JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Caryn West

About

Professor Caryn West is the Academic Head of Nursing and Midwifery for JCU Australia and post Dean of Research for JCU Singapore (2020-2023). Professor West maintains a strong international reputation having worked extensively with the World Health Organisation and Asia Pacific and Western Pacific countries. Key outcome in this space has been the preparation of the health professionals of the future, and engagement in research that makes a difference. Professor West's agenda priorities include growth of the Nursing and Midwifery program and the establishment of the second pillar of research within the Tropical Futures Institute in JCU Singapore, which focus on healthy aging and associated non-communicable diseases.

Prof West has a diverse research portfolio within nursing and public health through her professional roles and awards including: an early career fellowship with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Directorship of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Nursing, Midwifery Education and Research Capacity Building, Director of the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research at JCU and Deputy Director of the Centre for Disaster Solutions.

Prof West’s areas of research interest include disaster management, nursing education, and alcohol-related injuries in Australian Indigenous communities drawn together through the theme of resilience.

Interests

Professional

Director: WHOCC Nursing & Midwifery Education & Research Capacity Building Governance. Chair & Executive Committee member: Mixed Method International Research Association (MMIRA) Executive Committee Member: Western Pacific Region for Global Network WHOCC

Research

Mixed Method research & methodology, teaching and learning in the tertiary setting, Public Health issues including disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery and response, individual, family and community resilience and alcohol related injuries.

Teaching

Use of unfolding case studies in undergraduate nursing education, research methodology and methods.

Experience

2021 to present - Head of Academic Group, James Cook University (Cairns)
2020 to 2023 - Dean of Research, James Cook University (Singapore)
2014 to 2022 - Executive Committee Member WPRO Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing & Midwifery, WHO (International)
2014 to 2022 - Director WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing & Midwifery Education and Research Capacity Building, James Cook University (Cairns)
2019 to 2021 - Deputy Head of Academic Group, Nursing and Midwifery (Cairns)
2017 to 2020 - Associate Dean Research CHS, James Cook University (Cairns)
2016 to 2019 - Adjunct Professor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
2014 to 2016 - Governance Chair Mixed Method International Research Association, MMIRA (International)
2011 to 2014 - Deputy Director WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing & Midwifery Education and Research Capacity Building, James Cook University (Cairns)
2007 to 2012 - Secretariat APEDNN, World Health Organisation (Cairns)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2008 - Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Inclusive Practice Award awarded ‘In recognition exceptional support for students with disabilities.’

Fellowships

2014 to 2017 - National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Research Fellow (#107093). ‘Resilience in individuals and families coping with the impacts of alcohol related injuries in remote Indigenous communities.’ $304,596.00
2013 to 2014 - Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute Centre for Research Excellence (APHCRI CRE) Fellow for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in rural and remote high risk populations

Memberships

2013 - Mixed Method International Research Association (MMIRA)
2011 - Australian College of Nurses
2011 - Global Network of World Health Organisation Collaborating Centres for Nursing & Midwifery (GNWHOCC)
2011 - Asia Pacific Emergency Disaster Nurses Network (APEDNN)
2011 - South Pacific Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers Alliance (SPCNMOA)
2009 - Australian Branch of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

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

Am K, Jackson D, Massey D, Wynaden D, Grant J, West C, McGough S, Hopkins M, Muller A, Mather C, Byfield Z, Smith Z, Ngune I and Wynne R (2022) The mental health impact of COVID-19 on pre-registration nursing students in Australia: Findings from a national cross-sectional study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79 (2). pp. 581-592
Barker R, Malpass A and West C (2022) The lived experience of sheltering for individuals with disabilities during severe tropical cyclones in northern Queensland, Australia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 82.
Khorshed M, Lindsay D, McAuliffe M, West C and Wild K (2022) Factors Affecting Quality of Care in Maternal and Child Health in Timor-Leste: A Scoping Review. Health Services Insights, 15.
Molassiotis A, Guo C, West C and Loke A (2022) Identifying the priorities in nursing research on disaster management: A Delphi study and international survey. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 74.
O'Loughlin M, West C and Mills J (2022) Medical homes and chronic care: consumer lessons for regional Australia. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 28 (2). pp. 97-103
Sparke V, Maclaren D, Esau D and West C (2022) Exploring infection prevention and control knowledge and beliefs in the Solomon Islands using Photovoice. PLOS Global Public Health, 2 (11).
Usher K, Fagan A, Brown J, Mather C, Marlow A, Power T, van de Mortel T, West C, Hutchinson M, Zhao L, Terry V, Woods C and Lea J (2022) The financial challenges for Australian nursing students attending placement-based work-integrated learning. Collegian, 29 (2). pp. 154-160
Li W, West C and Xie G (2021) The reflective risk assessment model of professional quality of life in Chinese nurses. Journal of Nursing Management, 29 (4). pp. 767-775
Molasiotis A, Guo C, Abu-Odah H, West C and Loke A (2021) Evolution of disaster nursing research in the past 30 years (1990 -2019): a bibliometric and mapping analysis. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 58.
Supelano A, West C, Zehr J, Hernández L and de Esteban M (2021) La Covid-19 y su efecto en población adult a mayor en Colombia [COVID-19 and its effects on the older adult population in Colombia]. Revista de Extensión Cultural, 66. pp. 90-107
Grimes A, Sparke V, Rouen C and West C (2020) Preparedness and resilience of student nurses in Northern Queensland Australia for disasters. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 48.
Sparke V, Diau J, MacLaren D and West C (2020) Solutions to infection prevention and control challenges in developing countries, do they exist? An integrative review. International Journal of Infection Control, 16 (1).

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 76+ research outputs authored by Prof Caryn West from 2009 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Queensland Health - Nursing and Midwifery Research Fellowship

Developing a consumer influenced model of accessibility to maternity services

Indicative Funding: $119,190 over 3 years
Summary: This project aims to develop a consumer influenced model of accessibility to maternity services utilising geographic information systems and consumer survey data. The model will include the physical accessibility of services, service availability, and the acceptability of the service to the population. This project will modify an existing spatial model that determines accessibility based on physical accessibility and service availability using consumer survey data that will reflect the acceptability of service. The model will be applied to Far North Queensland, an area with a high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and many rural and remote localities.
Investigators: Karen Yates, Caryn West, Geoffrey Clark and Catherine Smith in collaboration with Christopher Rouen (College of Healthcare Sciences and Cairns & Hinterland Hospital & Health Service)
Keywords: Maternity Services; Geographic Information System; Healthcare accessibility; Rural And Remote Health; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

North Queensland Primary Health Network - Contract Research

Helping create Resilient Communities: Using the RESILIENT COMMUNITIES IN DISASTERS [RCD]? 3 day workshop.

Indicative Funding: $39,830 over 2 years
Summary: The three day RESILIENT COMMUNITIES IN DISASTERS [RCD]? workshop aims to build local capacity creating a 'shared responsibility' through the inclusion of community members. By increasing the resilience of a community, it allows for successful adaptation under changing conditions, proactive protection by individuals within the community and the ability to function better under stress and recover from disaster situations faster.
Investigators: Caryn West in collaboration with Andrea Grimes, Vanessa Sparke and Sandra Downing (College of Healthcare Sciences, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords: Disaster; Resilience; Nursing; Indigenous

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

The extent, cause and direct healthcare costs of non-fatal deliberate self-harm in Far North Queensland

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 1 year
Summary: This project aims to perform a retrospective epidemiological analysis of hospital-treated self-harm episodes to determine the incidence, prevalence, characteristics and healthcare costs of self-harm in Far North Queensland.
Investigators: Christopher Rouen, Caryn West, Daniel Lindsay and Natalie Conley (College of Healthcare Sciences, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords: Deliberate self-harm; Mental Health

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Primary healthcare injury surveillance in remote Indigenous communities

Indicative Funding: $24,960 over 1 year
Summary: A clinical file audit will determine the nature, cause and extent of alcohol-related injuries in three remote Indigenous communities of Cape York. The project will inform community alcohol management decision-making surrounding future approaches to reduce injury and improve community safety.
Investigators: Caryn West, Daniel Lindsay, Christopher Rouen and Andrea Grimes (College of Healthcare Sciences, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords: Injuries; Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander; Primary Health Care; Alcohol

Massey University - contract research - Contract Research

Review of Tokelau's Clinical Health Services and Patient Referrals Sceme

Indicative Funding: $6,903 over 2 years (administered by Massey University)
Summary: The Tokelau Government has asked for an independent review of the Tokelau Patient Referrals Scheme (TPRS) and clinical health services. In partnership with the Tokelau Government, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has engaged a Massey University-led team to do the review. Our proposal is distinguished by three features in particular: the team is Pacific-led, the review design is bottom up, participatory and solutions-focussed, and our approach is grounded in a Tokelauan world view of health and wellbeing. This approach will allow for the co-creation of knowledge, will ensure that the review is inclusive of a diversity of views, including marginalised groups, and will enable us to undertake an in-depth review which reflects the social, economic, cultural and spiritual context. Methodological innovations such as use of the Systems Assessment Tool and particpatory co-design workshops will enable us to generate robust findings combining quantitative and qualitative data.
Investigators: Tracie Mafileo, Sunia Foliaki, Tanya Koro, Helen Leslie, Michelle Redman-MacLaren and Caryn West (Massey University, Pasifika Health Service, Central Public Health Organisation, College of Medicine & Dentistry and College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: Health services, Pacific people's health

North Queensland Primary Health Network - Contract Research

Helping create Resilient Communities: Using the Resilient Communities in Disasters (RCD) ? 3 day workshop

Indicative Funding: $400,000 over 2 years
Summary: The three day Resilient Communities in Disasters (RCD) ? workshop aims to build local capacity creating a 'shared responsibility' through the inclusion of community members. By increasing the resilience of a community, it allows for successful adaptation under changing conditions, proactive protection by individuals within the community and the ability to function better under stress and recover from disaster situations faster.
Investigators: Caryn West in collaboration with Andrea Grimes, Vanessa Sparke and Sandra Downing (College of Healthcare Sciences, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords: Disaster Management; Indigenous; Resilience; Nursing

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

Navigating Latter Life better - Ageing and Dying 'Well' in Rural and Remote Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Completed

Health care homes in Cairns: a mixed methods study exploring the experience of adults living with chronic conditions to inform the new model of primary health care (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Improving infection control at Atoifi Adventist Hospital, Solomon Islands: a participatory action research approach (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Implementing Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient-centred care for maternal health in Timor-Leste: An Action Research approach (2023, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)

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.