Overview
Background
Dr Bushra Nasir is a Senior Research Fellow with expertise in Indigenous, rural, and remote health research. She leads and contributes to large-scale multidisciplinary research addressing Indigenous health, chronic disease, mental health, digital healthcare and health service delivery. Her research has achieved national and international reach, with strong academic, policy and community impact.
Her work is characterised by extensive collaboration with researchers, clinicians, health services and communities, alongside contributions to global health policy, including work informing World Health Organization recommendations. She is actively involved in research leadership, mentoring, peer review and professional service, and has held leadership roles within university research committees. Her research is strongly collaborative and community-engaged, with a particular focus on translating evidence into policy and practice. She is also committed to research leadership, mentoring and capacity building, supporting clinicians, students, educators and health professionals to strengthen research and improve health outcomes in regional and rural communities.
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Availability
- Dr Bushra Nasir is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Epidemiology and Public Health
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Chronic Disease
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Mental Health
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Rural Health
Research impacts
Dr Bushra Nasir leads community-driven research designed to improve health outcomes for Indigenous, rural, and underserved populations. She has secured >$15 million in research funding, including ~$10.5 million as a Chief Investigator and ~$9 million through the MRFF in the past five years. Her research has translated into tangible health-service impact: I-ASIST has reached >100 communities, while Indigenous-led virtual healthcare developed through her research program now supports approximately 4,500 rural and remote patients. Her work has also achieved substantial academic and policy reach, with 63 research outputs, 312 citations and an h-index of 10, and citations in 34 policy documents across nine countries. Through sustained partnerships with communities, health services and industry, Dr Nasir’s work translates evidence into culturally responsive models of care, workforce development, policy and health-service innovation. She also contributes to research leadership and capacity building through editorial, professional and advisory roles.
Works
Search Professor Bushra Nasir’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
A community-led design for an Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care for Indigenous people with depressive disorders
Nasir, Bushra Farah, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon, Gill, Neeraj, Beccaria, Gavin, Kisley, Steve, Hides, Leanne, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas , Nicholson, Geoffrey and Toombs, Maree (2021). A community-led design for an Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care for Indigenous people with depressive disorders. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45 (4) 1753-6405.13115, 330-337. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13115
2021
Journal Article
Traumatic life events and risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among the Indigenous population of regional, remote and metropolitan Central-Eastern Australia: a cross-sectional study
Nasir, Bushra Farah, Black, Emma, Toombs, Maree, Kisely, Steve, Gill, Neeraj, Beccaria, Gavin, Kondalsamy-Chennakesava, Srinivas and Nicholson, Geoffrey (2021). Traumatic life events and risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among the Indigenous population of regional, remote and metropolitan Central-Eastern Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 11 (4) e040875, 1-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040875
2020
Book
Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review
Strasser, Sarah, Austin, Marni, Bendotti, Hollie, Bourke, Gary, Campbell, David, Campbell, Narelle, Chater, Alan Bruce, Chong, Hwee Sin, Cribb, Jacqueline, Cumming, Kay, Doty, Barbara Jean, Eley, Diann, Erikson, Jay S., Florentis, Anastasia, Floss, Mayara, Goot, Katie, Greacen, Jane, Jonk, Yvonne, Khoo, Kean, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Lamb, Margaret, Longenecker, Randall, McGrail, Matthew, Nasir, Bushra, Partanen, Riitta, Paterson, Davis, Rajapalisha, Dilum, Schmitz, David, Shaker, David ... Tynan, Anna (2020). Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation.
2020
Other Outputs
Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review
World Health Organisation Team, Strasser, Sarah, Austin, Marni, Bendotti, Hollie, Bourke, Gary, Campbell, David, Campbell, Narelle , Chater, Alan Bruce, Chong, Hwee Sin , Cribb, Jacqueline, Cumming, Kay, Doty, Barbara Jean, Eley, Diann, Erikson, Jay S., Florentis, Anastasia, Floss, Mayara, Goot, Katie, Greacen, Jane, Jonk, Yvonne , Khoo, Kean, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Lamb, Margaret, Longenecker, Randall, McGrail, Matthew, Nasir, Bushra, Partanen, Riitta, Paterson, Davis , Rajapalisha, Dilum , Schmitz, David ... Tynan, Anna (2020). Retention of the health workforce in rural and remote areas: a systematic review. Human Resources for Health Observer Series No. 25 Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
2020
Journal Article
Implications of COVID-19 on a clinical trial of an Indigenous model of mental health care
Nasir, Bushra, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon and Toombs, M. (2020). Implications of COVID-19 on a clinical trial of an Indigenous model of mental health care. Insightplus MJA.
2020
Journal Article
How can mobile applications support suicide prevention gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?
Brown, Kelly A., Toombs, Maree, Nasir, Bushra, Kisely, Steve, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon L., Nicholson, Geoffrey C., Gill, Neeraj S., Hayman, Noel S., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas and Hides, Leanne (2020). How can mobile applications support suicide prevention gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?. Social Science and Medicine, 258 113015, 113015. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113015
2020
Journal Article
Indigenous mental health research and COVID-19
Nasir, Bushra Farah, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon and Toombs, Maree (2020). Indigenous mental health research and COVID-19. MJA InSight
2020
Journal Article
Australian Indigenous model of mental healthcare based on transdiagnostic cognitive–behavioural therapy co-designed with the Indigenous community: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Toombs, Maree, Nasir, Bushra, Kisely, Steve, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Hides, Leanne, Gill, Neeraj, Beccaria, Gavin, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon, Butten, Kayley and Nicholson, Geoffrey (2020). Australian Indigenous model of mental healthcare based on transdiagnostic cognitive–behavioural therapy co-designed with the Indigenous community: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BJ Psych Open, 6 (3) e33, e33. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.16
2019
Journal Article
Cultural validation of the structured clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in Indigenous Australians
Toombs, Maree, Nasir, Bushra, Kisely, Steve, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Gill, Neeraj S., Beccaria, Gavin, Hayman, Noel, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas N. and Nicholson, Geoffrey C. (2019). Cultural validation of the structured clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in Indigenous Australians. Australasian Psychiatry, 27 (4), 362-365. doi: 10.1177/1039856219852289
2019
Conference Publication
A retrospective comprehensive overview of a regional Queensland acute pain management service
Griffiths, Geraldine, Greig, Vanessa, Nasir, Bushra and Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas (2019). A retrospective comprehensive overview of a regional Queensland acute pain management service. National Rural Health Conference, Tasmania, Hobart, 24-27 March, 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Co-designing a suicide intervention training program for Indigenous communities – INSIST
Nasir, Bushra, Toombs, Maree, Kondalsamy Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Kisely, Steve, Hides, Leanne, Gill, Neeraj, Hayman, Noel, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Brennan-Olsen, Sharon and Nicholson, Geoffrey (2019). Co-designing a suicide intervention training program for Indigenous communities – INSIST. 15th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart, TAS Australia, 24-27 March 2019.
2018
Journal Article
The Role of Elders in the Wellbeing of a Contemporary Australian Indigenous Community
Busija, Lucy, Cinelli, Renata, Toombs, Maree R., Easton, Caitlin, Hampton, Ron, Holdsworth, Kristen, Macleod, Ashley, Nicholson, Geoffrey C., Nasir, Bushra F., Sanders, Kerrie M. and McCabe, Marita P. (2018). The Role of Elders in the Wellbeing of a Contemporary Australian Indigenous Community. The Gerontologist, 60 (3), 513-524. doi: 10.1093/geront/gny140
2018
Journal Article
Common mental disorders among Indigenous people living in regional, remote and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study
Nasir, Bushra F., Toombs, Maree R., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Kisely, Steve, Gill, Neeraj S., Black, Emma, Hayman, Noel, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Beccaria, Gavin, Ostini, Remo and Nicholson, Geoffrey C. (2018). Common mental disorders among Indigenous people living in regional, remote and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 8 (6) e020196, e020196. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020196
2018
Conference Publication
Mental health and indigenous connection to land and community
Toombs, M., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Kisely, S., Gill, N., Black, E., Hayman, N., Ranmuthugala, G., Beccaria, G., Ostini, R., Nicholson, G. C. and Nasir, B. (2018). Mental health and indigenous connection to land and community. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Annual Congress 2018, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
2018
Conference Publication
Understanding existing community networks for volunteer suicide intervention trainees – preliminary findings from trainees undertaking an Indigenous suicide intervention training program developed in partnership with Indigenous communities
Nasir, B., Toombs, M., Kondalsamy-Chennaksavan, S., Kisely, S., Hides, L., Gill, N., Hayman, N., Ranmuthugala, G., Brennan-Olsen, S. and Nicholson, G. (2018). Understanding existing community networks for volunteer suicide intervention trainees – preliminary findings from trainees undertaking an Indigenous suicide intervention training program developed in partnership with Indigenous communities. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Annual Congress 2018, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2018
Journal Article
Developing an Internship Preparedness Program for Final Year Medical Students
Nasir, Bushra, Jurd, Kate, Cook, Sheila, Kwan, Marcella and Ostini, Remo (2018). Developing an Internship Preparedness Program for Final Year Medical Students. MedEdPublish, 7 (3), 219. doi: 10.15694/mep.2018.0000219.1
2018
Conference Publication
Data and the role of Rural Clinical Schools: What data and what roles?
Ostini, Remo, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas, Nasir, Bushra, Strasser, Sarah and Geoff Nicholson (2018). Data and the role of Rural Clinical Schools: What data and what roles?. 6th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium. Outback infront: 20 years of rural and remote health research, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 11-12 April 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
The cultural appropriateness of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV TR, Axis I (SCID-I) for Indigenous populations, study update
Toombs, M., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Kisely, S., Gill, N., Black, E., Hayman, N., Ranmuthugala, G., Beccaria, G., Ostini, R., Nicholson, G. and Nasir, B. (2018). The cultural appropriateness of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV TR, Axis I (SCID-I) for Indigenous populations, study update. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Annual Congress 2018, Auckland, New Zealand, 13-17 May 2018. LONDON: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2018
Conference Publication
Understanding the willingness to intervene and support an individual at risk of suicide
Nasir, B., Toombs, M., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Nicholson, G., Kisely, S., Hides, L. and Gill, N. (2018). Understanding the willingness to intervene and support an individual at risk of suicide. National Suicide Prevention Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 23-26 July 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
The Mobile Outreach Boomerang (MOB) We come back
Toombs, Maree and Nasir, Bushra (2018). The Mobile Outreach Boomerang (MOB) We come back. International Health Workforce Collaborative 2018, Queenstown, New Zealand, 23-26 April 2018.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Bushra Nasir is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Chronic Disease, Mental health, Indigenous Health, Rural Health
Multiple projects in chronic disease, mental health and rural health related research.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the association between depression and comorbid chronic physical health conditions: An analysis of the urban-regional-rural divide
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan, Associate Professor Matthew McGrail
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Implementation of the Vision 2030 Healthcare Strategy in Improving BC screening in Rural Saudi Arabia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bruce Chater, Associate Professor Matthew McGrail
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Bushra Nasir directly for media enquiries about:
- Chronic Disease
- Indigenous Health
- Mental Health
- Primary Care
- Rural Health
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