Dr Helen Courtney-Pratt is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Centre for Rural Health and Associate at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre. Helen’s current position has a focus on the experience of students undertaking clinical placements, placement quality and opportunities for cross discipline collaboration in rural and aged care settings.  The work includes working directly with aged care providers, other universities, and community, fostering translational research in the sector.

Biography

Helen Courtney-Pratt is a Registered Nurse who has held a range of positions in the health care sector and in Universities. Helen continues to work within aged care as a Registered Nurse. During completion of PhD studies Helen worked at the Royal Hobart Hospital as a clinical nurse educator in research, mentoring other nurses to undertake clinical research, whilst engaged in research focused on older peoples experience in acute care. As a researcher with an active interest in participatory translational research methods Helen also has a strong engagement with translational research, practice development, person centredness and evidence-based practice. Following completion of doctoral studies, and prior to commencing at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre and Centre for Rural Health Helen was a senior lecturer and Director of Clinical Education at the University of Newcastle (Aust) where she was responsible for the clinical education program.  Work was undertaken with close collaboration with other academics and professional staff. On return to the Wicking Centre Helens work continued to focus on engagement of communities, dementia care provision, and teaching was also aligned with these areas. In her current position both teaching and research are focused on clinical placements for students and translational research within communities and aged care settings.

Career summary

Qualifications

Memberships

Professional practice

• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation
• Australian College of Nursing
• Australian Rural Health Education Network
• International Practice Development Collaborative

Administrative expertise

During the time working at the University of Newcastle Helen was the Director of Clinical Education, the role included all aspects of clinical placement in the Bachelor of Nursing, together with group management of simulation and clinical learning laboratories. The role included management of a small administrative team, a large clinical teaching team, and close working relationships with other academics teaching into the degree. She has prior experience as project manager and lead investigator on several other projects.

Clinically she has also held the role of clinical manager at a dementia specific village, overseeing all aspects of care delivery, workforce, and requirements of the Aged Care Safety and Quality Commission.

Teaching

Dementia, Aged Care, Green Spaces, Arts, Community Engagement, Student Practicum Placements

Teaching expertise

Helen has experience teaching students in Bachelor of Nursing undergraduate degrees (University of Tasmania & University of Newcastle), Bachelor of Dementia Care (UTAS). She has further experience in course design and mentoring others in teaching.