About

I am a founding member of the Healthy Ageing Research Team (HART), a group of clinician-based researchers in FNQ whose research agenda is driven by community identified priorities and clinical need. The focus of my research agenda is both integrated care and healthy ageing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

I completed an MPhil in 2020 that investigated how carers of older adults with complex needs navigate through health and aged care systems.

Chief investigator on x2 NHMRC co-authored grants totalling $2.6M

  1.  2019-2023. NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Grant: Reducing dementia risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities $1.5m
  2. 2019-2023. NHMRC Targeted Call: A Framework for Healthy Ageing in the Torres Strait. $1.1m.

Other HART projects I co-manage include:

  • 2018-2020. NHMRC Boosting Dementia Grant: University of Melbourne:  Improving Detection and management of dementia in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders attending Primary Care [IDEA-PC]) $ 2,172,421A national NHMRC funded collaboration investigating identification of cognitive impairment and dementia within Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations. Aims to improve detection and management of dementia and cognitive impairment among older Aboriginal and Torres Srait Islander people and improve their and their carers’ quality of life
  • 2019-2021: NHMRC Targeted call.  University of Melbourne: Let's CHAT (Community Health Approaches To) Dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities $2,032,776
  • 2019-2023. NHMRC Targeted call: University of Western Australia: Defining and predicting Healthy Ageing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Populations (HATS). $931,000
  • Older Persons Enablement and Rehabilitation for Complex Conditions (OPEN ARCH)This $1.2M program has operated for 18 months with funding from Queensland Health Clinical Excellence Division and the North Queensland Primary Health Network. OPEN ARCH is being evaluated to determine sustainability, acceptability, accessibility, safety and fidelity. Furthering my interest in service innovation to improve health outcomes, I am an investigator on the OPEN ARCH randomised controlled trial and a chief investigator and manager of the qualitative component exploring patient and carer experience of the program.
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • 2018 - • 2018 Awarded Highly Commended in the Emerald Literati Awards for the publication: doi: 10.1108/JICA-11-2016-0044.
  • 2015 - • 2015 CHHHS Patsy Bjerregaard Award for Excellence in Patient Care for outstanding performance in the field of research
Memberships
  • 2018 - International Indigenous Dementia Research Network
  • 2018 - NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR)
  • 2017 - Australian Association of Gerontology
  • 2017 - Emerging Researchers in Ageing
  • 2016 - Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health
  • 2010 - Older Persons Health Clinical Network
  • 2010 - State-wide Dementia Clinical Network
  • 2003 - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
  • 2014 to 2015 - FNQ Clinical Advisory Group to Medicare Local
Other
  • 2017 - Scholarship: $3,000 FNQ Hospital Foundation
  • 2016 to 2019 - Scholarship: $30,000 Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme. SARRAH. Postgraduate scholarship for Master of Philosophy - An exploration of ‘burden of treatment' among carers of community dwelling older people with complex care needs
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 15+ research outputs authored by Mrs Rachel Quigley from 2017 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 - Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care

METformin for treating peripheral artery disease Related walking Impairment Trial (MERIT)

Indicative Funding
$1,215,182 over 3 years
Summary
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a very common chronic cardiovascular disease of ageing affecting approximately 1 million older Australians and causing substantial leg pain on walking (intermittent claudication), marked functional impairment, reduced quality of life (QOL) and very high risk of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Vulnerable populations (e.g. regional or remote, lower income and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations) have much greater PAD-related burden. Our past consultations with patients indicate that improvements in walking is their number one priority. The only widely available PAD treatment in Australia is revascularisation but this does not improve walking distance and has substantial safety concerns. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that metformin safely improves leg blood supply. MERIT is a placebo-controlled randomised trial performed across 7 sites. The importance of the trial has been endorsed by patients, Heart Foundation, Queensland Health and Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery and Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials. If positive, MERIT will identify a cheap, safe and widely available drug to improve the function and QOL of millions of older adults worldwide who have PAD.
Investigators
Jon Golledge, Clare Arnott, Edward Strivens, Belinda Parmenter, Clare Heal, Christopher Reid, Aaron Drovandi, Joseph Moxon, Jenna Pinchbeck, Richard Norman, Dylan Morris, Christopher Askew, Sarah Larkins, Rachel Quigley and Yvonne Cadet-James (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Curtin University of Technology, Townsville Hospital and Health Services, University of the Sunshine Coast and Indigenous Education & Research Centre)
Keywords
Prevention; Complications; Peripheral artery disease; Risk Factors

Ian Potter Foundation - Grant

Developing culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for older adults living in the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$375,380 over 4 years, in partnership with Queensland health ($30,000)
Summary
The aim of the study is to develop culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for older adults (e.g. aged 45 and over) living in the Torres Strait. Data from yarning circles with Torres Strait community members and health care staff will be used to identify how mental health disorders are expressed in the Torres Strait. A Delphi process will then be used to identify appropriate tools for assessing these domains of mental ill health for use in older adults in the Torres Strait. These tools will then be piloted to determine acceptability and validated for use in the Torres Strait.
Investigators
Sarah G Russell and Rachel Quigley in collaboration with Ajay Macharouthu, Diane Cadet-James and Betty Sagigi (College of Medicine & Dentistry and Queensland Health)
Keywords
Mental Health; Geriatrics; Torres Strait Islander People

National Health & Medical Research Council - Boosting Dementia Research Grant

Reducing Dementia Risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

Indicative Funding
$1,515,145 over 6 years
Summary
The aim of the project is to address these issues through the development of a range of interventions to specifically target the high rates of dementia in Indigenous communities. This project will use a Participatory Action Research approach to enable communities to identify and prioritise dementia risk reduction strategies/potential risk and protective factors. Using a Continuous Quality Improvement Framework, primary health care centries will address modifiable dementia risk factors to change practice and systems through the development of culturally appropriate interventions. The outcome will be a culturally appropriate framework that incorporates evidence-based best-practice guidelines for delivering community specific interventions for risk reduction and prevention of dementia.
Investigators
Edward Strivens, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley, Sarah Larkins, Robyn McDermott, Venessa Curnow, Kate Smith, Prabha Lakhan and Veronica Matthews in collaboration with Alan Cass, Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Desley Harvey, Leon Flicker, Dina LoGiudice, Frankie Clive, Gavin Miller, Dallas McKeown and Gail Garvey (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Queensland Health, The University of Western Australia, University of Sydney, Menzies School of Health Research, The University of Queensland, The University of Melbourne and North Queensland Primary Health Network)
Keywords
Indgenous Health; Healthy Ageing; Dementia; Chronic Disease

National Health & Medical Research Council - Targeted Call for Research into Healthy Ageing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

A framework for healthy ageing in the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$1,100,540 over 6 years
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop a culturally appropriate framework of healthy ageing for Torres Strait Comjmunities to enable older persons to remain living well at hme and on Country for as long as possible. Participatory Action Research (PAR) within a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) framework will be the overarching lmethodology for this project. The scope of the framework will be guided by the World Health organisation Framework of Healthy Ageing encompassing both intrinsic capacity and environmental characteristics that influence health outcomes.
Investigators
Edward Strivens, Sarah G Russell, Leon Flicker, Dina LoGiudice, Kate Smith, Rachel Quigley, Robyn McDermott, Sean Taylor, Venessa Curnow and Sarah Larkins in collaboration with Betty Sagigi, Desley Harvey, Dympna Leonard, Elizabeth Beattie, Gavin Miller, Jennifer Mann, Nancy Pachana and Yvonne Hornby-Turner (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Australia, Melbourne Health, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, Cairns & Hinterland Hospital & Health Service, Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology and The University of Queensland)
Keywords
Indigenous Health; Chronic Disease; healthy ageing; Dementia

Commonwealth Department of Health - Medical Research Future Fund - Indigenous Health - Medical Research Futures Fund - Indigenous Health

Strong community, strong health: Exploring opportunities for chronic disease prevention in the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$473,642 over 2 years
Summary
Despite a decrease in mortality rates from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease since 2006, they still represent significant risk to the health and wellbeing of Australia?s First Nations peoples. This project will partner with First Nations people living in the Torres Strait to support their chronic disease outcomes by: 1) co-developing diet and physical activity (PA) tools; and 2) mapping social and environmental impacts on health in each partner community. This project will provide essential information about dietary and PA practices of people living in the Torres Strait.
Investigators
Edward Strivens, Ray Mahoney, Karla Canuto, Sean Taylor, Valda Wallace, Gavin Miller, Betty Sagigi, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley, Kathryn Meldrum, Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Torres Webb and Melissa Kilburn (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Flinders University, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences and Queensland Health)
Keywords
Chronic Disease; Diet; Physical Activity; Torres Strait; Partnership

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

ADAPTTS - App-Based Diet and Physical Activity Tools for the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$25,000 over 2 years
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop and validate dietary and physical activity assessment tools for use in the Torres Strait. Having culturally appropriate assessment tools embedded in primary health care services will facilitate appropriate identification and referral for at risk patients. This will promote best practice care in the region leading to better health outcomes and improved service delivery for the benefit of Torres Strait Islanders living in Far North Queensland. The project also is a collaboration between researchers at JCU Healthy Ageing Research Team (HART), clinical staff in TCHHS and local NGOs based in the Torres Strait.
Investigators
Melissa Kilburn, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley, Edward Strivens, Kathryn Meldrum and Diane Cadet-James (College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Torres Strait Islander; Nutrition; Diet; Screening and Assessment Tool; Physical Activity

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Research Seed Grants

Caregiver Burden in the Torres Strait - are we asking the right questions?

Indicative Funding
$38,000 over 2 years
Summary
The proposed project will investigate the best way to assess carer burden in the Torres Strait. Research suggests that current approaches to assessing carer burden may not accurately capture the Indigenous perspective of caregiver wellbeing. Yarning circles will be used to investigate carer experience in the Torres Strait. Yarning circles will focus on key issues such as the experience of burden, barriers to accessing support and providing care, and the health service response to carer issues. Findings will guide the development of a culturally appropriate framework for the assessment of carer burden, and provision of supports and tailored interventions.
Investigators
Diane Cadet-James, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley and Edward Strivens (College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Caregiver; Torres Strait Islander people; Indigenous Ageing

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Microfunding Scheme

Piloting a continuous quality improvement framework to strengthen quality of care in Aboriginal residential aged care

Indicative Funding
$20,000 over 2 years
Summary
This study responds to concerns raised in The Royal Commission report, 2021 that the Australian aged care system struggles to effectively manage people with complex care needs. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a method designed to improve the capacity and readiness of health services/staff to meet pre-determined goals/standards, and the quality of treatment and care, and implement health interventions. This project aims to assess the suitability of the CQI model for improving the quality of care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) by developing and implementing a CQI framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander RACF.
Investigators
Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Edward Strivens, Sarah G Russell, Yvonne Cadet-James and Rachel Quigley (College of Medicine & Dentistry and Indigenous Education & Research Centre)
Keywords
Ageing; Aged Care; Health Services; Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders

National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence

Strengthening the Quality of Dementia Care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residential Aged Care

Indicative Funding
$9,989 (administered by University of Sydney)
Summary
Aim: Develop and field-test an audit tool for assessing the standard of dementia care in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander residential aged care (RAC), against Quality Standards and Best Practice guidelines for dementia care. Method: - Undertake scoping review on best practice dementia care; - Develop a standardised audit tool based on scoping review evidence; - Field-test tool to evaluate face and content validity and inter-rater reliability. Outcome: Best practice dementia care audit tool and accompanying manual. Significance: Groundwork for a larger funding application to Dementia Australia that will test the audit tool and inform the feasibility and acceptability of a continuous quality improvement approach for strengthening dementia care in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander RAC.
Investigators
Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Diane Cadet-James, Edward Strivens, Patricia Lees, Veronica Matthews, Sarah G Russell and Rachel Quigley (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Injilinji Aged Care Unit and University of Sydney)
Keywords
Ageing; Indigenous Health; Residential aged care facility; Dementia care

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Developing culturally appropriate tools to screen for common mental health disorders in older adults aged 45 and over living in the Torres Strait.

Indicative Funding
$25,000 over 1 year, in partnership with the Menzies School of Health Research ($26,805)
Summary
The aim of the study is to develop culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for older adults (e.g. aged 45 and over) living in the Torres Strait. Data from yarning circles with Torres Strait community members and health care staff will be used to identify how mental health disorders are expressed in the Torres Strait. A Delphi process will then be used to identify appropriate tools for assessing these domains of mental ill health for use in older adults in the Torres Strait. These tools will then be piloted to determine acceptability and validated for use in the Torres Strait.
Investigators
Sarah G Russell and Rachel Quigley in collaboration with Ajay Macharouthu, Diane Cadet-James and Betty Sagigi (College of Medicine & Dentistry and Queensland Health)
Keywords
Delirium; Geriatrics; Program evaluation

Menzies School of Health Research - HOT NORTH - Project Grant

HART Yarning Circle Training

Indicative Funding
$3,884
Summary
The aim of this grant is to provide travel assistance to members of the Healthy Ageing Research Team living in the Torres Strait attend yarning circle training in Cairns provided by Professor Yvonne Cadet-James
Investigators
Sarah G Russell and Rachel Quigley (College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Aboriginal Health; Torres Strait Islander Health
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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  5. Prof Robyn McDermott
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