Oral Health (COHORT)

Professor Hannah Dahlen

Professor Hannah Dahlen Hannah Dahlen AM is a Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and Higher Degree Research and Midwifery Discipline Lead in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University.

Qualifications: RN, RM, BN (Hons 1st class), MCommN, PhD, Grad Cert Midwifery (pharmacology), FACM Hannah Dahlen is the Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and Higher Degree Research and Midwifery Discipline Lead of Midwifery and in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She has been a midwife for 30 years.

Hannah has over 200 published journal articles and book chapters and has strong national and international research partnerships. She has received more than 20 grants since 2000, including being a CI on three NHMRC grants and an ARC Linkage grant. She has spoken at over 100 national and international conferences in the past 5 years and given invited keynote addresses at most of these.Hannah is regularly interviewed in the media and sought out for expert comment.

In 2019 Hannah was awarded a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her significant services to midwifery, nursing and medical education and research. In November 2012 Hannah was named in the Sydney Morning Herald’s list of 100 “people who change our city for the better” and named as one of the leading “science and knowledge thinkers” for 2012.

Hannah's main research interests and expertise includes:

• Midwifery
• Normal birth
• Birth interventions
• Media
• Water Birth
• Perineal trauma
• Incontinence
• Epigenetics
• Oral Health
• Health Policy
• Acupuncture
• Homebirth
• Birth Centres
• Fear
• Risk
• Birth trauma
• Human rights in childbirth
• Models of care
• Vaginal examination
• Maternal death
• Maternal complications
• Perinatal outcomes
• Young parents
• Obesity
• CALD women's outcomes
• Birth positions
• Birth experiences

Hannah's main methodological expertise includes:

Hannah has experience with both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. She has undertaken systematic reviews (meta-analysis and meta-synthesis) , randomised controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, retrospective cohort studies, population based studies, surveys, grounded theory, narrative analysis, phenomenology, ethnography, thematic analysis, content analysis (qual and quant), and mixed methods.

Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 2 BNHons
• 2 MRES
• 9 PhD

Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 6 BN(Hons)
• 5 M(Hons)
• 13 PhD

Hannah has had 6 Honours completions, all First Class Honours. Two of her Honours students received the University Medal in 2011 and 2016. In total Hannah has had 24 Honours/HDR completions since 2009.

1. 2009 - Jeni Stevens (BN Honours 1st Class) (Primary Supervisor) - Midwives’ and Doulas’ Perspectives of the Role of the Doula in Australia: A qualitative study
2. 2010 - Heather Pearce (BN Honours 1st Class) (Co-supervisor) – Pregnancy related low back and pelvic girdle pain: Listening to Australian women
3. 2011 - Holly Priddis (BN Honours 1st class and UWS University Medal) (Primary Supervisor) - Facilitating physiological birth positioning in two different birth settings: An ethnographic exploration into facilitators and inhibitors
4. 2016- Hannah Olley (BN Honours 1st Class) (Co-supervisor) . Facilitating closeness between babies with congenital abnormalities
5. 2017- Heather Sassine (BN Honours 1st Class) (Primary Supervisor) – The needs and experiences of women who choose homebirth in Australia: a national survey
6. 2017- Jo Hunter (BN Hons). (1st Class) (Primary Supervisor) The experiences of privately practising midwives in Australia who have been reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency: A qualitative study
7. 2012 - Felicity Copeland(Masters Hons) (Co-supervisor)Midwives interpretation of childbirth through photo elicitation
8. 2012 - Susan Harvey (Masters Hons - Award for best thesis 2014) (Co-supervisor) – Judgement, hope and identity: Stories of health care mothering in the perinatal period from women receiving opioid treatment
9. 2014 - Suha Hussein (Masters Honours – Award for best thesis 2014) (Co-supervisor) - The barriers and facilitators of introducing evidence-based practices around the use of episiotomy in Jordan.
10. 2015 - Hazel Keedle (Masters Honours) (Primary Supervisor) - Women’s reasons for and experiences of having a homebirth following a previous caesarean section.
11. 2018 Leonie Hewitt- (Masters Research- High Distinction) (Primary Supervisor). What attributes do Australian midwifery leaders identify as being essential to effectively manage a Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)?
12. 2013 - Christine Catling (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - The influences on women who choose a publicly funded homebirth
13. 2014 - Debra Betts (PhD) (Co-supervisor) – Acupuncture treatment in threatened miscarriage: A mixed methods study.
14. 2015 - Melanie Jackson (PhD) (Primary Supervisor) - Birthing Outside the System.
15. 2015 - Holly Priddis (PhD) (Primary Supervisor) – An evaluation of Health Services for women who have experienced severe perineal trauma: A mixed methods study.
16. 2015 - Mike Amour (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - The effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A mixed methods study
17. 2015 – Kate Levett (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - The Complete Birth Study: Effectiveness of a complex antenatal education program incorporating complementary medicine techniques for pain relief in labour and birth for first time mothers: A mixed methods study
18. 2018 - Jeni Stevens (PhD) (Primary Supervisor). Facilitators, barriers and implications of immediate skin-to-skin contact after caesarean section: An ethnographic study
19. 2018 Alison Teate (PhD) (Primary Supervisor). From Worry to hope: An ethnography of midwife-woman interactions in the antenatal appointment.
20. 2019 Lindsay Cole (PhD) (Co-supervisor) – Discourse Analysis on giving birth in South Australia: An ethnomethodological approach
21. 2017 Simone Ormsby (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - Evaluation of the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for antenatal and postnatal depression
22. 2021 Suha Hussein (PhD) (Co-supervisor) –Jordanian women’s perceptions od episiotomy and other birth interventions” an intergenerational qualitative study
23. 2021 Elizabeth Rigg (PhD) (Primary Supervisor) – The role of unregulated birth workers in Australia from the perspective of birth workers and women
24. 2021 Hazel Keedle (PhD) (Primary Supervisor) – The experiences of women planning a VBAC in Australia

Contact details

Phone: +61 2 9685 9118

Email: h.dahlen@westernsydney.edu.au

Twitter: @Hannahdahlen

Dr Tebbin Koo

Fung Kuen (Tebbin) Koo is a registered nurse who has practised in Australia and Hong Kong. Her areas of clinical experiences cover refugee health services and geriatric nursing care. She received a PHD in 2005 and the topic was related to the barriers and facilitators of physical activity participation for older Chinese Australian.

Prior to joining Western Sydney University, Tebbin had taught undergraduate and postgraduate units of study at The University of Hong Kong, The University of Sydney and Charles Darwin University. She has a broad range of teaching experiences, including aged care, acute and chronic care, social context of health, primary health care and health promotion.

Tebbin's main research interests and expertise includes:

• Tebbin is experienced in qualitative research. Her main research interest focuses on how culture influences health beliefs and behaviour and also extend to health promotion and health education, immigrants’ health, and care of older people. In addition, she is also interested in studying students’ learning experience, especially students from cultural and linguistic diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Tebbin's main methodological expertise includes:

• Qualitative research: Ethnography, thematic analysis and content analysis

Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• Co supervisor
  • 1 PhD
  • 1 MPH

Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 1 PhD
• 2 MPhil
• 1 MHons
• 1 BNHons

1. 2020 - Lynn LI, (MPhil) (Auxiliary supervisor, USyd) - The effective communication between provider and Chinese speaking cardia patients.
2. 2018 – Kai JIN, (PhD) (Auxiliary supervisor, USyd) - Risk factor profiles and the health behaviours and health literacy related to Coronary Heart Disease amongst recent Chinese immigrants to Australia.
3. 2018 – Mary HEIDENREICH, (MPhil, USyd) (Principal supervisor) - The experience of Asian women in caring for a relative with a terminal illness at home in New South Wales.
4. 2016 – Priscilla LIM, (BN Honours, 2nd Class, USyd) (Co-supervisor) - The perception of healthcare professionals on Kangaroo care in Singapore
5. 2011 – Anna WONG, (MN Honours, USyd) (Co-supervisor) - Systematic Review: Effectiveness of self-management education in patients with type 2 diabetes

Contact details

Email: F.Koo@westernsydney.edu.au

Professor Ajesh George

Dr Ajesh George (BDS, MPH, PhD) is an Professor at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University (WSU) and Honorary Associate Professor in the Faculty of Dentistry at University of Sydney. He is a Dentist with extensive experience in interdisciplinary oral health care and is a leading expert in Australia in providing oral health training to nurses/midwives and translating oral health guidelines into their practice. Dr George is also the Director and Co-founder of the "Centre for Oral Health Outcomes & Research Translation" (COHORT) which is an innovative partnership between WSU School of Nursing & Midwifery  and South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Oral Health Services bringing together Dentists and non-dental professionals for the first time in Australia- www.cohortaustralia.com. He is also the co-founder and executive member of the Australian Network for Integration of Oral Health (www.niohaustralia.com). Since his PhD Dr George has been initiating and leading multidisciplinary teams in developing and implementing innovative models of oral health involving non-dental professionals care across the lifespan and chronic conditions (maternity, paediatrics, aboriginal health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, intellectual disability and palliative care).  His work has led to the development of Australia’s first midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) program which has been recognised nationally and internationally. He has also been instrumental in training nurses and midwives to promote oral health by integrating oral health into undergraduate midwifery and nursing courses at Western Sydney University as well as developing nationally recognised oral health professional development training programs. A/Prof George has 42 grants ($5.2M) including NHMRC grants (26 as CIA), 78 publications (32 first authored, 29 last authored), 114 conference presentations (25 international) and a H-index of 19 with 2463 citations. He also currently supervises 8 HDR students (PhD and MRes) most of whom have received scholarships to undertake studies to integrate oral health into general health care.  Dr George has also secured 12 research awards including the 2008 South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Research Showcase Best Poster Award, SWSLHD Quality Awards for 2011/2013/2015/2018/2019, NSW Health Awards Finalist for 2011/2013/2018, 2018 Ingham Publication award, 2013 Ingham Institute Early Career Researcher (ECR) Award and the 2014 UWS Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award as an ECR. A/Prof George also has a significant track record of translating research into policy and practice. The MIOH program has been successfully implemented in various hospitals in NSW/Victoria and included in Victoria’s Oral Health Promotion Strategic Plan and Obstetric Monitoring system. In addition, the MIOH training package is endorsed by Australian College of Midwives as a professional development program nationally, the MIOH oral health promotional resources are being distributed state-wide by NSW Ministry of Health and oral health has been successfully implemented in the nursing and midwifery curriculum at Western Sydney University- another first in Australia. The MIOH program has received attention through media and television including ministerial media releases, newspapers and Channel 10 news.

Ajesh's main methodolgical expertise includes:

Dr George's main area of expertise include maternal and infant oral health, chronic illness/disability and oral health, translating oral health  into practice and oral health education for non-dental professionals . Dr George's main methodological expertise include: Qualitative/quantitative research, mixed methods design, randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 1 PhD

Contact details

Phone: +61 2 8738 9356

Email: a.george@westernsydney.edu.au

Professor Lucie Ramjan

Lucie Ramjan is an Professor and Director of Academic Workforce (Parramatta) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. She is also a core member of the Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Young & Resilient Research Centre and an affiliate member of the Centre for Oral Health Outcomes & Research Translation (COHORT) and the Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research.

Lucie graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours – 1st Class) in 2003 and was awarded a PhD in 2007. Lucie is a qualitative and mixed methods researcher who is committed to education and workforce research, research with adolescents and young people and mental health research, particularly in the area of eating disorders. Her research scholarship is characterised by interdisciplinary and international collaborations culminating in research outputs and funding success. Most notably Lucie is proud to have secured research funding as first CI on a competitive grant from The Ian Potter Foundation Ltd to develop and pilot test a mentorship program for people with anorexia nervosa. This followed further Research Development Strategic Initiative Funding through Western Sydney University to extend and pilot to people with any type of eating disorder.

Lucie was also invited to contribute to a White Paper on eating disorders and obesity which also secured funding. Lucie is currently supervising 8 research higher degree students and has supervised 12 students to completion [5 PhD; 1 MN(Hons); 1 MPhil; 5 BN(Hons)]. Lucie’s teaching excellence is evidenced by the receipt of two prestigious teaching awards. In 2011, Lucie received the College of Health & Science Learning and Teaching Award and in 2012 Lucie received an Office for Learning & Teaching (OLT) National Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning. Lucie continues to teach in both the undergraduate and postgraduate programs within the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University.

Other professional activities: Lucie is the Vice-President (WSU) of the Xi Omicron at-Large Chapter of Sigma and the Chair of the Adolescent & Young People Faculty of the Australian College of Nursing. She was previously the Associate Editor for Contemporary Nurse and is now a current Associate Editor for Nursing Open.

Prior to employment at Western Sydney University, Lucie was a clinician working with adolescents at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children) in roles as a Registered Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Lucie's main research interests and expertise includes:

• Adolescent and Young People's Health
• Eating Disorders
• Education and Workforce

Lucie's main methodological expertise includes:

• Qualitative Research Methods

Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 8 PhD
• 1 MPhil

Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 5 PhD
• 1 MPhil
• 1 MHons
• 5 BNHons

1. 2014 - Chandra Poudel (Master of Nursing (Honours) (Co-supervisor) - Career Intention of Nursing Students in Nepal: The CARINA Study
2. 2016 - Rasmieh Al-Amer (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - Depression and Self-care In Jordanian Adults with Diabetes: The POISE study
3. 2016 - Christine Walker (BN (Hons) 1st Class) (Co-supervisor) - Unleashing the iPad’s potential: The lived experience of undergraduate nursing students when using the iPad for tertiary education
4. 2016 - Graham Sean Gough (BN (Hons) 1st Class) (Primary Supervisor) - Men in Nursing: Predictors and antecedents of retention in the first year undergraduate nursing program: The RETAIN Study
5. 2016 - Ghada El-Ayoubi (BN (Hons) 2nd Class, Div. 1) (Co-supervisor) - Beyond Hand Hygiene: Investigating Multi-resistant Organism Colonisation in the Intensive Care Unit: The BIOTIC Study
6. 2016 - Liz Flannery (BN (Hons) 1st Class) (Primary Supervisor) - End-of-Life Decisions in the Intensive Care Unit – Exploring the experiences of doctors and nurses
7. 2019 - Ibrahim Alananzeh (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - The unmet supportive care needs of Arab people affected by cancer (The SNAP study)
8. 2019 - Scott Brunero (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - A constructivist grounded theory of generalist health professionals and their mental health work
9. 2020 - Jacqueline Rojo (BN (Hons) 1st Class) (Co-supervisor) - CONerns During Clinical PlacemenT: The CONDUCT Project
10. 2021 - Gursharan Singh (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - Access and referral to palliative care for individuals with chronic heart failure
11. 2022 - Maricris Algoso (PhD) (Co-supervisor) - The value of undergraduate Assistant in Nursing (AIN) employment in the aged care setting: Developing transferable skills and increasing workforce readiness
12. 2022 - Rebekah Carter (MPhil) (Co-supervisor) - Feed-forward: Using annotated exemplars to promote student engagement and satisfaction

Contact details

Phone: +61 2 9685 9032

Email: l.ramjan@westernsyney.edu.au

Professor Nathan Wilson

Professor Wilson's research interests are in applied research that enhances the health, wellbeing and social participation of people with long-term disabilities, in particular people with intellectual and developmental disability. Professor Wilson has expertise on the intersection of intellectual disability, social inclusion, the nursing workforce, men’s health and sexual health. With over 110 peer reviewed scientific papers, 2 books and multiple book chapters, Professor Wilson is an Australian disability nurse leader.

Professor Wilson is the President of the Professional Association of Nurses in Developmental Disabilities, Australia (PANDDA), and has led many campaigns to promote the specialty role of nurses who work with people with intellectual disability: http://www.pandda.net/

Professor Wilson presents regularly at national and international scientific meetings and has sustained and developing research collaborations with groups in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Norway, the UK, the USA and South Africa. His funded research projects cover a number of areas including: 1) reducing the use of pyschotropic medication for people with intellectual disability, 2) mentoring young unemployed adults with intellectual disability at Men's Sheds, 3) cross-modal community mobility of young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, 4) place of death and people with intellectual disability, 5) disability nursing standards of practice, 6) toward the self-management of type 1 diabetes for people with intellectual disability, 7) increasing the capacity of mainstream nurses to work with people with intellectual disability and/or autism, and 8) oral health and intellectual and developmental disability.

Nathan's main research interests and expertise includes:

• Disability
• Health and Social Care
• Health and Wellbeing
• Social Inclusion
• Nursing Workforce

Nathan's main methodological expertise includes:

Nathan has experience in health and social interventions and mixed methods.

Currently supervising (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 7 PhD

Students to completion (PhD), (MHons), (BNHons)

• 6 PhD
• 2 M
• 10 BNHons

Contact details

Phone: +61 2 4570 1926
Mobile:  0406 631 384 
Email: nathan.wilson@westernsydney.edu.au