Ageing and Aged Care
Ageing and Aged Care
Associate Professor Hui Chen (Rita) Chang
Dr Rita Chang 
Dr Chang completed her PhD at the University of Sydney in 2009. Dr Chang's career in age care and dementia research experience and clinical practice has spanned over 20 years. Dr Chang has immense experience in teaching and research, having held various key leadership roles within schools of nursing. She was a recipient of the UOW Vice-Chancellor’s for Excellence In Research Supervision, Emerging Researcher in 2022, VC’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning, Award for Excellence in Teaching of the year, in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Award for Excellence in Job of management of the year-Head of School, 2010. Dr Chang has developed and sustained national and international multi-institutional partnerships, engaging in interdisciplinary research and supervision of higher research degree students. Dr Chang has been awarded funding from industry partnerships and Government tenders for learning, teaching and clinical research including feeding difficulty projects, dementia and driving and delirium care and WHO isupport project. Dr Chang has also served as a Grants Committee of the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Research Trust.
Rita's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Dementia and aged care
- Non-pharmacological intervention for people with dementia
- Frailty assessment and intervention
- Nutrition and mealtime experience for people living with dementia
- Ageing simulation education
- Culturally and linguistically diverse older people and caregiver support
Rita's main methodological expertise includes:
- Qualitative research: hermeneutics, case studies and narratives
Quantitative studies: randomised controlled trial, questionnaire survey and action research
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 7 PhD
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 3 PhD
- 1 MPhil
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 9685 9034
Email: r.chang2@westernsydney.edu.au
Twitter: @RitaCha78298491
Dr Antoinette Cotton
Dr Antoinette Cotton 
Dr Antoinette Cotton is Senior Lecturer and the Academic Course Advisor for the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours), and Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) programs in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She has extensive experience in participating and leading curriculum development at program and unit level, and at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate level. She is a registered nurse and registered midwife and has had a wide variety of clinical experience. She is a nurse academic experienced in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. She has supervised and co-supervised BN (Honours) students to completion and is currently co-supervising Master of Nursing (Honours), Master of Research and PhD candidates, and undertaking the role of principal supervisor for a doctoral candidate. She has a background in research, scholarship and publishing in the areas that include critical reflective practices, clinical supervision, health research in cyberspace, palliative care, workforce issues, women’s health, aged care and health issues related to vulnerable populations.
Antoinette's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Ethical Leadership
- Clinical Leadership
- Mentorship
- Clinical supervision
- Aged Care
- Women’s Health
- Cancer screening
- Disability Community
- Palliative Care
- Ethical and methodological issues in Online Research
- Education and workforce
- Curriculum design for undergraduate, honours and postgraduate programs
- Educational preparation for professional practice
- Critical reflective practices for the professions
- Experiences of students in nursing programs
Antoinette's main methodological expertise includes:
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Mixed Methods Designs
- Co-design Methodologies
- Translational Research
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 2 PhD
- 1 MHons
- 1 MRES
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 1 PhD
- 4 MRES
- 2 BNHons
- 4 BAppsSc(Hons)
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 6985 9501
Professor Deborah Hatcher
Professor Deborah Hatcher
Professor Deborah Hatcher, RN, Dip(Teach), BHSc(N), MHPEd, PhD MACN is the Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Parramatta South campus Provost at Western Sydney University.
Deborah is a registered nurse and experienced academic with 30 years of program co-ordination and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Deborah has a network of international, national and local partnerships and is regularly invited to review nursing programs given her extensive experience in curriculum development and quality assurance. Professor Hatcher’s research and scholarship is focused on ageing and aged care, palliative care, chronic illness and primary health care in acute care and community settings. Deborah supervises BN (Honours), Master of Research and PhD students.
Deborah is a member of the Australian College of Nursing, a member of the Executive of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery and NSW Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery.
Deborah's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Ageing and aged care
- Palliative care
- Chronic illness
- Primary health care
Deborah's main methodological expertise includes:
- Grounded theory and other qualitative methods
- Mixed methods research
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 5 PhD
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 3 PhD
- 1 MRes
- 3 BNHons
- 2021 Tiffany Northall (PhD) (Primary Supervisor) - Factors that influence health professionals in residential aged care placement process
- 2020 Gladis Kabil (MRes)(Associate Supervisor) - Emergency nurses’ experiences of the implementation of early goal-directed fluid resuscitation therapy in the management of sepsis
- 2020 Tracy Parrish (BN Honours 1st Class)(Associate Supervisor) - The experiences of Sessional Nurse Academics utilising High Fidelity Simulation in an Undergraduate Nursing Program: A Case Study
- 2019 Sharma Ratnayake (PhD) (Associate Supervisor) - Exploring the experiences of undergraduate nursing students on nutrition with older people: A mixed method study
- 2017 Karen Watson (PhD) (Primary Supervisor) - Essential oils for agitation management in older adults: A mixed method study
- 2016 Melissa Janssons (BN Honours 2nd Class)(Associate Supervisor) - Exploring palliative care experiences of adults living in an inner regional area of New South Wales
- 2015 Spasija Volcevska (BN Honours 2nd Class)(Associate Supervisor) The experiences of Registered Nurses caring for older people with mental illnesses in an Emergency Department
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 9685 9817
Email: d.hatcher@westernsyney.edu.au
Twitter: @DHatcher888
Dr Leanne Hunt
Dr Leanne Hunt
Dr Leanne Hunt is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Deputy Director, Clinical Education (Nursing), in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Western Sydney University. Leanne began nursing in 1992 as an RN progressing to CNC (trauma) and NUM 1. Leanne worked in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Paediatric cardiothoracic intensive care for 2 years. Leanne has 11 years of education and research experience and is the current chair of the Critical Care Research in Collaboration & Evidence Translation (CCRICET) research group. Leanne is an affiliate member of the Centre for Applied Nursing Research (CANR), Centre for Oral Health Outcomes & Research Translation (COHORT) and the Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research. Leanne is a qualitative and mixed methods researcher focusing on critical care practice/patient outcomes, workforce development and clinical practice experience. Leanne’s work is collaborative and multidisciplinary and has impacts on critical care patients, families, student nurses, the future nursing workforce and the profession of nursing.
Leanne's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Critical care
- Workforce development
- Undergraduate clinical placement
Leanne's main methodolgical expertise includes:
- Qualitative
- Mixed methods
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 2 PhD
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 1 BNHons
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 4570 1676
Email: l.hunt@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Stephen McNally
Dr Stephen McNally
Stephen is proud to say that he has gained a vast amount of experience in academia over the last 30 years and currently holds a senior leadership position in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Stephen gained his PhD in 2007, titled “Triage Education: From Experience to Practice Standards”. He continues to remain actively engaged in research, publishing in peer reviewed journals and presenting at national and international conferences. During his tenure he has retained his clinical expertise in all areas of critical care, particularly emergency. Stephen continues to successfully supervise Higher Research Degree students and Stephen would welcome the opportunity to discuss research interests and a plan with any potential higher degree research students.Stephen possesses extensive clinical, teaching and research experience with background in Qualitative/quantitative research, mixed methods design and systematic reviews.
Stephen's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Critical care
- Patient safety
- Nurse education
- Men's health (developing area of interest)
Stephen's main methodological expertise includes:
- Quantitative research
- Quantitative research
- Mixed methods design
- Systematic Reviews
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 1 BNHons
- 1 MRes
- 1 PhD
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 6 BNHons
- 1 MRes
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 9685 9508
Email: s.mcnally@westernsydney.edu.au
Twitter: @smcnally33
Associate Professor Jed Montayre
Associate Professor Jed Montayre
Jed has a strong clinical background in gerontology and medical-surgical nursing. Jed’s research focuses on population ageing, cardiovascular health of migrant populations, nursing policy and workforce issues. Jed’s reputation and expertise in gerontology research resulted to various professional organisations’ national committee appointments. He served as the chairperson of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Nursing Research Section and was an executive committee member of the New Zealand Association of Gerontology. Currently, Jed is an executive committee member of Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) - NSW Chapter. In September 2018, Jed is one of the only 26 nurses selected from applicants all over the world, to participate in the Global Nursing Leadership Institute Policy Programme hosted by International Council of Nurses.
Jed has expertise in mixed-method designs and focused ethnography. He has written and published several research papers on nursing education, ageing issues, influence of culture to health and acculturation experience of older immigrants into the mainstream societies. Jed is an associate editor of Australasian Journal on Ageing.
Jed's main research expertise includes:
- Social Gerontology
- Migrant health and Culturally Diverse Population
- Aged care and aged care nursing
- Nursing education, workforce and policy
Jed's main methodological expertise includes:
- Mixed method designs
- Focused ethnography
- Systematic Reviews
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 2 PhD
- 1 Masters
- 1 BNHons
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 1 PhD
- 5 Masters
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 4620 3762
Dr Tiffany Northall
Dr Tiffany Northall 
Tiffany Northall completed the Bachelor of Nursing, Master of Nursing with distinction and her PhD at Western Sydney University. She also completed a Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education. Tiffany has been a lecturer at Western Sydney University in undergraduate and post graduate nursing. Throughout her nursing career she worked in a variety of positions including primary health care, palliative care, emergency department and was a clinical nurse specialist in discharge planning. Tiffany’s research focuses on the care of older people in hospital, nursing homes and in the community with a specific interest in transfers of care. She also has an interest in the transition, retention and success of enrolled nurses who enter the Bachelor of Nursing degree. Tiffany has applied a variety of research methodologies including phenomenology and mixed methods.
Tiffany's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Aged Care
- Undergraduate nursing student retention
- Success Health professionals decision making
- Critical reflective practices for the professions
Tiffany's main methodological expertise includes:
- Phenomenology Qualitative Methods
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 1 PhD
- 1 MRES
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)2 BNHons
- 1 BNHons
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 4620 3368
Email: t.northall@westernsydney.edu.au
Twitter: @TiffanyNorthall
Dr Shyama Ratnayake
Dr Shyama Ratnayake
Shyama Ratnayake is a registered nurse and an Associate Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. She has over 10 years of experience in teaching in tertiary institutions in Australia. Shyama has been employed at WSU since 2010 and has over 5 years of university teaching experience.
Shyama currently coordinates an undergraduate first year clinical unit and is the Deputy First Year Experience Coordinator.
Her research areas include aged care, nutrition, curriculum development and nursing education. She has contributed to a text book dedicated to caring for older people. She has extensive clinical, research and teaching experience in aged care. Her MAppSc work determined the effect of cooking methods and post-processing storage temperatures of polished and unpolished rice. Her PhD work explored the experiences of undergraduate nursing students regarding the nutrition of older people within the current curriculum practices used by the Australian undergraduate nursing degree.
Shyama's main research expertise includes:
- Aged care
- Nutrition
- Curriculum development
- Nursing education
Shyama's main methodological expertise includes:
- Mixed methods designs
- Qualitative designs
- Survey construction
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- Nil
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- Nil
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 9685 9568
Professor Anna Williams
Professor Anna Williams
Professor Anna Williams holds a PhD in Public Health and Community Medicine. Professor Williams engages in a broad healthy ageing research program situated within primary health care that seeks to make a contribution in four key areas including the:(1) Promotion of the intrinsic capacity of persons to achieve health and well-being; (2) Development of age-friendly environments; (3) Health Service Development and quality; and (4) Development and sustainability of a primary health care workforce. Professor Williams has extensive experience in the implementation and evaluation of complex interventions within primary health care, community health and general practice settings; implementation of person-centred care models in acute and sub-acute care settings, and chronic illness self-management and self-management support. Her research areas have also focused on the assessment and management of lifestyle risk factors by clinicians, the prevention and management of chronic illnesses and health workforce and health services development. She has led or coordinated a number of research programs including randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and mixed method studies and the evaluation of national, state government and non-government primary health care initiatives.
Anna's main research interests and expertise includes:
- Lifestyle Risk Factor modification, health promotion and well-being
- Chronic Illness Prevention and Management
- Person-centred care in sub-acute care and acute care
- Self-management of chronic illnesses
- Provider self-management support
- Primary Health Care workforce support and development
- Support and care to persons living with Dementia and associated co-morbidities or multimorbidity
- Complex interventions in Primary Health Care
Anna's main methodological expertise includes:
- Mixed Methods
- Qualitative research
- Systematic Reviews
- Grounded Theory
- RCTs
Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 4 PhD
Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)
- 1 PhD
- 2022 Kaara Calma (PhD) (Co-Supervisor) '‘An exploration of final-year undergraduate nursing students’ preparedness to work in general practice’
- 2022 Mary Shivani Sathiyamoorthy (Applied Project, Doctor of Medicine) (Primary Supervisor) 'The role of the primary health care provider in supporting patients with a co-diagnosis of dementia and Type II Diabetes Mellitus to self-manage their T2DM'
- 2022 Javaria Chaudhry (Applied Project, Doctor of Medicine) (Primary Supervisor) 'Informing Guidelines for provider self-management support for patients who are self-managing type II diabetes and cognitive impairment and Dementia' (Applied Project, Doctor of Medicine)
- 2020 IChing Ho (Independent Learning Project, UNSW Medicine) 'Older People's Experiences of Living with, Responding to and Managing Sensory Loss'
Contact details
Phone: +61 2 9685 9046
Email: Anna.williams@westernsydney.edu.au
Twitter: @AnnaWil73688726
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