasingly digital environment, exploring issues of equity and how we develop nursing knowledge and understanding to meet the demands of a digital future.

Date: 13 May 2025