Karen has a diverse professional background with qualifications and experience in qualitative and cross-cultural research, library and information science, education and research administration. Her research focuses on social and cultural aspects of health and wellbeing, with a particular interest in maternal health in the Pacific region. These interests are reflected in Karen's doctoral research, where she identified the process midwifery students use to manage the provision of care to women following stillbirth in Papua New Guinea. As Cairns mentor for the Cohort Doctoral Studies Program, Karen provides support to postgraduate students undertaking research studies within the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine. 

Interests

Research

• Social and cultural determinants of health
• Pacific people's health
• Maternal health
• Research capacity strengthening
• Decolonising research

Experience

• 2020 to present - Cohort Doctoral Studies Program Mentor, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2019 to present - Research Officer/Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2012 to 2014 - Grants Administrator, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2011 to 2012 - Liaison Librarian, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2006 to 2011 - Liaison Librarian, University of Western Sydney (Campbelltown)

Research Disciplines

• Public health (4206)
• Applied economics (3801)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Pacific Peoples health (2111)
• Microeconomics (1505)

Awards

• 2020 - Medal for Excellence in Higher Degree Research
• 2016 - Joan Hardy Scholarship for Postgraduate Nursing Research (NTEU)
• 2015 to 2018 - Postgraduate Research Scholarship (APA)

Fellowships

• 2019 - Adjunct Research Fellow, The Cairns Institute
• 2015 to 2018 - Postgraduate Fellow, The Cairns Institute

Memberships

• 2019 - Public Health Association Australia
• 2019 - International Stillibirth Alliance

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

• Cheer K, Simeon L, Tommbe R, Kelly J, MacLaren D and Tsey K (2021) Balancing it out: a grounded theory of how midwifery students at a faith-based university in Papua New Guinea provide care to women following stillbirth. Health Care for Women International, 42 (4-6), pp. 895-912, DOI:10.1080/07399332.2020.1867860.
• Grainger D, Watkin-Lui F and Cheer K (2021) The value of informed agency for Torres Strait climate change. Ecological Economics, 180, Article: 106880, DOI:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106880.
• Neuendorf N, Cheer K, Tommbe R, Kokinai C, Simeon L, Browne K, MacLaren D and Redman-MacLaren M (2021) Sexual health and wellbeing training with women in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: a scoping review. Global Health Action, 14 (1), Article: 1948673, DOI:10.1080/16549716.2021.1948673.
• Menadue C and Cheer K (2017) Human culture and science fiction: a review of the literature, 1980-2016. SAGE Open, 7 (3), pp. 1-15, DOI:10.1177/2158244017723690.
• Cheer K (2016) Asia-Pacific women's experiences of stillbirth: a metasynthesis of qualitative literature. Health Care for Women International, 37 (8), pp. 889-905, DOI:10.1080/07399332.2015.1080261.
• Cheer K, MacLaren D and Tsey K (2015) The use of grounded theory in studies of nurses and midwives’ coping processes: A systematic literature search. Contemporary Nurse, 51 (2-3), pp. 200-219, DOI:10.1080/10376178.2016.1157445.

Other research outputs

• Cheer K, Watkin Lui F, Shibasaki S, Harvey A, Grainger D and Tsey K (2020) The case for a Torres Strait Islander‐driven, long‐term research agenda for environment, health and wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 44 (3), pp. 177-179, DOI:10.1111/1753-6405.12979.
• Klieve H, Cheer K, Whiteside M, Baird L, MacLean S and Tsey K (2019) “A safe haven to support me”: an evaluation report on the Central Coast Family Wellbeing Program. [monograph]

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

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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

• Family planning service provision in Solomon Islands: A Case Study Approach (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
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