Faculty of Medicine and Health
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Welcome to the Sydney Nursing School Newsletter
We are pleased to share recent staff news, highlights and updates that reflect the impact and achievements of our dynamic School community. We hope this edition of the newsletter leaves you feeling well informed and connected to the broader work and accomplishments of our School.
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| Elena Wang, Research Assistant
Welcome to Elena Wang, who has joined the Youth Well Lab team as a research assistant. Elena (she/her) is studying a Bachelor of Clinical Science and Doctor of Medicine at Western Sydney University.
Elena was a part of the HAPYUS 2024 cohort where she focused on youth advocacy and health in a growingly digital world and aims to continue advocating for youth health and voices.
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| Staff News and Achievements
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Celebrating A/Professor Jenny Fraser’s Retirement – and Rewirement!
After 15 years of dedicated service to the School and broader university community, Associate Professor Jennifer Fraser has officially retired — or as our Dean so aptly calls it, entered “rewirement.” A large crowd gathered to celebrate her extraordinary career, with great food, laughter, and warm reminiscing marking the occasion. Jenny's impact on paediatric nursing, child health, child protection, and health services research has been profound. Her work exploring the role of nursing at the intersection of health and child protection has shaped national policy and practice in Australia. While we farewell Jenny from her formal role, we are delighted that she will continue her association with the School as an Honorary Associate Professor. She is already planning some wonderful adventures, including exploring her interest in Greek mythology. We wish Jenny every happiness in this next chapter and look forward to hearing about her adventures!
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Getting Our Hands Dirty (In the Best Way): Pottery and Purpose at Market Studio
As part of the joyful Ikigai initiative led by Professor Tamara Power, colleagues from Sydney Nursing School embraced creativity through clay at Market Studio in Annandale. Tamara shared: Across three relaxed, laughter-filled sessions, staff hand-built and decorated their own pottery masterpieces from personalised mugs to bowls and plates. More than just a crafting session, this was a chance to live our Ikigai, finding the sweet spot between what we love, what we’re good at, and what brings meaning. The sessions fostered team spirit, sparked creativity, and offered a much-needed pause from the pace of academia. With guidance from skilled facilitators, even self-confessed "non-crafty types" left feeling proud, muddy, and inspired. Each piece is now being glazed and fired, ready to become a cherished desk companion. These handmade treasures not only reduce our reliance on plastic but will serve as beautiful reminders of our shared journey, connection, creativity, and sustainability wrapped up in clay. Thanks to everyone who took part, what a wonderful way to honour our values, celebrate each other, and bring a little handcrafted joy into the workplace!
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| Celebrating Dietitians Week with a Friends of Nutrition Morning Tea
As part of Dietitians Week 2025, the Sydney Nursing School hosted a vibrant Friends of Nutrition Morning Tea on Monday 17 June in the Susan Wakil Health Building.
Dr Rajshri Roy shared: Bringing together students, academics, professional staff, and members of the wider health community, the event celebrated the essential role dietitians play in health care, prevention, and community wellbeing. Guests enjoyed a delicious spread of seasonal fruit, chia pots, pastries, coffee, and tea while connecting with peers across disciplines in a relaxed and inclusive setting. The morning tea also launched a Food Drive in partnership with the USYD Food Hub and the Sydney Nursing School Green Team, supporting students experiencing food insecurity. Dr Rajshri Roy, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics and NSW Branch Convenor for Dietitians Australia, led the event and shared a powerful reflection on the profession’s impact—particularly considering recent concerns around proposed NDIS pricing changes. A big thank you to Dietitians Australia, the Nutrition and Dietetics department, and the Sydney Nursing School People and Culture Sub-committee for supporting this event. It was a wonderful reminder of the power of food to bring people and purpose together.
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Dr Agness Tembo Celebrates Africa Day and Refugee Week
Dr Agness Tembo recently addressed an enthusiastic crowd in celebration of Africa Day, highlighting the importance of cultural pride, unity, and the contributions of African communities in Australia. The event was honoured by the presence of Federal Member for Newcastle, Ms Sharon Claydon MP, whose attendance underscored the growing recognition of African heritage within national discourse. In addition, Agness attended Refugee Week celebrations, a powerful event that acknowledged the resilience and strength of refugees and asylum seekers. The occasion was graced by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Dr Ross Kerridge (pictured), further demonstrating the city's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community solidarity.
As president of the Hunter African Communities Council (HACC), Agness acted as a spokesperson for HACC across various media platforms to raise awareness about issues affecting African communities and promote social cohesion, sharing insights on African culture, migrant experiences, and community initiatives. These engagements have served to increase public awareness of HACC’s advocacy efforts and the positive contributions of African migrants in the Hunter Region. They reflect Agness' continued leadership and advocacy for multicultural harmony and the empowerment of African and migrant communities across the region.
Listen to Agness sharing her insights on the Visions and Tones Podcast.
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Leanne Wang to Represent Sydney at International Summer Research Program and Student Panel, UC San Diego
Leanne Wang, a final year PhD student in Nutrition and Dietetics, will be attending the International Summer Research Program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) this July sponsored by the Charles Perkins Centre and the Office of Global and Research Engagement. The nine-week program brings together students from partner universities across the Pacific Rim to undertake research placements in UCSD labs and engage in academic exchange. Prior to the program, Leanne will also participate in the Annual Presidents’ Meeting, where she has been fortunate enough to be invited to speak to professors and chancellors of other universities on a student panel alongside four peers from around the world on the topic of “The Future of Longevity Research: Engaging the Next Generations Scholars”.
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2025 FHM EMCR Publication Scheme Success
Congratulations to Dr Ann Carrigan who was recently awarded $4000 to support costs related to publication and dissemination in a Q1 journal. Ann plans to use the funds for a scoping review she is leading on understanding the role of the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework in digital health.
The scheme aligns with the Academic Planning and Development (APD) for the applicant to ensure that funding will assist in achieving high quality publications and growing national/international profile.
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Youth Well Lab Team Members Awarded EMCR Travel Funding
Dr Sisi Jia received the Charles Perkins Centre EMCR Travel Funding Award to attend the International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 2025 Conference in Auckland, New Zealand (11 - 14 June 2025).
Dr Rebecca Raeside received the Charles Perkins Centre EMCR Travel Funding Award to attend the International Association of Adolescent Health 2025 World Congress in Montego Bay, Jamaica (6 - 8 November 2025).
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Professor Kate Curtis Awarded Officer of the Order of Australia
After three decades of serving on the frontline of healthcare, Professor Kate Curtis has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division as part of The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours list. The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List recognises 830 Australians for their service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care across the country. Kate was awarded for distinguished service to trauma and emergency nursing, critical care research, tertiary education and professional organisations.
Kate has been an emergency nurse since 1994 and with Sydney Nursing School at The University of Sydney since 2008. She works as a registered nurse at Wollongong Emergency Department and is Director of Emergency and Critical Care Research at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. She also advises the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Commission for Quality and Safety on Health Care. Kate is the world’s most published author in the field of trauma and emergency nursing, having published over 250 papers, largely focusing on the improvement of clinical processes for better patient care, and championing the work of nurses. She has also mentored more than 110 clinicians in clinical research projects. Congratulations Kate!
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Congratulations to Honorary Professor Calvin Moorely
Congratulations to Honorary Professor Calvin Moorley, Chair of Diversity and Social Justice in Nursing at London South Bank University, who has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List for outstanding contributions to nursing, social justice and academia. Calvin recently visited the Sydney Nursing School as part of his Churchill Fellowship. Calvin said: This honour is deeply meaningful to me because it reflects the collective efforts of so many people committed to building a more inclusive and just healthcare system. Through the initiatives I have developed and led, we are not just talking about equity — we are actively creating pathways for diverse voices to lead, be heard, and shape the future of health and academia. This MBE recognises not only my journey but the shared vision of inclusion and belonging that drives all of us forward. Congratulations, Calvin!
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Top Contributor to Impact Factor Award
Congratulations to Wendan (Wendy) Shi, who received the Top Contributor to Impact Factor Award in distinguished recognition of her contributions to the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing in 2024.
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Teaching with Purpose: Philosophy Workshop Sparks Reflection and Growth
On Tuesday 10 June, Sydney Nursing School educators gathered for a dynamic three-hour Teaching Philosophy Workshop, organised by Professor Tamara Power in collaboration with Education Innovation, as a Nurse Education Research, Development of Scholarship (NERDS) initiative. Tamara shared: The session invited participants to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the “why” of their teaching. A clear teaching philosophy does more than just tick a box, it anchors practice in purpose. It empowers educators to make values-driven decisions, strengthen their identity, and articulate their approach to student learning. It’s also a powerful asset for academic promotion, showcasing reflective practice and scholarly engagement with pedagogy. Through a series of guided prompts and group activities, participants explored their teaching goals and aspirations, connected them to relevant learning theories, and discussed ways to assess understanding and use feedback meaningfully. The atmosphere was collegial, energising, and rich with insight.
Couldn’t make it? Never mind, key resources and reflection tools from the session are now available under the Teaching and Learning tab on the Sydney Nursing School Teams site. Thanks to everyone who brought their curiosity and heart to the room. Here’s to teaching that’s not just informed but inspired.
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| USU FoodHub Spotlight
This month the SNS Green Team would like to highlight the USU FoodHub – an amazing service run in collaboration with Student Life Welcome Hub, that provides free food and other essential items to University of Sydney students who are struggling with finances or food insecurity.
Following the success of last year’s food drive (pictured), we launched another coinciding with Dietitians Week celebrations. We were also lucky to be joined by Fiona Garnham, FoodHub Operations Manager, who spoke to attendees about the impact and importance of the service.
How can you help?
Spread the word: Let your students know about the FoodHub and how it can support them.
Refer students: If you know someone who might be struggling with finances or food security.
Get involved: Contribute to food drives or fundraisers supporting the FoodHub.
Location: Level 3, Wentworth Building, Camperdown Campus
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 11.00am–2.00pm
How does it work? Students should register ahead of their visit and can select up to five items per visit.
What to bring? A copy of their registration (printed or digital) and their own bag.
For more information, visit the USU FoodHub website or check out @usueats on Instagram.
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| Research and Conference News
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| International Conference on Emergency Medicine
In late May, Clinical Associate Professor Margaret Murphy (pictured below) and Professor Kate Curtis attended the 24th International Conference on Emergency Medicine in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. The International Conference on Emergency Medicine is the biggest meeting for emergency medicine in the world.
Margaret and Kate were awarded best paper – evidence into practice for their project titled “Improving the safety and quality of emergency nursing in Western Sydney EDs”. The presentation highlighted the gains in patient safety, improvements in patient experience and nurse confidence in communicating patient assessment findings following the implementation of HIRAID® in Western Sydney Local Health District Emergency Departments.
Kate was also invited to present at the pre-conference workshop "Saving Lives Through Science: A Global Emergency Medicine Trials Summit" at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The summit brought emergency medicine trialists from around the world together to discuss how their trial networks operate in their respective countries and present their success stories and lessons learned. Kate then travelled to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she gave a keynote presentation about HIRAID® at the Canadian National Emergency Nurses Association conference.
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13th Nursing Research and Education Conference, University of Maribor, Slovenia
Professor Jacqueline Bloomfield and Professor Brendan McCormack were invited keynote speakers at the Faculty of Health, University of Maribor, Slovenia 13th Nursing Research and Education Conference held on 5 June 2025, with their presentations focusing on ‘Person-centred care and AI’ (Brendan) and ‘Interprofessional Education’ (Jacqueline).
In addition, Brendan was awarded the status of ‘Honorary Visiting Professor’ at the Faculty’s Awards and Recognition Ceremony, which was attended by the rector (Vice-Chancellor) and Deans from across the University Faculties. This affiliation continues Brendan’s now 10-year relationship with the university.
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Leading Insights at ISBNPA 2025 Conference
Nutrition and Dietetics from Sydney Nursing School made a stellar contribution at the recent International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) 2025 conference held in Auckland, New Zealand showcasing leading research and expert insights. Dr Rajshri Roy, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, actively participated in dynamic discussions on food policy, sugar levies, and protecting children from online junk food marketing. Leveraging her expertise in digital food environments, Rajshri provided valuable insights into web harvesting methods and strategies to limit unhealthy food marketing to young audiences. Her contributions sparked productive discussions among policymakers and researchers from across Australia and New Zealand. Adding to the school’s impact, Associate Lecturer, Jessica Malloy, Rajshri's former PhD student, presented findings from her innovative research on digital health interventions aimed at improving dietary behaviours among young adults. Jessica’s presentation highlighted the effectiveness of tailored digital strategies in promoting healthier eating, attracting significant interest from attendees. Sydney Nursing School continues to lead crucial conversations in nutrition and digital health, reinforcing its commitment to shaping impactful public health strategies regionally and globally.
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Youth Well Lab at the ISBNPA 2025 conference
Youth Well Lab also attended the ISBNPA 2025 conference from 11-14 June in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The theme was “Manaaki Taiao, Manaaki Tāngata, Manaaki Meake Nei – Take Care of the Environment, Take Care of the People, Take Care of the Future.” The team was particularly inspired by a keynote presentation from Professor Terryann Clark and her ongoing work in mental health prevention with Māori youth.
Miss Allyson Todd delivered a short oral presentation titled ‘How are adolescents participating in the transformation of healthy food environments? A scoping review of empirical research’. Dr Sisi Jia and Dr Rebecca Raeside presented posters titled, ‘Assessing socioeconomic disparities in emerging hybrid food environments, A cross-sectional analysis of the DIGIFOOD study’ and ‘Effectiveness of the Health4Me text message intervention to improve adolescent physical activity or nutrition behaviours: a randomised controlled trial,’ respectively. Rebecca co-presented with Miss Jessica Malloy and Dr Rajshri Roy in a symposium ‘Co-designed digital interventions for promoting health across diverse and priority populations’, with Rebecca presenting ‘Acceptability, utility, and engagement with the Health4Me digital health intervention for adolescents’.
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Does Your Research Include Patient-reported Outcomes?
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide the patient’s perspective on the impact of disease and health care. The patient’s perspective is a key consideration when evaluating health-related interventions and health-services. PROs contribute to the evidence-base for clinical care, practice guidelines, and product labelling claims internationally, and help inform government decisions on health spending.
The Sydney Quality of Life Office has an advisory service and resources to assist SNS researchers with the PRO aspects of their studies.
Contact Sydney QoL Office for information or advice. Access PRO resources in the Staff Knowledge Hub.
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Seed Funding Grant Success
Congratulations to Dr Rebecca Raeside (Brewing Hot Ideas alumni), who has been successful in the following seed funding grants:
James N. Kirby Foundation Small Grant. This project will support the co-creation of new digital health content with adolescents for the Health4Me digital health promotion intervention.
Brain and Mind Centre Engagement Collaborative Grant (with A/Professor Haley LaMonica [BMC] and A/Professor Stephanie Partridge). This project will explore and address barriers to implementing digital mental health promotion initiatives for adolescents.
Charles Perkins Centre EMCR Seed Funding Grant (with Dr Rajshri Roy and A/Professor Stephanie Partridge). This project will use innovative consumer-led data collection methods to evaluate social media content and its impact on youth health and wellbeing.
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Adonteng-Kissi, O., Meribe, N., Gatwiri, K., Mwanri, L., Tembo, A., Baffour, F. D., Botchway-Commey, E. N., Doyle, A. K., Chisanga, D., Moustafa, A. A., & Osuagwu, U. L. (2025). Christianity as coping mechanisms for migrants with mental health challenges in Australia: Social work implications. Journal of Social Work Practice, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2025.2480073
Chaseling, G., Uchmanowicz, I., Bäck M., Miró, Ò., Tokmakova, M., Ljungman, P., Laukkanen, J., Bruno, R. M., Ntaios, G., Rocca, B., Jay, O., Alexander, L. M., Kenney, W. L., Moons, P. (2025). Heat extremes and cardiovascular diseases: a scientific statement of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions, Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care, European Association of Preventive Cardiology, Heart Failure Association, European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC, the ESC Council on Hypertension, the ESC Council on Stroke, and the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf326
Chaseling, G. K., Gauci, S., Hollings, M., Cartledge, S., Redfern, J., Briffa, T., Gallagher, R., & O’Neil, A. (2025). Heatwaves and Heart Health: A Survey Study and Discussion on the Current Knowledge and Attitudes of Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinicians. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 45(4), 271-277. DOI: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000951. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.0000000000000951Cheng, A., Lea X., & Shires., A. (2025). Barriers and Facilitators to Meditation. Empirical Research Qualitative. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 10(2): 026; doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2502026. https://www.lidsen.com/journals/icm/icm-10-02-026
Dutch, D., Bell, L., Hunter, S. C., Johnson, B. J., Denney-Wilson, E., Golley, R. K. (2025).
Australian Primary Health Care guidelines for childhood growth, health, and development in the early years: A scoping review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 49(3).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100248
Ellis, T., Cheng, S., Zecchin, R., Hyun K., Redfern, J. (2025). Effect of a nurse-avatar guided discharge education smartphone application in people after acute coronary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, ztaf036. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaf036
House, E. T., Baur, L. A., Cheng., H., Denney-Wilson, E., Dutch, D., Jawad, D., Rosewarne, E., Taki, S., & Wen, L. M. (2025). Parental experiences of primary health professional support with child health behaviours and growth: a scoping review. Preventive Medicine, 197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108313
McCormack, B. (2025). Digital Healthcare and the Illusion of Progress. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70024
Meribe, N., Adonteng-Kissi, O., Gatwiri, K., Mwanri, L., Baffour, F. D., Tembo, A., Botchway-Commey, E. N., Chisanga, D., Moustafa, A. A., Doyle, K. E., & Osuagwu, U. L. (2025). Exploring the barriers to mental health help-seeking among African migrants in Australia: A qualitative study. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251323050
Odgers, H., Philp S., & Tejada-Berges, T. (2025). Management of Molar-Pregnancy and Associated Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia at a Specialised Unit: 10-Year Review. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. doi: 10.1111/ajo.70053. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajo.70053
Ong, B., McCloughen, A., Farrell-Whelan, S., & Buus, N. (2025). Reputation and responsibility: A qualitative investigation of parents’ experiences of Open Dialogue school meetings. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 51(3), e70030. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70030
Rutherford, C., Boehnke, J., Greenhalgh, J., Tyagi, V., McCance, T., & McCormack, B. (2025). Time is now to consider how we evaluate person-centred care - the role of patient-reported outcomes. Front. Health Serv, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2025.1578037
Sheel, M., Patel, C., Saravanos, G., Lynch, M., Tinessia, A., Chanlivong, N., Thongseng, M., Gunaratnam, P., Pathammavong, C., Phounphenghack, K., Park, Y., Norasingh, S., Bhatt, D., Batmunkh, N., Contreras, M., & Danovaro-Holliday, M. C. (2025). Strengthening Immunization Data: Protocol for the Evaluation of an Electronic Immunization Register. JMIR Res Protoc, 14, e65663. https://doi.org/10.2196/65663
Tembo, A.C., & Moorley, C. (2025). Reckoning with racism in nursing: Towards structural transformation and epistemic justice. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70003
Tembo, A., Gatwiri, K., Adonteng-Kissi, O., Meribe, N., Mwanri, L., Baffour, F. D., Botchway-Commey, E. N., Chisanga, D., Moustafa, A. A., Doyle, K. E., & Osuagwu, U. L. (2025). The role of stigma in help-seeking strategies among African migrants in Australia: A qualitative study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.70071
Traynor, V., Ho, B., Bimrose, J., Riegel, M., Chiu, H., Boehm, L. M., Hayter, M., & Neville, S. (2025). Nurses must improve delirium care: A call to action. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 34(6), 1979-1981. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17757
Wang, B., Sheehy, L., Frotjold, A., Power, T., & Saravanos, G. (2025). Sustainability in undergraduate nursing clinical simulation: A mixed methods study exploring attitudes, knowledge and practices. Nurse Education Today, 153, 106805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106805
Watson, A.L., Bond, C., Aveyard, H., Smith, G.D. & Jackson, D. (2025). How Does Mentorship Influence Doctoral Nursing Education? An Integrative Review. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70004
Weddell, J., Shi, W., Redfern, J., Buckley, T., & Gallagher, R. (2025). Effectiveness of coronary heart disease peer support interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of preventive cardiology, zwaf241. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf241
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International Conference of Ewha Womans University, College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea
Theme: NURSING AT THE INTERSECTION: Person-Centered Care Meets Cutting Edge Technologies
Date and Time: Monday, 20 October 2025 | 09:00–17:00 (KST)
Venue: ECC Lee Sambong Hall & Conference Halls A‧B, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
📌Abstract Submission Details:
Deadline: Thursday, 31 July 2025
Notification of acceptance: Friday, 15 August 2025
Pre-registration Deadline: Tuesday, 30 September 2025
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