Professor Margaret Barnes established the first undergraduate programs in Nursing and Midwifery at USC. Through her vision, collegiality and hard work USC realised the development of first the School of Nursing and Midwifery, of which Margaret was the Foundation Head of School, and later the foundation of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine.

Margaret focused not only on producing excellent graduates who have high levels of employability but also on the important work of developing new knowledge. Under her stewardship nursing research at USC was awarded the highest Excellence in Research Australia classification in both 2015 and 2018. This resulted in nursing being awarded the status of USC Flagship discipline in 2016 – the first such award in USC history.

In recognition of her significant contribution to the USC School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Professor Margaret Barnes is a worthy recipient of the honorary award of Emeritus Professor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.