Associate Professor Jane Mears
Biography
Jane Mears is an Associate Professor in social policy. She has working as an academic, a teacher, community activist and advocate for the past 40 years. She works on collaborative engaged action research projects with communities and government in the areas of women and caring, aged care and violence against older women.
Recent projects include:
Dementia as social experience: valuing life and care.
Building a supportive and sustainable workplace for women at WSU.
Activism and advocacy for bringing about change for abused older women.
This information has been contributed by Associate Professor Mears.
Qualifications
- PhD University of Sydney
- MA Macquarie University
- BA University of Sydney
- DipEd University of Newcastle (NSW)
Professional Memberships
- Australian Association of Gerontology (2000 - 2015)
Contact
| Email: | J.Mears@westernsydney.edu.au |
|---|---|
| Phone: | (02) 9685 9183 |
| Mobile: | 0488021355 |
| Location: | EJD.G.52 Parramatta |
PLEASE NOTE: obtaining information from this Directory must be for the legitimate purposes of doing business with and within Western Sydney University, and must not be used for unsolicited bulk e-mailing (spamming) or similar purposes.
Teaching
Previous Teaching Areas
- 101767 Social Research Methods (Block Mode), 2015
- 400620 Family Violence Policy and Practice 1, 2015
Publications
Books
- Macdonald, G. and Mears, J. (2019), 'Dementia as Social Experience: Valuing Life and Care', : Routledge 9780815374572.
- Watson, E. and Mears, J. (2018), 'Women, Work and Care of the Elderly', : Taylor & Francis 9781138359147.
- de Vries, N., Macdonald, G., Mears, J. and Nettheim, A. (2012), 'One Life, Two Stories : Nancy de Vries' Journey Home', : Darlington Press 9781921364259.
- Mears, J., Bolzan, N. and Voros, D. (2003), 'The Community Hides Such Problems: A model for dealing with abuse of older people in an ethnic community', : Transcultural Mental Health Centre 1740800435.
Chapters in Books
- Mears, J. (2019), ''Nobody cares about me' : older women, caring and dementia', Dementia as Social Experience: Valuing Life and Care, Routledge 9780815374572.
- Macdonald, G., Mears, J. and Naderbagi, A. (2019), 'Reframing dementia : the social imperative', Dementia as Social Experience: Valuing Life and Care, Routledge 9780815374572.
- Mears, J. (2018), 'Reforms to long-term care in Australia : a changing and challenging landscape', The Routledge Handbook of Social Care Work Around the World, Routledge 9781472479457.
- Mears, J. (2009), 'Blurred boundaries: how paid careworkers and care managers negotiate work relationships', Paid care in Australia: Politcs, Profits, Practices, Sydney University Press 9781920899295.
- Mears, J. and Watson, E. (2008), 'Boundaries blurred and rigid at the front line of care : care workers and the negotiation of relationships with older people', Aging and Caring at the Intersection of Work and Home Life: Blurring the Boundaries, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates 9780805859171.
- Mears, J. (2007), 'Paid care workers in the community: an Australian study', Care, community and Citizenship. Research and practice in a changing policy context, The Policy Press 9781861348708.
- Johansson, S. and Mears, J. (2007), 'Omsorgspersonalens varld i Sverige och Australien - en jamforelse (Comparing the world of paid care workers in Sweden and Australia)', Social omsorg i socialt arbete (Social Care and Social Work), Gleerups 9789140647603.
Journal Articles
- Watfern, C., Macdonald, G., Elliot, M., Stone, L., Gilmore, I., Wallace, S., Tecson, M., Turk, N., Bingham, P., Mears, J., Dadich, A., Doran, B. and Boydell, K. (2024), 'Craftivism as inquiry : holding life's threads', Qualitative Report, vol 29, no 1 , pp 183 - 205.
- Kelly, M., Mitchell, I., Walker, I., Mears, J. and Scholz, B. (2023), 'End-of-life care in natural disasters including epidemics and pandemics : a systematic review', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, vol 13, no 1 , pp 1 - 14.
- Kelly, M., Mitchell, I., Walker, I., Mears, J. and Scholz, B. (2023), '"I can't make all this work." : end of life care provision in natural disasters : a qualitative study', BMC Palliative Care, vol 22, no 1 .
- Macdonald, G., Mears, J. and Naderbagi, A. (2018), 'Reframing dementia : the challenge to change', Australian Journal of Dementia Care, vol 7, no 4 , pp 22 - 24.
- Meagher, G., Szebehely, M. and Mears, J. (2016), 'How institutions matter for job characteristics, quality and experiences: a comparison of home care work for older people in Australia and Sweden', Work, Employment and Society, vol 30, no 5 , pp 731 - 749.
- Al-Natour, R. and Mears, J. (2016), 'Practice what you preach : creating partnerships and decolonising the social work curriculum', Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, vol 18, no 2 , pp 52 - 65.
- Mears, J. (2015), 'Violence against older women : activism, social justice, and social change', Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, vol 27, no 4-5 , pp 500 - 513.
- Bridges, D., Drake, G., North, R., Houlbrook, M. and Mears, J. (2015), 'The "write" conditions : how to overcome writing for publication barriers through academic development', Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, vol 17, no 2 , pp 23 - 38.
- Green, J. and Mears, J. (2014), 'The implementation of the NDIS : who wins, who loses?', Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, vol 6, no 2 , pp 25 - 39.
- Mears, J. (2003), 'Survival is Not Enough: Violence Against Older Women in Australia', Violence Against Women, vol 9 , pp 1478 - 1489.
- Mears, J. and Bolzan, N. (2002), 'Support Groups come of age: The integral part that support groups can play in continuity of care for people with a mental illness', Network, vol 13 , pp 41 - 49.
- Bolzan, N., Smith, M., Mears, J. and Ansiewicz, R. (2001), 'Creating identities:mental health consumer to citizen', Journal of Social Work, vol 1, no 3 , pp 317 - 328.
Other Publications
- 2020, 'Nurturing Leadership from the Bottom Up: Supporting Leadership and Career Aspirations for Sessional Staff', Report
- 2020, 'Listening to and Incorporating the Voices of Sessional Academic Staff: Building a Supportive and Sustainable Workplace for Women at Western Sydney University. Final Research Report to Vice Chancellor's Gender Equity Fund', Report
- 2017, 'Enhancing the Health and Wellbeing of Older Women through the Bankstown OWN Wellness Centre', Report
- 2013, 'Active Ageing, Wellness, and Falls Prevention for Older Women: A Scoping Study Conducted on Behalf of the Older Women's Network NSW Inc. for the Statewide Women's Health Network', Report
- 2011, 'Transformations of Care: Living the Consequences of Changing Public Policies in Australia', Report
Social Policy; Ageing, Care Work, Paid and Unpaid; Women and Violence, particularly older women.
This information has been contributed by Associate Professor Mears.
Previous Projects
| Title: | The OWN NSW Wellness for Older Women Research Project [via OWN NSW] |
|---|---|
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2012-07-25 - 2013-07-24 |
| ID: | P00021093 |
| Title: | Statewide needs assessment of mental health support groups |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears, Natalie Bolzan and X |
| Years: | 1999-10-30 - 2000-04-30 |
| ID: | P0012324 |
| Title: | Transcultural Mental Health Academic Program |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears |
| Years: | 1999-10-20 - 2003-06-30 |
| ID: | P0012370 |
| Title: | Transformations of Care: Living the consequences of changing public policies in Canada, Australia and Sweden |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2007-11-22 - 2008-12-11 |
| ID: | P0015868 |
| Title: | Ten hours in a Lifetime [via University of Sydney] |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2002-07-31 - 2003-01-31 |
| ID: | P0013168 |
| Title: | A booklet of stories of violence in the home: Older women speak up |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2000-02-18 - 2001-02-18 |
| ID: | P0011928 |
| Title: | Women coming of age (Stage 2): Strategies for positive aging |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Rosemary Leonard and Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2001-01-01 - 2001-12-31 |
| ID: | P0011454 |
| Title: | Social Policy Research and Evaluation Panel SPREP Services for FACSIA |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Michael Darcy, Rosemary Leonard, John Macdonald, Jan Mason, Natalie Bolzan, Jane Mears, Moira Carmody, Ingrid Schraner and X |
| Years: | 2007-08-23 - 2011-12-31 |
| ID: | P0015519 |
| Title: | EEO, Women and Universities: Assessing and evaluating social policy and social exchange |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Carolyn Noble and Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2000-01-01 - 2000-12-31 |
| ID: | P0012398 |
| Title: | Development of Elder Abuse Protocols |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Carolyn Sappideen, Jane Mears and Sue Field |
| Years: | 2006-05-01 - 2006-06-30 |
| ID: | P0015185 |
| Title: | NSW Health elder abuse protocols |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Carolyn Sappideen, Jane Mears and Sue Field |
| Years: | 2007-03-13 - 2007-07-31 |
| ID: | P0015314 |
| Title: | Transformations of Care: Living the consequences of changing public policies in Australia |
| Funder: |
|
| Western Researchers: | Jane Mears |
| Years: | 2009-07-01 - 2014-03-31 |
| ID: | P00017001 |
Supervision
Associate Professor Mears is available to be a principal supervisor for doctoral projects
Current Supervision
| Thesis Title: | An Analysis of the Australian Mainstream Media's Coverage of the Australian Government's Intergenerational Reports (2002, 2007, 2010, 2015) and the Impact of This Coverage on Ageing Policy Development |
|---|---|
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | Womens Empowerment Through Participation |
| Field of Research: | |
| Thesis Title: | Theorising Intellectually Gifted Children's Friendships |
| Field of Research: |
Previous Supervision
| Thesis Title: | Empowering Woman: NGO Project Impacts in Baluchistan-Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Field of Research: | Sociology; Other Society And Culture; Social Work |
| Thesis Title: | Theorising Intellectually Gifted Children's Friendships: A Qualitative and Interpretive Approach to Their Life-Worlds |
| Field of Research: | Studies In Human Society |