Associate Professor Jan Packer
Associate Professor

Jan Packer

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 67789

Background

Dr Jan Packer has a background in Psychology having completed a BA (Hons) at UQ in 1976. Her PhD (Education, QUT, 2004) focussed on motivations for learning in educational leisure settings. She has published broadly in the area of educational psychology over many years. The current major focus of her research is in applying the principles of educational, environmental and positive psychology to understand and facilitate visitor experiences in leisure settings such as museums and other tourist and leisure contexts. Jan was co-editor of the international journal, Visitor Studies from 2005 through 2011.

Availability

Associate Professor Jan Packer is:
Not available for supervision

Fields of research

Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services Education Heritage, archive and museum studies History, Heritage and Archaeology Psychology Tourism Tourist behaviour and visitor experience

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology

Research interests

  • Visitor studies; Free-choice learning; Museums; Zoos and Aquariums

    Applying the principles of educational, environmental and positive psychology to understand and facilitate visitor experiences in tourism and leisure settings such as museums, zoos and aquariums, and ecotourism experiences.

Research impacts

Dr Packer's research informs practice in museums, zoos and aquariums, ecotourism and heritage tourism settings. Her research has contributed to developing an understanding of visitor motivations, visitor experiences, and beneficial outcomes for visitors to museums and other visitor attractions. She has a developing interest in the quality of life outcomes of tourism and leisure more broadly. Her research with Professor Ballantyne has identified factors that encourage and support visitors' adoption of environmentally sustainable behaviours as a result of visiting a zoo, aquarium or ecotourism activity.

Search Professor Jan Packer’s works on UQ eSpace

119 works between 1978 and 2024
All (119) Journal Article (86) Book Chapter (13) Conference Publication (4) Book (9) Other Outputs (7)

1 - 20 of 119 works

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Taking a break: exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations

Packer, Jan (2021). Taking a break: exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 2 (1) 100006, 100006. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2020.100006

Taking a break: exploring the restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Interpreting war heritage: impacts of Anzac museum and battlefield visits on Australians' understanding of national identity

Packer, Jan, Ballantyne, Roy and Uzzell, David (2019). Interpreting war heritage: impacts of Anzac museum and battlefield visits on Australians' understanding of national identity. Annals of Tourism Research, 76, 105-116. doi: 10.1016/j.annals.2019.03.012

Interpreting war heritage: impacts of Anzac museum and battlefield visits on Australians' understanding of national identity

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Developing an Instrument to Capture Multifaceted Visitor Experiences: The DoVE Adjective Checklist

Packer, Jan, Ballantyne, Roy and Bond, Nigel (2018). Developing an Instrument to Capture Multifaceted Visitor Experiences: The DoVE Adjective Checklist. Visitor Studies, 21 (2), 211-231. doi: 10.1080/10645578.2018.1553925

Developing an Instrument to Capture Multifaceted Visitor Experiences: The DoVE Adjective Checklist

Featured

2017

Book Chapter

Meaningful vacation experiences

Packer, Jan and Gill, Chelsea (2017). Meaningful vacation experiences. Positive tourism. (pp. 19-34) edited by Sebastian Filep, Jennifer Laing and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315707129

Meaningful vacation experiences

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Conceptualizing the visitor experience: a review of literature and development of a multifaceted model

Packer, Jan and Ballantyne, Roy (2016). Conceptualizing the visitor experience: a review of literature and development of a multifaceted model. Visitor Studies, 19 (2), 128-143. doi: 10.1080/10645578.2016.1144023

Conceptualizing the visitor experience: a review of literature and development of a multifaceted model

Featured

2014

Book Chapter

Visitors’ restorative experiences in museum and botanic garden environments

Packer, Jan (2014). Visitors’ restorative experiences in museum and botanic garden environments. Tourist experience and fulfilment: insights from positive psychology. (pp. 202-222) edited by Sebastian Filep and Philip Pearce. Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203134580

Visitors’ restorative experiences in museum and botanic garden environments

Featured

2013

Book Chapter

Encouraging reflective visitor experiences in ecotourism

Packer, Jan and Ballantyne, Roy (2013). Encouraging reflective visitor experiences in ecotourism. International handbook on ecotourism. (pp. 169-177) edited by Roy Ballantyne and Jan Packer. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar.

Encouraging reflective visitor experiences in ecotourism

Featured

2013

Book

International handbook on ecotourism

Roy Ballantyne and Jan Packer eds. (2013). International handbook on ecotourism. Elgar original reference, Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar.

International handbook on ecotourism

Featured

2011

Journal Article

Visitors’ learning for environmental sustainability: Testing short- and long-term impacts of wildlife tourism experiences using structural equation modelling

Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. and Falk, J.H. (2011). Visitors’ learning for environmental sustainability: Testing short- and long-term impacts of wildlife tourism experiences using structural equation modelling. Tourism Management, 32 (6), 1243-1252. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2010.11.003

Visitors’ learning for environmental sustainability: Testing short- and long-term impacts of wildlife tourism experiences using structural equation modelling

Featured

2011

Journal Article

Visitors' memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences

Ballantyne, Roy, Packer, Jan and Sutherland, Lucy A. (2011). Visitors' memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences. Tourism Management, 32 (4), 770-779. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2010.06.012

Visitors' memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences

Featured

2011

Journal Article

Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: The role of post-visit ‘action resources’

Ballantyne, Roy and Packer, Jan (2011). Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: The role of post-visit ‘action resources’. Environmental Education Research, 17 (2), 201-215. doi: 10.1080/13504622.2010.530645

Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: The role of post-visit ‘action resources’

Featured

2010

Journal Article

Museums as restorative environments

Packer, Jan and Bond, Nigel (2010). Museums as restorative environments. Curator: The Museum Journal, 53 (4), 421-456. doi: 10.1111/j.2151-6952.2010.00044.x

Museums as restorative environments

Featured

2008

Journal Article

Beyond learning: Exploring visitors’ perceptions of the value and benefits of museum experiences

Packer, Jan (2008). Beyond learning: Exploring visitors’ perceptions of the value and benefits of museum experiences. Curator: The Museum Journal, 51 (1), 33-54. doi: 10.1111/j.2151-6952.2008.tb00293.x

Beyond learning: Exploring visitors’ perceptions of the value and benefits of museum experiences

Featured

2006

Journal Article

Learning for fun: The unique contribution of educational leisure experiences

Packer, Jan (2006). Learning for fun: The unique contribution of educational leisure experiences. Curator: The Museum Journal, 49 (3), 329-344. doi: 10.1111/j.2151-6952.2006.tb00227.x

Learning for fun: The unique contribution of educational leisure experiences

Featured

2004

Journal Article

Is Educational Leisure A Contradiction in Terms? Exploring the Synergy of Education and Entertainment

Packer, Jan and Ballantyne, Roy (2004). Is Educational Leisure A Contradiction in Terms? Exploring the Synergy of Education and Entertainment. Annals of Leisure Research, 7 (1), 54-71.

Is Educational Leisure A Contradiction in Terms? Exploring the Synergy of Education and Entertainment

Featured

2002

Journal Article

Motivational factors and the visitor experience: A comparison of three sites

Packer, Jan and Ballantyne, Roy (2002). Motivational factors and the visitor experience: A comparison of three sites. Curator: The Museum Journal, 45 (3), 183-198.

Motivational factors and the visitor experience: A comparison of three sites

2024

Book Chapter

Exploring the Restorative Benefits of Spiritual Retreats: The Case of Clergy Retreats in Australia

Gill, Chelsea, Packer, Jan and Ballantyne, Roy (2024). Exploring the Restorative Benefits of Spiritual Retreats: The Case of Clergy Retreats in Australia. Religious Tourism. (pp. 75-89) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003531203-15

Exploring the Restorative Benefits of Spiritual Retreats: The Case of Clergy Retreats in Australia

2024

Book Chapter

Appreciating the broad spectrum of positive visitor experiences in museums: a journey of discovery

Packer, Jan (2024). Appreciating the broad spectrum of positive visitor experiences in museums: a journey of discovery. Flourishing in museums: toward a positive museology. (pp. 96-101) edited by Kiersten F. Latham and Brenda Cowan. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003281351-17

Appreciating the broad spectrum of positive visitor experiences in museums: a journey of discovery

2023

Journal Article

Does values-based interpretation make a difference? Testing impacts on visitors’ environmental learning and reported adoption of environmentally responsible behaviors

Ballantyne, Roy, Hughes, Karen, Packer, Jan and Lee, Julie (2023). Does values-based interpretation make a difference? Testing impacts on visitors’ environmental learning and reported adoption of environmentally responsible behaviors. Visitor Studies, 26 (2), 181-201. doi: 10.1080/10645578.2023.2218791

Does values-based interpretation make a difference? Testing impacts on visitors’ environmental learning and reported adoption of environmentally responsible behaviors

2023

Journal Article

Negotiating stakeholder solutions to complex visitor management problems: the case of traffic management in the Kruger National Park

Ballantyne, Roy, Slabbert, Liandi, Packer, Jan and Sneddon, Joanne (2023). Negotiating stakeholder solutions to complex visitor management problems: the case of traffic management in the Kruger National Park. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 78 (3), 197-206. doi: 10.1080/0035919x.2023.2214105

Negotiating stakeholder solutions to complex visitor management problems: the case of traffic management in the Kruger National Park

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Designing engaging music experiences: Listening to the audience
    Melbourne Recital Centre
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2017 - 2021
    North Stradbroke Island Visitor Research Program
    Queensland Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2022
    Improving zoo/aquarium conservation learning outcomes: a values approach
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Measuring the impact of school visits to the national capital on students' civic literacy
    National Capital Educational Tourism Project
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Taking a break: The restorative benefits of short breaks and vacations
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    On being Australian: Exploring the role of Anzac museum and heritage interpretive experiences in developing visitors' sense of national identity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Translating zoo visitors' behavioural intentions into conservation actions using evidence-based post-visit experiences
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    ResTeach 2010 0.2 FTE School of Tourism
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Using reef experiences to motivate reef protective behaviour
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Urban R&R: The restorative benefits of educational leisure environments
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    The positive potential of free-choice learning: Exploring the impact of museum visitation on visitor well-being
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    Museums As Catalysts for the Intergenerational Sharing of Cultural Heritage
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Learning for sustainability: The role and impact of Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Investigating the educational impact of wildlife-based leisure experiences in suporting visitors' adoption of environmentally sustainable practices
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Jan Packer is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Jan Packer's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au