Overview
Background
Bec Jenkinson is health consumer advocate-turned-researcher, with more than 15 years’ experience as a leader in the Australian health consumer movement, advocating for high quality, respectful, person-centred care. She is also skilled qualitative and mixed methods researcher, writer, presenter and networker with a passion for consumer and community involvement in health and medical research, and broad experience encompassing health policy, service delivery and evaluation, and education. Bec's PhD investigated the experiences of women, midwives and obstetricians when pregnant women decline recommended care. She went on to co-lead the development and implementation of Queensland Health's Guideline: Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care. More recently, Bec has been the academic lead of the RADIANT study, alongside a Lived Experience Lead. Aiming to addressing weight stigma in maternity care, RADIANT was recognised with two awards at the inaugural AccessCR Australian Consumer Partnerships in Research Awards in 2025. The study coproduce national, consensus-based Best Practice Principles for Weight Inclusive Maternity Care, which have now been endorsed by peak stakeholder organisations.
Bec is now a Senior Research Fellow with UQ's Clinical Trials Capability Team (ULTRA), working collaboratively with researchers, consumers and other stakeholders to enhance consumer and community involvement (CCI) in clinical trial designs and processes. She is particularly interested in the methodologies of research priority setting, and currently leads a pilot study aiming to expand Australian researchers access to James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships. Bec is also interested in how innovative approaches can support more inclusive CCI, and drive health equity in clinical trials.
Availability
- Dr Bec Jenkinson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Education, Central Queensland University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Consumer and Community Involvement in Clinical Trials
There is good evidence that involving people with lived experience in the design and conduct of clinical trials can improve recruitment. But challenges remain about how to support people from diverse communities to contribute to CCI, how CCI might support participant retention (not just recruitment), and how innovative approaches to CCI can drive sustainability and impact.
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Research Priority Setting
Australia invests heavily in health and medical research, yet historically decisions about what to research have been made by researchers, and with little input from people with lived experience of health issues and the clinicians who care for them. This has contributed to significant and avoidable research waste. Rigorous participatory approaches to research priority setting, that embed authentic collaboration with research end users (consumers and clinicians), are gaining increasingly attention in Australia, however, reviews have identified inconsistent approaches to involving end users, and called for greater transparency and reproducibility.
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Health Equity in Clinical Trials
Achieving health equity requires that everyone has access to evidence-based healthcare, with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) recognised as gold standard evidence of the effectiveness of innovative healthcare interventions. However, many RCTs fail to recruit diverse participants, meaning that the evidence informing healthcare omits the experiences and outcomes of diverse people and their communities. Although CCI increases the alignment of research with community needs, leading to improved recruitment to RCTs, people from diverse communities are generally underrepresented amongst CCI contributors. Improving the recruitment of diverse communities to RCTs may depend on improving their representation in CCI roles. Innovative strategies to increase the involvement of diverse communities in health and medical research are urgently needed.
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Weight stigma in maternity care
Weight stigma refers to negative attitudes, assumptions, and discriminatory behaviours directed toward people based on their body size, and it can profoundly shape experiences of maternity care. In pregnancy, weight‑based judgement or blame can undermine trust, contribute to avoidance of care, and exacerbate health inequities. Weight‑inclusive approaches prioritise respect, evidence‑informed practice, and recognition of the many factors that influence health beyond body size. These approaches are essential for creating maternity care environments where all women feel safe, valued, and able to participate fully in decisions about their care.
Works
Search Professor Bec Jenkinson’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Listening to larger bodied women: Time for a new approach to maternity care
Griffiths, Ahlia, Kingsley, Sara, Mason, Zena, Tome, Renee, Tomkinson, Malyssa and Jenkinson, Bec (2023). Listening to larger bodied women: Time for a new approach to maternity care. Women and Birth, 36 (5), 397-400. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.001
2026
Journal Article
Weight-inclusive maternity care: An approach to reduce weight stigma and improve pregnancy and birth outcomes
Hill, Briony, Hailu, Haimanot, Kandel, Pragya, Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Maepioh, Anita, Nugent, Rachael, Callaway, Leonie, Griffiths, Ahlia, Siale, Tina, Tome, Renee and Skouteris, Helen (2026). Weight-inclusive maternity care: An approach to reduce weight stigma and improve pregnancy and birth outcomes. Midwifery, 152 104648, 104648. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104648
2025
Journal Article
Research priorities for stillbirth in Australia: outcomes of a national priority setting partnership
Tindal, Kirstin, Boyle, Fran, Andrews, Christine, Astell, Chrissie, Yelland, Jane, McIntyre, Sarah, Jenkinson, Bec, Seeho, Sean, Davies-Tuck, Miranda, Stuart-Butler, Deanna, Middleton, Philipa, Ellwood, David, Gordon, Adrienne and Flenady, Vicki (2025). Research priorities for stillbirth in Australia: outcomes of a national priority setting partnership. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-08552-6
2025
Journal Article
Doing community involvement care-fully: using an ethic of care to guide involvement in research on women’s health after pregnancy complications and loss
Jenkinson, Bec, McKenzie, Melanie, Limmer, Ayme, Charlton, Valerie, Hardiman, Leah, Lee Ura, Anna, Lawler, Sheleigh, Bonner, Carissa and Doust, Jenny (2025). Doing community involvement care-fully: using an ethic of care to guide involvement in research on women’s health after pregnancy complications and loss. Research Involvement and Engagement, 11 (1) 94, 94. doi: 10.1186/s40900-025-00771-7
2025
Journal Article
Maternity care providers’ attitudes and beliefs toward weight and body size during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey
Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Robins, Anna, Callaway, Leonie, van den Heuvel, Jessica, Roussin, Melanie and Hill, Briony (2025). Maternity care providers’ attitudes and beliefs toward weight and body size during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey. Sexual and Reproductive HealthCare, 46 101145, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2025.101145
2025
Journal Article
Authentic Consumer–Clinician Co‐Design of a Labour and Childbirth Intervention to Optimise Maternal Hydration in Labour: Reaching Consensus to Enhance Rigour
Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Lehner, Christoph, Eley, Victoria, Marsh, Nicole, August, Deanne, de Jersey, Susan and Lee, Nigel (2025). Authentic Consumer–Clinician Co‐Design of a Labour and Childbirth Intervention to Optimise Maternal Hydration in Labour: Reaching Consensus to Enhance Rigour. Health Expectations, 28 (5) e70438, 1-7. doi: 10.1111/hex.70438
2025
Journal Article
Understanding larger-bodied women’s experiences of maternity care: A pilot evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of an online photovoice approach
Khalesi, Helia, Jenkinson, Bec, Kearney, Lauren, Callaway, Leonie and Hill, Briony (2025). Understanding larger-bodied women’s experiences of maternity care: A pilot evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of an online photovoice approach. Midwifery, 148 104534, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104534
2025
Journal Article
Navigating weight stigma: an integrative review of midwives' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about caring for larger-bodied women
Robins, Anna J., Jenkinson, Bec and Kearney, Lauren (2025). Navigating weight stigma: an integrative review of midwives' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about caring for larger-bodied women. Midwifery, 147 104444. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104444
2025
Journal Article
Consumer and community involvement in paediatric intensive care research across Australia and New Zealand: a protocol for a mixed-methods environmental scan
Serratore, Alyssa, O’Neill, Jenny, Jenkinson, Bec, Khan, Aisha, Butler, Ashleigh E., Masterson, Kate, Winderlich, Jacinta, Woodgate, Jemma, Raman, Sainath, Gibbons, Kristen S., the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Paediatric Study Group, Kerig, Tatjana, Darvas, Jennifer, Festa, Marino, George, Shane, Balit, Corrine, Oberender, Felix, Erickson, Simon, Flores, Jenipher Chumbes, Charles, Karina, Waak, Michaela, Williams, Tara, Long, Debbie, Butt, Warwick, Gelbart, Ben, Millar, Johnny, Ganeshalingam, Anusha, Sherring, Claire, Singh, Puneet ... Schults, Jessica (2025). Consumer and community involvement in paediatric intensive care research across Australia and New Zealand: a protocol for a mixed-methods environmental scan. Research Involvement and Engagement, 11 (1) 82, 82. doi: 10.1186/s40900-025-00734-y
2025
Journal Article
Navigating treatment options: a qualitative study exploring Australian women’s decision-making experiences and satisfaction with treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding
Ramsay, Jennifer, Riek, Matilda, Jenkinson, Bec, Copp, Tessa, Carlini, Joan and Doust, Jenny (2025). Navigating treatment options: a qualitative study exploring Australian women’s decision-making experiences and satisfaction with treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. BMC Women's Health, 25 (1) 327, 327. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03884-z
2025
Journal Article
The need for preconception care: Australian women’s health beliefs, expectations, and trust in healthcare
Jenkinson, Bec, Riek, Matilda, de Jersey, Susan, Buckley, Lisa, Nabi, Saba, Irvine, Candice, Liu, Sherrie, Mihrshahi, Seema, Baird, Kathleen, Doust, Jenny and Mishra, Gita D. (2025). The need for preconception care: Australian women’s health beliefs, expectations, and trust in healthcare. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 44 101092, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2025.101092
2025
Journal Article
Beyond bereavement: Women’s healthcare experiences and cardiovascular disease risk in the years after stillbirth and recurrent early pregnancy loss
Jenkinson, Bec, McKenzie, Melanie, Limmer, Ayme, Charlton, Valerie, Hardiman, Leah, Payne, Sam, Ura, Anna Lee, Bonner, Carissa, Lawler, Sheleigh, Middleton, Philippa, Doust, Jenny and Mishra, Gita D. (2025). Beyond bereavement: Women’s healthcare experiences and cardiovascular disease risk in the years after stillbirth and recurrent early pregnancy loss. Women and Birth, 38 (3) 101915, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101915
2025
Journal Article
Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care: Development of a statewide guideline in Queensland, Australia
Jenkinson, Bec, Gray, Lyndel, Sketcher‐Baker, Kirstine and Kimble, Rebecca (2025). Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care: Development of a statewide guideline in Queensland, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 65 (2), 243-247. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13889
2025
Journal Article
Co-design and clinician evaluation of resources to address weight stigma in antenatal care
Hill, Briony, Hailu, Haimanot, Jenkinson, Bec, Rakic, Siarn, Nagpal, Taniya S., Boyle, Jacqueline A., Sheehan, Penelope, Darlison, Sarah and Skouteris, Helen (2025). Co-design and clinician evaluation of resources to address weight stigma in antenatal care. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25 (1) 263, 263. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07327-3
2025
Journal Article
Women's health and healthcare experiences in the years after gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Jenkinson, Bec, Charlton, Valerie, Hardiman, Leah, Limmer, Ayme, Mckenzie, Melanie, Ura, Anna-Lee, Bonner, Carissa, Lawler, Sheleigh, Middleton, Philippa, Mishra, Gita and Doust, Jenny (2025). Women's health and healthcare experiences in the years after gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25 (1) 158, 158. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07296-7
2025
Journal Article
Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding: prevalence and characteristics from young adulthood to midlife, Australia, 2000–2021: a longitudinal cohort survey study
Wilson, Louise, Copp, Tessa, Hickey, Martha, Jenkinson, Bec, Jordan, Susan J., Thompson, Rachel, Mishra, Gita D. and Doust, Jenny A. (2025). Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding: prevalence and characteristics from young adulthood to midlife, Australia, 2000–2021: a longitudinal cohort survey study. Medical Journal of Australia, 222 (4), 191-197. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52596
2024
Conference Publication
Using online photovoice to understand larger bodied women’s experience in Australian maternity care: A pilot study
Khalesi, Helia, Jenkinson, Bec, Kearney, Lauren, Nugent, Rachael, Callaway, Leonie and Hill, Briony (2024). Using online photovoice to understand larger bodied women’s experience in Australian maternity care: A pilot study. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, NSW Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.121
2024
Conference Publication
Larger bodied women's experiences of maternity care: a national photo-voice study [RADIANT Study]
Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Hill, Briony, Griffiths, Ahlia and Callaway, Leonie (2024). Larger bodied women's experiences of maternity care: a national photo-voice study [RADIANT Study]. Australian College of Midwives National Conference - Moving Midwifery Forward, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 10 - 12 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101767
2024
Conference Publication
Communicating cardiovascular disease risk with women who have a history of pregnancy complications and loss
Jenkinson, Bec, Lawler, Sheleigh, Middleton, Philippa, Bonner, Carissa, Cooke, Eileen, Hardiman, Leah, Limmer, Ayme, Mckenzie, Melanie, Payne, Sam, Ura, Anna-Lee, Charlton, Valerie, Doust, Jenny and Mishra, Gita (2024). Communicating cardiovascular disease risk with women who have a history of pregnancy complications and loss. 12th International Shared Decision Making Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland, 7-10 July 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2024-sdc.117
2024
Journal Article
Response to the Letter to Editor for “A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives”
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Hurst, Cameron, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2024). Response to the Letter to Editor for “A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives”. Women and Birth, 37 (3) 101599, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101599
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Bec Jenkinson is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and incorporating the consumer voice in paediatric intensive care research
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sainath Raman, Professor Kristen Gibbons
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Doctor Philosophy
Postpartum midwifery care for larger bodied women: a mixed methods study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lauren Kearney
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Bec Jenkinson directly for media enquiries about:
- health consumer perspectives
- respectful maternity care
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