Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald is the Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. Rachel is internationally acknowledged for her expertise in Technology-Enhanced Learning and stands as a curriculum leader in the digital age, specializing in contemporary higher education and AI-driven learning. Rachel has spearheaded teaching and learning initiatives across various institutions globally and is leading research on microcredentials, workplace learning and Scholarship of AI Teaching and Learning.
Dr Stevie-Jae Hepburn is a Lecturer in initial teacher education (ITE) in the School of Education at the University of Queensland. Her approach to educational program design, review, and evaluation in professional and educational contexts is guided by the principles of andragogy, collaborative practice, and learning with, from, and about others.
After gaining experience as a classroom teacher and curriculum coordinator across jurisdictions in Queensland and abroad, Stevie directed her attention to educational leadership, health and wellbeing resources in schools and ITE. Her doctoral research investigated the impact of an integrated approach to health and wellbeing for teachers during the pre-service and early career period. Stevie’s research is influenced by her interest in Public Health, Health Promotion and Salutogenic Theory and the use of health promotion strategies to address the social determinants of health and influence job satisfaction, stress management, burnout and career trajectory.
Stevie's research experience in collaborative practice spans both health disciplines and education. She investigated the impact of interprofessional education resources on promoting interprofessional collaborative practice across the continuum of health professionals' education, as well as student learning and experience on placement in rural and remote communities.
Stevie is currently focused on exploring the role of collaborative practice between school community stakeholders (e.g., parents/carers, school-based health professionals, teachers), schools as health-promoting workplaces, and preparedness for practice during the pre-service and early career period.
Peter is the Director of Teaching and Learning for UQ's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. He teaches across both undergaduate and postgraduate programs and is also responsible for the International Portfolio.
Peter's research interests include: teaching and learning; eLearning and flexible learning; digital literacy; and interprofessional education.
Working in tertiary education since 2003, Peter's responsibilities have included but are not limited to: curriculum development and implementation; internal and external accreditation processes; interprofessional teaching and cooperation; development and implementation of School strategic plans; development and management of moderation processes which ensure transparency of standards of quality in implementation and outcomes; administration of programs; maintaining and developing domestic and international partnerships with both industry and external tertiary providers; and international consultancy particular to staff developoment and capacity building, teaching and learning and curricula development and review.
Jenny is the Deputy Director (Training) at Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland. In this role Jenny leads the development and implementation of ISSR's training programs. This includes professional short courses aimed at Industry, tailored capability training for industry, Higher Degree Training, external and internal internships/placements, internal staff capability training, and teaching opportunities for ISSR staff in the schools including Honours supervision. In addition to leading this portfolio of work and teaching professional short courses, Jenny continues to lead a Research Group (Social and Educational disadvantage), contribute as an Associate Investigator to research for the ARC Centre of Excellence on Families and Children over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre), and supervise HDR students. She is a Psychologist and obtained her BA Honors, MA and PhD from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. Before coming to ISSR, Jenny worked as a Chief Researcher at the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa in the area of Education effectiveness.
Jenny’s research focuses on education effectiveness, parent engagement, student wellbeing, evidenced-based practice, and research that impacts policy and practice. She has extensive experience in large scale mixed methods evaluations, using administrative data together with survey and qualitative data. Jenny has worked closely with Government Departments and Ministries both in Australia (e.g., Tasmania DHHS; Australian DoE; Qld DoE; CESE NSW; Australian DSS; Qld DCSSD; Department of Home Affairs) and internationally (e.g., South Africa, Eritrea, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands) to gather research evidence from a wide range of disadvantaged communities to inform policy. Jenny is a Chief Investigator on an ARC Linkage project which investigates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children experience Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) using elicitation methods and a longitudinal qualitative research design to provide evidence to improve service agencies’ understanding of children’s experiences in OOHC and how agencies can best support families, carers and communities to promote the social, emotional, and cultural well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children in OOHC. This research will improve service provider capability and test Government reform interventions. In addition to leading large commissioned evaluations and academic grants, Jenny is continues to build her research focusing on understanding why and how some schools located in disadvanatged areas are more effective at parent engagement than others and how improving parent engagement in these schools effects the learning and wellbeing of students living in these communities over their life course.
Dr Wheeler is a proud Ngarabal person and Accredited Exercise Scientist (ESSA). Dr Wheeler specilises in implementation science in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Dr Wheeler was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with a PhD from the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Dr Wheeler’s research examines how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can co-design programs that build community capacity and engage children and young peoples in a broad range of development areas. Dr Wheeler’s research strengths consist co-designing physical movement-based programs, ensuring a trauma informed and culturally-responsive approach towards community engagement and empowerment.
Dr Wheeler has led high performing teams working on education programs that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through a strength-based and holistic framework. Extending this work, Dr Wheeler's research focuses on developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce to better address the complex health needs of community. Dr Wheeler has provided FIrst Nations leadership to a range of projects that have catered for the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and through this experience has partnered to deliver diverse governance solutions and educational engagement frameworks.
Dr Wheeler also specialises in biomechanics, sport analytics and performance analysis as well as strength and conditioning research. Dr Wheeler works currently with a range of sporting organisations to implement best-practice sport servicing, testing and athlete management to achieve excellence. Dr Wheeler is the lead researcher in partnership with Indigenous Basketball Australia. Dr Wheeler has worked with a variety of professional sporting organisations and teams such as the Wallabies, Brumbies Rugby and World Rugby as well as the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra Raiders, Canberra Comets, Canberra Meteors and GWS Giants. Dr Wheeler co-design training programs to promote optimal performance in a range of sports. Dr Wheeler is a passionate about how sport and exercise can be used to enrich community as well as health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Dr Wheeler is the Chair of the ESSA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy Working Group for Exercise and Sport Science Australia.
Dr Wheeler is the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy for the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences.
Dr Wheeler is the Program Convenor for Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences, the University of Queensland.
Dr Wheeler was named in the top 52 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people changing the world from COSMOS.
Awards
2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award from the Australian Academy of Science
2022 LSQ Merck Life Science Rural and Regional Service Award from Life Sciences Queensland
2020 Accredited Exercise Scientist of the Year Award from Exercise and Sport Science Australia
2021 Science Peoples Choice Award from National Science Week
2021 Outreach Award from National Science Week
2020 Science Leadership Excellence Award from National Science Week
2017 NAIDOC Award from Fraser Coast NAIDOC Committee
