Richard Franklin PhD, FACTM, FPHAA, FARL , MSocSc (Health), BSc, GCertAustRurLeadership, GradCertEd, is a pracademic who uses an evidence based approach to developing real world solutions to improving health, safety and wellbeing with a focus on injury prevention, health services, rural populations, those working in agriculture, disasters, resilience and drowning. He is a Professor in Public Health and the Director for the World Safety Organization Collaborating Centre - Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion and Co-Director of the WSO Collaborating Centre - Disaster Health, Resilience and Emergency Response at James Cook University.

He has worked in Public Health with a focus on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion since 1996.  He has worked on projects in the areas of general injury prevention, farm safety, rural safety, workplace health and safety, health promotion, alcohol, disasters and aquatic safety.  He has a PhD from the University of Sydney which explored injuries sustained due to farming and possible prevention strategies, a Master of Social Science (Health), his thesis explored pre-hospital coronary care and Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland.

He has previously worked for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (a centre of the School of Public Health, University of Sydney) and the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia where he continues as a volunteer Senior Research Fellow. He has worked on a range of community projects translating evidence into practice aimed at preventing rural, farm, road, aquatic, child and older people related injuries.

His research interests are wide ranging and have included epidemiological, translational, program evaluation, product evaluation, surveillance and pure research. Within the safety domain he is interested in drowning prevention, farm safety, road safety, quad bikes, trauma, CPR, alcohol, chemical safety, child safety, falls, resilience and older people. He works with a range of data including linked datasets. He has recently been a Guest Editor for a two special issues, one on child injury and determinants of health https://www.mdpi.com/journal/children/special_issues/Child_Injury and the other on injury prevention and health promotion https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/22011617/29/2.

He is the current co-convenor of the Injury Prevention Special Interest Group of the Public Health Association of Australia, a board member of Farmsafe Australia and Queensland, a board member of Auschem Training and the Honorary Treasurer for The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine and on the editorial board of the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Recent Guest Editor for the Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Special Issue: Injury Prevention and Health Promotion. He is a member of the Queensland Government - Rural Industry Sector Standing Committee.  He is a member of a range of international and national organisations as well as a former President of the Australian Injury Prevention Network.

He was the first National Manager for Research and Health Promotion with the Royal Life Saving Society Australia and through his role with Royal Life Saving has appeared numerous times on television and radio talking about drowning and water safety.  Also during this time he developed for the society a new course aimed at older Australians called the Grey Medallion, a course to train home pool inspectors, and programs targeting parents to ensure the safety of their children around aquatic locations. He has been the facilitator of number workshops in Australia and Internationally. He is the Chair of Safety 2022 and the 2020 Farmsafe Conference.

Prof Franklin uses a range of approaches to public health education where he brings public health practice into the classroom to enhance learning.  Approaches include practice of academagogy [a 'meshed' model of pedagogy (method and practice of teaching), andragogy (adult education) and heutagogy (self-determined learning)], which allows for flexibility in teaching by using a variety of methods. Current teaching areas and roles include: Course Coordinator MPH-MBA, subject coordinator and lecturers for Introduction to Public Health; Public Health in the Workplace; Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy; Public Health Placement; Health Policy and Planning. He also provide lectures on injury prevention and safety promotion across a range of undergraduate and post graduate subjects.

Teaching

• TM4401: Health, Policy and Planning (Level 4; TSV)
• TM5502: Tropical Public Health (Level 5; TSV)
• TM5513: Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy (Level 5; TSV)
• TM5540: Public Health and the Workplace (Level 5; TSV)
• TM5571: Public Health Placement (Level 5; TSV)
• TM5581: Expedition and Wilderness Medicine (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Professional

• Public Health Association of Australia: - Member 1998-; - Board Member SIG Rep 2012-14; - Board Member VP Finance 2014-2018; - Special Interest Group Convenor Injury Prevention SIG 2006 -
• Farmsafe Queensland - Board member 2011-
• Farmsafe Australia - Committee Member 2012-
• AusChem - Board member 2014-
• Australian Injury Prevention Network: - Member 1997-; - President 2000-2004
• Australasian College of Tropical Medicine Member 2011- Honorary Treasurer 2015-
• Member - Australasian College of Road Safety
• Member of: Australasian Epidemiological Association; Australian Health Promotion Association; American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers; International Life Saving Federation – Research Committee; International Epidemiological Association; Member of the World Safety Organization; International Society for Travel Medicine; International Society of Agricultural Safety and Health
• Independent Board Member - Royal Life Saving Society - Australia: 2022-

Research

• Public Health; Health Promotion; Child Safety; Falls; Disasters; Alcohol; Global Burden of Disease; Human health and Behaviour; Occupational Health and Safety; Aeromedical Research; NTD; Cardiovascular Health; Safe System; Safety Promotion; Risk; Resilience
• Road Safety, quad bike safety, agricultural vehicles on roads, bicycle safety, motor cycle safety and active transport
• Farm safety, rural child safety, agricultural vehicles, dog bites, quad bikes, dam drowning, resilience, electricity safety, zoonotic diseases and leadership
• Drowning prevention, water safety, bystander altruism, First Aid & resuscitation, river safety, child drowning, boating, alcohol, and vulnerable populations.
• Disasters - flooding, cyclones, resilience, heat, mental health, leadership, NCDs, infectious diseases (COVID-19), epidemiology, and systems
• Recent Grants: Heatwaves - Department of Environment and Science Drowning - EMH and Wishlist Quadbikes - Department of Workplace Health and Safety Cane Safety - Sugar Research Australia Health Systems - PhD Support - Lowitja Institute

Teaching

• James Cook University Academic Board 2012 -13
• Injury Prevention; Workplace health and safety; management; public health, travel and wilderness medicine, leadership, ethics, policy and evaluation.

Experience

• 2020 to present - Co-director, World Safety Organization Collaborating Centre - Disaster Health, Resilience and Emergency Response (Townsville)
• 2011 to present - Senior Research Fellow (Volunteer), Royal Life Saving Society - Australia
• 2011 to present - Director, World Safety Organization - Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Townsville)
• 2011 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2011 to 2020 - Deputy Director, World Safety Organization Collaborating Centre - Disaster Health, Resilience and Emergency Response (Townsville)
• 2002 to 2011 - National Manager Research and Health Promotion, Royal Life Saving Society - Australia (Sydney)
• 1996 to 2002 - Manager, National Farm Injury Data Centre, University of Sydney (Moree)
• 1996 to 2002 - Director, Farm Injury Research, Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (Moree)
• 1995 to 1996 - Project Officer, Queensland Ambulance Service (Brisbane)

Research Disciplines

• Public health (4206)
• Epidemiology (4202)
• Health services and systems (4203)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Public health (2004)

Awards

• 2021 - ACTM Medal for Outstanding Service to the College
• 2020 - 2019 SP2 Dean’s Learning and Teaching Award for Subject Excellence TM5513 Public Health Management, Subject Coordinator
• 2020 - 2019 SP2 Dean’s Learning and Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence TM5513 Public Health Management, Lecturer and Subject Coordinator
• 2019 - Overall College Winner for Research Excellence in 2018. College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University
• 2019 - WSO J. Peter Cunliffe Transportation Award
• 2018 - The Sixth International - Safety Media Awards - Bangkok Thailand 2018 - Gold - Print Media Category for 'Respect the River' - with Amy Peden, JCU PhD Student and RLSSA; Professor Peter Leggat JCU; and Julie Power, Journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald.
• 2018 - The Royal Life Saving Society Diploma
• 2017 - WSO’s Award for Achievement in Scientific Research and Development
• 2016 - HRH Prince Michael of Kent 125th Anniversary Certificate of Merit
• 2015 - Royal Life Saving Society - Australia - Australian Long Service Order
• 2015 - Sustained Achievement and Contributions to the Field of Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion – Australian Injury Prevention Network
• 2014 - World Safety Organisation - Educational Award
• 2013 - AIPN Peoples Choice Poster Award, 11th Australasian Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Conference, 11-13 Nov 2013, Freemantle WA. 'I like dogs that don't bite'
• 2007 - Best Poster World Water Safety Conference and Exhibition –2007 Porto, Portugal 27-29 September 2007. Awarded best poster for: Franklin R, Mathieu E (2007). Understanding older persons water safety needs – research and development.

Fellowships

• 2021 - Fellowship of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine through Distinction (FACTM)
• 2013 - Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (FARLF)
• 2012 - Fellow of the Public Health Association of Australia (FPHAA)
• 2002 - Churchill Fellowship

Other

• 2020 - Top Citied Papers (2019) Safety. Pearn JH, Peden AE, Franklin RC (2019). The Influence of Alcohol and Drugs on Drowning among Victims of Senior Years. Safety, 5(1), 8. https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/5/1/8
• 2013 to 2014 - Ambassador Kidsafe Queensland

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

• Eagers J, Franklin R, Broome K, Yau M and Barnett F (in press) Potential occupational therapy scope of practice in the work-to-retirement transition in Australia. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal,
• Eagers J, Franklin R, Broome K, Yau M and Barnett F (in press) Current occupational therapy scope of practice in the work-to-retirement transition process: an Australian study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy,
• Field P, Franklin R, Barker R, Ring I, Leggat P and Canuto K (2022) Importance of cardiac rehabilitation in rural and remote areas of Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 30 (2). pp. 149-163
• Jayaratnam S, Franklin R and De Costa C (2022) A scoping review of maternal near miss assessment in Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and the South Pacific region: how, what, why and where to? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 62 (2). pp. 198-213
• Lam Y, Yau M, Franklin R and Leggat P (in press) People with intellectual disabilities struggle to have a sexual encounter: a Chinese cultural context investigation. Sexuality and Disability,
• Lam A, Yau M, Franklin R and Leggat P (in press) Voices from parents on the sexuality of their child with intellectual disabilities: a socioemotional perspective in a Chinese context. British Journal of Learning Disabilities,
• Mason H, Leggat P, Voaklander D and Franklin R (2022) Road traffic fatalities in rural and remote Australia from 2006 to 2017: The need for targeted action. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 30 (2). pp. 252-263
• Queiroga A, Seabra R, Franklin R and Peden A (2022) Trends in drowning mortality in Portugal from 1992 to 2019: comparing Global Burden of Disease and national data. Injury Prevention,
• Bhattacharjee N, Schaeffer L, Hay S and Local Burden of Disease Exclusive Breastfeeding Collaborators (2021) Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018. Nature Human Behaviour, 5 (8). pp. 1027-1045
• Casey T, Mason H, Huang J and Franklin R (2021) Shaping frontline practices: a scoping review of human factors implicated in electrical safety incidents. Safety, 7 (4).
• Clemens T, Peden A and Franklin R (2021) Exploring a hidden epidemic: drowning among adults aged 65 years and older. Journal of Aging and Health, 33 (10). pp. 828-837
• Cromwell E, Osborne J, Unnasch T, Basáñez M, Gass K, Barbre K, Hill E, Johnson K, Donkers K, Shirude S, Schmidt C, Adekanmbi V, Adetokunboh O, Afarideh M, Ahmadpour E, Beshir Ahmed M, Yihunie Akalu T, Al-Aly Z, Alanezi F, Alanzi T, Alipour V, Andrei C, Ansari F, Ansha M, Anvari D, Yaw Appiah S, Arabloo J, Arnold B, Ausloos M, Ayanore M, Amin Baig A, Banach M, Barac A, Barnighausen T, Bayati M, Bhattacharyya K, Bhutta Z, Bibi S, Bijani A, Bohlouli S, Bohluli M, Brady O, Bragazzi N, Butt Z, Carvalho F, Chatterjee S, Chattu V, Chattu S, Cormier N, Dahlawi S, Damiani G, Daoud F, Darwesh A, Daryani A, Deribe K, Dharmaratne S, Diaz D, Do H, El Sayed Zak M, El Tantawi M, Elemineh D, Faraj A, Harandi M, Fatahi Y, Feigin V, Fernandes E, Foigt N, Foroutan M, Franklin R, Mohialdeen Gubari M, Guido D, Guo Y, Haj-Mirzaian A, Abdullah K, Hamidi S, Herteliu C, De Hidru H, Higazi T, Hossain N, Hosseinzadeh M, Househ M, Ilesanmi O, Ilic M, Ilic I, Iqbal U, Naghibi Irvani S, Jha R, Joukar F, Jozwiak J, Kabir Z, Kalankesh L, Kalhor R, Matin B, Karimi S, Kasaeian A, Kavetskyy T, Kayode G, Karyani A, Kelbore A and Keramati M (2021) Predicting the environmental suitability for onchocerciasis in Africa as an aid to elimination planning. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15 (7).

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 241+ research outputs authored by Prof Richard Franklin from 2005 onwards.

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

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

• Exploring the Effectiveness and Sustainability, of a Systems Approach to Whole of Organisation Quality Management (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Fatal unintentional drowning in Indonesia: Mortality rates, risk factors and prevention (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
• Paramedic paediatric readiness for trauma: self-efficacy, attitudes and confidence (PART SEAC) (Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Improving the search: An exploratory study into locating disposed homicide victims. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Understanding the Aeromedical Patient journey and Outcomes in Central Queensland: A Linked Data Study (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Review of Communication and Support Systems for People From Rural and Remote N. Queensland who have been Recently Hospitalised with Cardiac Disease and Development, Piloting and Evaluation of a Revised Model of Care (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The Effectiveness of School-based Leprosy Screening and Education Programmes on Increasing the Early Detection of Leprosy in Timor-Leste?s Oecusse Enclave. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Using Big Data to Explore Future Directions for a Healthier and Safer Rural Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Climate-related resilience and environmental contributions of aged-care health systems (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Perils in Paradise: The epidemiology of tourist injuries in Queensland, Australia (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Tripartite sexuality investigation between people with intellectual disability, their parents and service providers in the Chinese social context (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The adult drowning victim (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Gender differences for drowning incidents; exploring differences using the Haddon's matrix (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Bystander interventions in sexual violence prevention in tertiary education nstitutions in Ghana (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The impact of heat on driving safety (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
• Drowning incidence and risk mitigation strategies for migrant populations living in Australia (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Completed

• New graduate registered nurse practice readiness for Australian healthcare contexts: a collective instrumental case study (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Building the evidence base for river drowning prevention (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Investigation of factors that contribute to suboptimal dose delivery from mechanical home infusion pumps in the setting of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Queensland, Australia – Epidemiology and predictors of outcome (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Promoting health and well-being during the work-to-retirement transition: an occupational perspective (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Fitness-to-fly and the safety role of air cabin crew: personal, social and managerial challenges (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Maternal near-miss in Australia and the surrounding region (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Addressing the impact of disasters on public health infrastructure and noncommunicable diseases (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor)

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.