My research interests bridge the local with the global. I am a passionate North Queenslander who has the privilege of working with like-minded global partners. I believe all tropical communities deserve the most appropriate, accessible and affordable health systems.  Since 2009 I have been an active member of the Training for Health Equity Network (THEnet), a global collaboration of health professional schools aspiring to be socially accountable. I am a member of the Scientific Committee of the  World Summit on Social Accountability; ‘Improving the Impact of Educational Institutions on People’s Health’ (to be held in Tunis in 2017).

Prior to commencing employment at JCU in 2005, I worked for the Australian government and NGOs in Australia, South-East Asia and the UK. I enjoy working with communities and community-based organisations on participatory research and evaluation projects.

I am an inter-disciplinary researcher (traveller) with a background in anthropology, health promotion and global health. I welcome enquires from honours and postgraduate students from any College who aspire to solve the wicked problems of our health and social systems.

Interests

Professional

• The Training for Health Equity Network (a collaboration of 13 health professional schools aspiring to be socially accountable)
• Participatory evaluation and research for communities and the community sector

Research

• Socially accountable health professional schools
• Community and health sector partnerships
• Research, teaching and service leaning partnerships between community and social service organisations and medical schools.
• Health promoting schools and links with health professional education

Teaching

• Qualitative Research Methods
• Health Promotion
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Project and program planning for community and health services

Experience

• 2011 to 2014 - PhD Student, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2008 to 2014 - Lecturer, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2006 to 2008 - Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Officer, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2005 to 2006 - Research Officer, Rural Health Research Unit, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

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

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Specific population health (2005)

Awards

• 2017 - JCU Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
• 2011 to 2014 - Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship
• 2011 to 2014 - School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2011-2014 Top-up Scholarship

Memberships

• 2017 to 2018 - Towards Unity for Health Conference Scientific Committee
• 2017 - Charles Boelen International Social Accountability Award - Selection Committee
• 2016 to 2017 - Taskforce Chair, Integrating Medicine and Public Health, The Network, Towards Unity for Health
• 2016 to 2017 - Scientific Committee of the World Summit on Social Accountability.

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

• Canuto K, Preston R, Rannard S, Felton-Busch C, Geia L, Yeomans L, Turner N, Thompson Q, Carlisle K, Evans R, Passey M, Larkins S, Redman-MacLaren M, Farmer J, Muscat M and Taylor J (2022) How and why do women’s groups (WGs) improve the quality of maternal and child health (MCH) care? A systematic review of the literature. BMJ Open, 12 (2).
• Drovandi A, Smith D, Preston R, Morris L, Page P, Swain L, Biros E, Tremlett M, Loller H, Stephens M, Nugent A, Vaughan F and Couzos S (2022) Enablers and barriers to non-dispensing pharmacist integration into the primary health care teams of Aboriginal community-controlled health services. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 18 (10). pp. 3766-3774
• Au M, Preston R, Ray R and Davis M (2021) Refugee healthcare perceptions in regional northern Australia: Transition through engagement, access, trust, privacy, the old, and the new. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 27 (5). pp. 382-390
• Lovo E, Woodward L, Larkins S, Preston R and Baba U (2021) Indigenous knowledge around the ethics of human research from the Oceania region: a scoping literature review. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 16.
• Smith D, Johnston K, Carlisle K, Evans R, Preston R, Beckett J, Geddes D, Naess H, Poole M and Larkins S (2021) Client perceptions of the BreastScreen Australia remote radiology assessment model. BMC Women's Health, 21 (30).
• Brown A, Pain T and Preston R (2020) Patient perceptions and preferences about prostate fiducial markers and ultrasound motion monitoring procedures in radiation therapy treatment. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 68 (1). pp. 37-43
• Johnston K, Smith D, Preston R, Evans R, Carlisle K, Lengren J, Naess H, Phillips E, Shephard G, Lydiard L, Lattimore D and Larkins S (2020) “From the technology came the idea”: safe implementation and operation of a high quality teleradiology model increasing access to timely breast cancer assessment services for women in rural Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 20.
• Johnston K, Preston R, Strivens E, Qaloewai S and Larkins S (2020) Understandings of dementia in low and middle income countries and amongst indigenous peoples: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. Aging & Mental Health, 24 (8). pp. 1183-1195
• Mudd J, Preston R and Larkins S (2020) Qualitative exploration of barriers to alcohol management in patients with chronic disease in a regional setting. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 26 (3). pp. 265-270
• Preston R, Gratani M, Owens K, Roche P, Zimanyi M and Malau-Aduli B (2020) Exploring the impact of assessment on medical students’ learning. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 45 (1). pp. 109-124
• Smith R, Devine S and Preston R (2020) Recommended methodologies to determine Australian Indigenous community members' perceptions of their health needs: a literature review. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 26 (2). pp. 95-103
• Au M, Anandakumar A, Preston R, Ray R and Davis M (2019) A model explaining refugee experiences of the Australian healthcare system: a systematic review of refugee perceptions. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 19.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 41+ research outputs authored by Dr Robyn Preston from 2006 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

• What is the economic and social impacts of Monash University, School of Rural Health - Bairnsdale, on the East Gippsland Community - Victoria (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Enhancing Current International Human Research Ethics Guidelines by Including Indigenous Principles of Human Research Ethics. The Cases of the Pacific Island Nations of Fiji and Tonga. (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• Understandings and experiences of dementia in Fiji (2021, PhD , Secondary 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.