College of Healthcare Sciences
Lisa Shaw
- Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
- lisa.shaw@jcu.edu.au
Stephen Yu
- Senior Lecturer, Nursing and Midwifery
- stephen.yu@jcu.edu.au
Karen Smith
- Lecturer, Nursing and Midwifery
- karen.smith6@jcu.edu.au
Chae Rose
- Lecturer, Psychology
- chae.rose@jcu.edu.au
Helen Petsky
- Head, Nursing and Midwifery
- helen.petsky@jcu.edu.au
Lucy Bird
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- lucy.bird@jcu.edu.au
Matthew Yau
- Adjunct Professor
- matthew.yau@jcu.edu.au
Alyssia Merrick
- Doctor of Philosophy (Health)
- alyssia.merrick@jcu.edu.au
Louise Myles
- Adjunct Lecturer
- louise.myles@jcu.edu.au
Sandra Dash
- Lecturer
- sandra.dash@jcu.edu.au
Exploring registered nurses understanding of micro trauma: A hybrid concept analysis
The aim of this project is to explore registered nurses’ understanding of micro trauma. A hybrid concept analysis using qualitative enquiry will be undertaken. Current literature does not specifically use the term micro trauma but describes the frequency and impact of endpoints of micro traumas such as burnout and compassion fatigue. Without acknowledgment of an individual’s lived experiences and the influence and impact those experiences have on overall health and wellbeing, it is difficult to fully understand the root causes of what creates harm in nurses. The inference in the literature to micro trauma existing and, that the culmination of micro traumas manifesting in to known phenomenon such as burnout, compassion fatigue and cumulative trauma, has steered the methodology of this project to undertake a concept analysis as the first stage.
Running-related injuries in UK trail runners: A retrospective, cross-sectional study
The of this study of UK trail runners are to: 1) investigate the prevalence of running related injuries, 2) describe the type of injuries sustained, 3) investigate the most common anatomical location of injury, 4) assess the severity of injury, and 5) investigate factors associated with injuries including demographic characteristics, training factors and past running related injuries.
GROW-NQ: Building the Foundations for North Queensland's First Longitudinal Pregnancy and Child Development Cohort
This project will establish the foundational evidence, partnerships and governance required to build North Queensland’s first longitudinal pregnancy and child development cohort. Through co-design with pregnant and postpartum women, fathers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, clinicians, educators and policy stakeholders, the project will identify priority outcomes, culturally safe governance structures, and feasible recruitment and retention strategies across the Townsville Hospital and Health Service region. Findings will inform flagship cohort addressing how tropical, rural and remote contexts shape early child development and lifelong health. Outputs will de-risk a future NHMRC Investigator Grant application and other NHMRC/MRFF applications to advance JCU’s strategic priority in health and wellbeing in Tropics.
Examining the short- and longer-term mental health benefits of focused and immersive music listening events
Stigma prevents many people from seeking mental health support; however, positive music listening experiences buffer the impact of stigma on help-seeking. Recent research suggests that community-based, focused listening experiences have real potential for improving well-being, but research is needed to understand their explicit short- and longer-term impact on stress and anxiety. This case study examines the impact of participating in communal, high-fidelity, and immersive music listening sessions on people’s mental health. Expected outcomes include partnering with a community
organisation to obtain and disseminate evidence relating to substantiating the mechanisms underpinning the well-being benefits of focused and immersive music listening.
How are we doing? Evidence mapping mental distress in North Queensland
This project will generate contemporary, North Queensland-specific normative data for two widely used mental health screening instruments (K10 and DASS-21). Using a three-sample design comprising community members recruited via an online panel, headspace clients, and Townsville University Hospital inpatients, we will establish known-groups validity by comparing distress profiles across clinical and non-clinical populations. The project also examines help-seeking behaviours and service use to understand how distress levels relate to mental health needs and available supports. Findings will inform regional mental health service planning and provide pilot data for future large-scale funding applications.
The impact of the roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons on well-being: A Randomised Controlled Trial
This study explores whether tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) can be effectively leveraged to support mental health. By examining how different ways of engaging with D&D influence players’ experiences, the study will elucidate what aspects of the game are most beneficial to players—for instance, character creation or simply being part of a shared narrative—and why that matters. These insights will inform how games like D&D are used in the mental health space and how their designs can be tailored to support social connection, motivation, and personal growth.
Social support for perinatal mental health in Northern Queensland: A pilot randomised controlled trial
The Bamboo Parenting Program is an online social support program for first-time mothers in the perinatal period. The program has been designed to prevent and reduce mental illness during this vulnerable period, and by leveraging social support, Bamboo targets one of the most significant predictors of mental health for perinatal women. The program pairs first-time mothers with volunteer mothers or with mother-nominated individuals, with support training provided in program. Pairs work together to navigate the critical and difficult perinatal period. Funding from this seed fund will contribute to the evaluation of a pilot randomised trial in Northern Queensland.
The Bamboo Parenting Program: Promotion of a Randomised Pilot Trial
The Bamboo Parenting Program is an online social support program for first-time mothers in the perinatal period. The program has been designed to prevent mental illness during this vulnerable period, and by leveraging social support, Bamboo targets one of the most significant predictors of mental health for perinatal women. The program pairs first-time mothers with volunteer mothers or with mother-nominated individuals (with support training provided in program). Pairs work together to navigate the critical and difficult perinatal period. Funding from this seed fund will be used to promote a pilot randomised trial in North Queensland.
JCU College of Healthcare Sciences Research Seed Grants
Strengthening the resilience of ICU nurses: Co-designing an online education intervention.
Led by Tracey Gooding. ICU nurses face elevated risk of burnout, compassion fatigue, depression, and PTSD due to repeated exposure to trauma, death, and ethically complex care. While existing wellbeing interventions (mindfulness, positive psychology, exercise, reflection, peer support, CBT, psychoeducation) show promise for building resilience, they often fail to reflect ICU nurses' lived experiences, and their effectiveness when delivered online remains untested.
This study used a participatory co-design approach — focus groups with ICU nurses across experience levels, followed by thematic analysis and a mini-Delphi consensus process — to explore nurses' psychosocial challenges, coping strategies, and preferences for content. Findings will inform the design of an online education intervention aimed at strengthening ICU nurse resilience.
Ethical GenAI use by design: Co-Creating assessment with students and industry in postgraduate nursing online course
This SoLT participatory project comprises activity-orientated focus groups with students and industry representatives to integrate ethical use of GenAI into assessments in NS5333 Synthesising Evidence for Healthcare. Collaborative redesign builds upon JCU's core principles of learning and teaching, including partnership with students, futures-oriented learning, and assessment that upholds academic integrity. Informed by current TEQSA assessment reform guidance and Accord recommendations, this project will also contribute to academic knowledge through exploring the pedagogical implications of such collaborative assessment redesign. Students who completed NS5333 in 2024 or 2025 have the opportunity for experiential learning about assessment design through participating in this collaborative project.
One nurse's experience with the effects of assumptions and judgements on practice.
- 2005
- Researchers:Pauline Calleja
Inca trail porters : the health of local tourism employees as a challenge for travel medicine
- 2003
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:Irmgard Bauer
Health advice in Australian travel brochures
- 2002
- Decker Periodicals
- Researchers:Irmgard Bauer
Geographic information systems and travel health
- 2002
- Decker Periodicals
- Researchers:Irmgard Bauer
Influence of age and moderate-intensity exercise training on heart rate variability in young and mature adults
- 2003
- Human Kinetics
- Researchers:Anthony LeichtAndrew Hoey
Influence of intensive cycling training on heart rate variability during rest and exercise
- 2003
- NRC Reserch Press
- Researchers:Anthony LeichtAndrew Hoey
Health psychology: biopsychosocial interactions. An Australian perspective
- 2002
- John Wiley & Sons
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
Start Date:
14 Aug 2025
Start Date:
01 Jan 2018