Rachel Walker

UPDATE - April 2026

Grants

I am a Chief Investigator of a Medical Research Future Fund project:                                                                             

Petsky H, Hall K, Clifton V, Walker RM, Marshall A, Ranse J, Yerkovich S. (2025) Improving Asthma Outcomes for First Nations  Pregnant Mothers: A Co-designed Implementation Strategy. MRFF - Preventative and Public Health Research Initiative - 2024 Chronic Respiratory Conditions. Application ID 2045433, $1,909,643. 

I successfully secured a Townsville University Hospital SERTA Research Capacity Grant to identify predictors of Pressure Injury using machine learning. 

Walker RM, Scott I, Malibu U, Sullivan C, Mallett A, Jones R, Schnetler RJ, Baker S, Whebell S, Forsyth S, Jocheim S, Doyle K, Crowley B, Keogh J, Rowden B, Vangaveti V. (2025). APRICOT-NQ: Advancing Pressure Injury Risk Classification & Outcome Testing - North Queensland. Research Capacity Building SERTA Research Funding. Tropic Australian Academic Health Centre, $140,000.

Most Recent Publications

1.  Chaboyer W, Walker R, Harbeck E, Latimer S, Cooke M. & Gillespie, B. Predictors of patient participation in pressure injury prevention: An observational substudy. International Wound Journal 2026; 23:e70808. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.70808
2. Walker RM, Chaboyer W, Latimer S, Thalib L, Tuffaha H, Cooke M, Gillespie BM. EffEctiveness of Prophylactive fOam dressings in the prevention of saCral pressure injuries in at-risk  hospitalised patients (EEPOC): A randomised controlled trail. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 173, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.innurstu.2025.105258
3. Gillespie BM, Tobiano G, Lovegrove J, Sugathapala RDUP, Thalib L, Liang R, Walker R, Erickson A, Carlini J, Thong S, Addy K, Spencer M Chaboyer C. Effect of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programs on surgical site infection and 30-day readmission in patients undergoing gastro-intestinal procedures: An umbrella review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2026;175:105315 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105315  
   
4. Deakin JL, Latimer SL, Walker RM, Dyer B, Gillespie BM. Predicting Pressure Injury Prevention Education by Acute Care Nurses Within 24 h of Hospital Admission: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2025;1-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70181
5. Latimer S, Walker RM, Hewitt J, Ray-Barruel G, Shaw J, Hunt T, Gillespie BM. Testing the study protocol and interrater reliability of a new end-of-life assessment tool: a feasibility study. BMC Palliat Care 24, 2016 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01853-9
6.  Ullman AJ, August D, Kleidon TM, Walker RM, Marsh N, Bulmer AC, Pearch B, Runnegar N, Leema J, Lee-Archer P, Biles C, Gibson V, Royle R, Southham K, Byrnes J, Chopra V, Coulthard A, Mollee P, Rickard CM, Harris PNA, Ware RS. A comparison of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Materials. New England Journal of Medicine. 2025 Jan 9; 329(2): 161-172. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEjMoa2406815     

See all of my publications here: https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/cgi/users/home?screen=MyPublications&offset=0&count=ALL

• Quality and safety in clinical settings
  
• Knowledge translation
• Teaching and learning innovations
  
• Digital health technologies
• Mixed methods
• Reviews
• Clinical trials
• Implementation

• Curriculum development and leadership
• Work Integrated Learning and Clinical Coordination 
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate delivery