Research at Sydney Nursing School

Our research into sleep and sleep disorders aims to measure the impact of these disorders, as well as the effectiveness of treatments and health system activity related to sleep.

Initiatives

• Insomnia phenotypes: what are the differences between individuals with insomnia and those without.
• Sleep and sleep disorder research, including sleep apnoea.

Researchers

• Dr Christopher Gordon
• Associate Professor Nathaniel Marshall

Nurses play a vital role in evaluating and treating acutely ill or severely injured people, as well as managing the social and emotional costs associated with their care.  Our research focuses on identifying common causes of major injuries, the appropriate care of acutely ill people and people with long-term disabilities, and any associated costs. Working collaboratively with clinicians, clients and their families, we aim to conduct meaningful research that can be translated into health policy and practice.

Initiatives

• Assessing the cost-effectiveness of reducing the cost and harm associated with rib fractures in older people.
• Factors impacting risk of heart attack.
• Translational research into child presentations in regional NSW emergency departments.

Researchers

• Professor Kate Curtis
• Associate Professor Jennifer Fraser
• Associate Professor Thomas Buckley

We lead research in cancer and supportive care, and working with cancer and palliative care nurses across NSW to develop their research capacity and skills.

Partly funded by the Cancer Institute NSW, we are a a consortium of the Sydney Nursing School and the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, bringing together the school's strength in cancer and palliative care research with Chris O'Brien Lifehouse's reputation as a centre of excellence in clinical cancer care.

Our research is conducted under four themes:

• supportive care
• psychosocial and quality of life
• models of health care delivery
• improving research capacity and skills for cancer and palliative care nurses.

Key staff

• Professor Kate White, NSW Academic Chair in Cancer Nursing

The Midwifery and Women's Health Research Unit is a joint initiative between the University of Sydney and the Royal Hospital for Women with support from the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. 

Located within one of Australia’s leading women’s hospitals, the research unit is bringing together midwives, doctors and nurses to undertake research that will translate into everyday midwifery practice and set new trends to offer more family-friendly and women-centred care.

Research highlights

• A unique study that used an established cohort of mothers who were exposed to the 2011 Queensland floods to investigate how stress during pregnancy and different types of maternity care can affect maternal mental health and child development.
• Partnership grant with UQ that aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) is a collaboration between leading experts to develop new and innovative ways to improve healthcare for communities in NSW, with focus on translating research and science into real outcomes for patients and their communities.

Key staff

• Professor Sally Tracy, Head of Unit
• Annette Wright, Education Manager for Nursing and Midwifery Royal Hospital for Women
• Bev Hall, Research Midwife
• Belle Bruce, Research Midwife
• Anne Lainchbury, Research Midwife
• Dr Donna Hartz, POCHE Midwife
• Tanya Martin, POCHE Midwife  

I-HARP is a unique model of care, funded by the Australian government, that aims to help older people with dementia remain healthy and independent in their own homes.

The program combines a range of proven health care strategies into a comprehensive intervention delivered at home. I-HARP clinicians work closely with the person with dementia and their carer to provide client-directed and client-centred care and support. 

Learn more about I-HARP. 

StepUp for Dementia Research is a research participation and engagement service, a “one-stop shop” that connects individuals – both with and without dementia – with researchers conducting studies into dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and cure. We make it easier for the brightest minds in research to connect with people willing to donate their time. StepUp for Dementia Research is the flagship initiative of a program called Connect Dementia Research Australia (CDR-A). 

StepUp for Dementia Research is now live. Sign up at our website.

For more information, contact stepup.research@sydney.edu.au

Key staff

• Professor Yun-Hee Jeon, Program Director

Collaborators

• University College of London (Professor Martin Rossor and Adam Smith, Programs Manager)
• University of Exeter (Associate Professor Piers Kotting)

Early implementation of StepUp for Dementia Research is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health.