About

Professor Caryn West is the Academic Head of Nursing and Midwifery for JCU Australia and Dean of Research for JCU Singapore. 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. Current agenda priorities include 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 present - Dean of Research, James Cook University (Singapore)
  • 2019 to present - Deputy Head of Academic Group, Nursing and Midwifery (Cairns)
  • 2014 to present - Director WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing & Midwifery Education and Research Capacity Building, James Cook University (Cairns)
  • 2014 to present - Executive Committee Member WPRO Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing & Midwifery, WHO (International)
  • 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
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
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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