About

Dr Alice Cairns is a research fellow with the Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University. She lives and works in Weipa, Cape York. She graduated as an Occupational Therapist in 2002 and practiced for 12 years, specialising in mental health rehabilitation. Alice was awarded her PhD in 2017 from the Queensland University of Technology, her PhD research focused on youth mental health and factors associated with goal setting, help-seeking and work and study outcomes.

Since 2017, her research interests have broaded to focus on health service research and exploring innovative models of service delivery for remote communities. She is a member of the Northern Australian Research Network (NARN) and a current HOT North Research Fellow.

 She is currently supervising 1 PhD student, honours and masters students. She is open to hearing from any prospective student interested in a research career.

Interests
Research
  • Rural and remote health service improvement
  • Allied health and community rehabilitation
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
  • Mental health and transition periods
  • Impact of cognitive capacity on occupational performance
Experience
  • 2018 to present - Research Fellow, Centre for Rural and Remote Health,James Cook University (Weipa)
  • 2017 to 2018 - Western Cape Site Co-ordinator and Lecturer, Centre for Rural and Remote Health,James Cook University (Weipa)
  • 2011 to 2017 - PhD Candidate, Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Fellowships
  • 2018 to 2019 - HOT North Early Career Research Fellowship
Memberships
  • 2019 - Health Services Research Association Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ)
  • 2018 - Northern Australian Research Network (NARN)
  • 2018 - Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH)
  • 2003 - Occupational Therapy Australia
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 31+ research outputs authored by Dr Alice Cairns from 2013 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Commonwealth Department of Health - Medical Research Future Fund - Models of Care to Improve the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Acute Care

Improved respiratory support in remote settings for children: A paediatric acute respiratory intervention study (PARIS), PARIS on Country.

Indicative Funding
$1,630,153 over 5 years (administered by Griffith University)
Summary
Respiratory illnesses are the most frequent reason for non-elective hospital admissions in children <5 years. Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the common endpoint for many underlying specific diagnoses such as bronchiolitis, asthma and pneumonia. In FNQ approximately 50-70% of mostly indigenous children with ARF require transfer to a tertiary hospital, compared to 10-15% of these children in SEQ. We aim to introduce a measured model of care using a comprehensive respiratory care package for children with ARF in remote hospitals in Queensland. The aim is to reduce the number of transfers and offload the pressure on the emergency/retrieval systems.
Investigators
Donna Franklin, Andreas Schibler, Sally West, Alice Cairns, Erika Borkoles, Malama Gray, Richard Hays, Catrina Felton-Busch, Angus Ng, Martin Downes, Ben Lawton and Shane George (Griffith University, Wesley Research Institute, JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health, Metro South Hospital and Health Service and Gold Coast University Hospital)
Keywords
Paediatric; Bronchiolitis; Respiratory illness; Emergency Medicine; Ventilatory support

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Grant

Providing kidney care close to home: Evaluating the Cape York Kidney Care model.

Indicative Funding
$49,978 over 2 years
Summary
The Cape York Kidney Care team is an integrated and multidisciplinary health care team that was formed in September 2019 to provide consistent, frequent and client centred tertiary-level (specialist) care, in the communities of the Western Cape, Far North Queensland. This project will evaluate this program with respect to health outcomes, cost efficiency, and explore implementation factors that are enablers or barrier to the success of the program. The results will provide evidence for investment or disinvestment in this new service model and will provide an evaluation plan for rollout of future services.
Investigators
Andrea Miller, Leanne Brown, Alice Cairns, Jacquelyne Hughes, Murty Mantha, Sanjeewa Kularatna, Robyn McDermott and Wendy Hoy (JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health, Torres & Cape Hospital & Health Service, Flinders University, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland University of Technology, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and The University of Queensland)
Keywords
Chronic Kidney Disease; Integrated care; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health; Cost-effectiveness; Evaluation

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) - Consultancy 2

Proposed development of revised framework for operational and implementation research in health and disease control programmes.

Indicative Funding
$51,762 over 1 year
Summary
The overall goal of the QAIHC Sexual Health and Wellbeing Project is to improve Sexually transmissible infection (STI) and blood borne virus (BBVs) services in QAIHC Member Services and to work towards reducing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander positive notifications. To help achieve this, support is provided for Member Services to implement models of care aimed to increase client engagement, education opportunities, as well as improve screening, notification and treatment rates. Tools, resources and support are provided to participant health services to implement sexual health and wellbeing activities that are culturally safe, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and tailored to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander model of care. The aim of this work is to evaluate the implementation, impact and outcomes of the QAIHC Sexual Health and Wellbeing Project.
Investigators
Karen Carlisle, Rebecca Evans, Sarah Larkins, Alice Cairns, Shaun Solomon, Kris Vine, Talah Laurie and Nishila Moodley (College of Medicine & Dentistry and JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health)
Keywords
Sexual Health; Atsi Health; Quality improvement

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Research Assistance Scheme

Evaluation of student-led community rehabilitation and lifestyle service and Implementation of Nasal High Flow

Indicative Funding
$18,328 over 2 years
Summary
This research grant is to support two studies conducted in Weipa, Cape York. The first project is the ?Evaluation and Implementation of a Student-led Community Rehabilitation and Lifestyle Service?, the second project is the ?Implementation of Nasal High Flow (NHF): A remote context?. Both projects explore the effectiveness of service delivery to remote and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Both projects explore the effectiveness of the delivery of novel health care interventions. The community rehabilitation project evaluates an innovative health workforce model that is providing a service for people experiencing the impact of non-communicable diseases (chronic disease) that previously didn?t have access to community rehabilitation.
Investigators
Alice Cairns and Sally West (JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health)
Keywords
Implementation; Remote Health; Health services; Atsi Health; Rehabilitation; Respiratory

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Contract Research

Evaluation framework for community rehabilitation services in remote northern Australia.

Indicative Funding
$49,502 over 2 years
Summary
An evaluation framework for community rehabilitation services in northern Australia will be developed. In Stage 1, a guiding framework will be devised following a systematic literature review. In Stage 2, routinely collected data relevant to the framework will be identified through data scoping. In Stage 3 the framework will be refined using a modified Delphi consensus approach and in Stage 4, tested for data accuracy and to determine rules for application. Processes and outcomes responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will be prioritised. This evaluation framework will enable continuous quality improvement, benchmarking against national standards and evidence-informed investment.
Investigators
Alice Cairns, Ruth Barker, Linton Harriss and Edward Strivens in collaboration with Robyn McDermott, Vivienne Sandler, Sandra Campbell, Tania Cavanagh, Desley Harvey, Ella Dunsford and Jacquelin Capell (JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health, College of Healthcare Sciences, College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Torres & Cape Hospital & Health Service, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service and University of Wollongong)
Keywords
Evaluation; Allied Health; Rehabilitation; Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; Health Services

Menzies School of Health Research - HOT NORTH Fellowship

Evaluation framework for community rehabilitation services in remote northern Australia

Indicative Funding
$46,770 over 1 year
Summary
An evauluation framework for community rehabilitation services in northern Australian will be developed. In Stage 1, a guiding framework will be revised following a systematic literature review. In Stage 2, routinely collected data relevant to the framework will be identified through data scoping. In Stage 3 the framework will be refined using a modified Delphi consensus approach and in Stage 4, tested for data accuracy and to determine rules for application. Processes and outcomes responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will be prioritied. This evaluation framework will enable continuous quality improvement, benchmarking against national standards and evidence-informed investment.
Investigators
Alice Cairns, Ruth Barker and Robyn McDermott (JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health, College of Healthcare Sciences and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Evaluation; Rehabilitation; Health Services; Allied Health; Aboriginal And Torres Strait Youth

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Implementation and evaluation of a student-led rehabilitation and lifestyle service for people with chronic and disabling conditions in Cape York

Indicative Funding
$24,800 over 1 year
Summary
This project will evaluate the implementation of a student-led rehabilitation and lifestyle service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Napranum and Weipa in partnership with Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) and Apunipima Cape York Health Council (ACYC). This research is expected develop a sustainable service model that is valued by people experiencing chronic and disabling conditions and their families living in Napranum and Weipa communities.
Investigators
Alice Cairns in collaboration with Robyn McDermott, Ruth Barker, Elizabeth Armstrong, Amy O'Hara, Lynore Geia and Sylvia Kris (JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, College of Healthcare Sciences, Edith Cowan University and Torres & Cape Hospital & Health Service)
Keywords
Rehabilitation; Indigenous; Health Services; Allied Health; Student; Chronic Disease
Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current
  • IAHA Framework: The development and implementation of an audit tool for culturally responsive healthcare practices (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Evaluating the impact of hospital pharmacists on a health equity agenda in a regional Australian setting - more than just the medicines. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • PARIS Remote: Implementation of Nasal High Flow for Children in the Remote Setting (PhD , Primary Advisor)
  • Sleep and Educational Outcomes in Indigenous Children (Masters , Primary Advisor)
Completed
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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