Study with us
Here at JRC, we want you to pursue your own research interests, under the expert supervision of our academic staff. If you would like to get your PhD or Masters degree with us, we suggest you first check your eligibility and find a supervisor.
Our students
Our students conduct research in a broad range of areas. See below for more about the important work our students are doing to improve ageing in rural and regional areas.
Lucas Lloyd - Doctor of Nursing
What affect does a nurse-led model of palliative care have on people living in rural residential aged care.
This study aims to identify the impact that rurally-based, formal models of Palliative Care have on people living in a Residential Aged Care environment, by examining their level of understanding and experiences with these services.
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry and Dr Sean MacDermott.
Darren Midgely - Professional Doctorate
Evaluation of the Impact of Intergenerational Programs on Children in Long Day-Care and Older Adults Living in Residential Care
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry and Dr Sean MacDermott
Carmela Leone - PhD
Discourses relating to 'the right to the city' for people living with dementia and their carers, in a regional Australian setting; implications for a rights-based Dementia-Friendly Community
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry and Dr Rachel Winterton
Carmela is researching how attitudes and assumptions about people living with dementia, and their carers, influence their access to public spaces in regional Australia.
“Dementia describes progressive brain syndromes, like Alzheimer’s disease, which affects a person’s memory, thinking and behaviours,” explains Leone. “Public spaces provide opportunities for people to participate and be included in society, but these are often inaccessible to those living with dementia and their carers.”
Fan He - PhD
Incidence and case fatality of acute stroke in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Mnatzaganian, G., Xie, H., Yao, L., He, F., and Blackberry, I.
This is a collaborative research project between La Trobe University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (SHKMU). The systematic review and meta-analysis on stroke incidence and case fatality in China will be the first study to report the regional disparities in pooled estimates of incidence and case fatality of first-ever stroke in China. This project will inform practice and contribute to better management of stroke patients in China.
Partners: Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (SHKMU), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) Funding Body: LTU China Studies Seed-funding Research Grant Scheme
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry and Dr George Mnatzaganian.
Jennifer Boak - PhD
Can client complexity be measured in a community nursing service?
This is a mixed methods study using concept mapping and current task orientation data.
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry and Dr Tshepo Rasekaba.
Craig Gilbertson - Masters
Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Needle-Phobia in Adult Patients.
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry and Dr Tshepo Rasekaba.
Rosa Goncalves - PhD
Reducing disparity in cancer outcomes through Health Literacy in culturally diverse and socially disadvantaged cancer patients: Challenges and opportunities in the age of social media.
This is a collaborative research project between La Trobe University and Ballarat Health Services - Grampians Rural Health Alliance (GRHA). This study will explore and improve the current understanding of factors that affect a patient throughout their cancer journey including individual health literacy levels, the use (or the lack of) electronic media and ability (or the lack of) to distinguish between credible and “pseudoscientific” information on social media.
Partners: Ballarat Health Services - Grampians Rural Health Alliance (GRHA)
Funding Body: Cancer Trials Australia
Supervised by Professor Irene Blackberry, Professor Tonya Stebbins and Dr Wasek Faisal.
Our recently graduated students
The JRC is extremely proud of the work our past students have completed and congratulate them on graduating. Read more about our recently graduated students and their projects below.
Jozette Dellemain - PhD
Rural case management: Developing a practice identity.
A study investigating the practice of rural case management with implications for formal theory development.
Supervised by A/Professor Suzanne Hodgkin and Dr Heather Downey.
Diana Nabbumba - PhD
Examining responsibility allocation within the social care system for older people in rural Uganda: An ecological systems approach.
This study explores the current social care system in rural Uganda and how responsibility allocation shapes the care needs, experiences, coping strategies and care expectations of older people, their caregivers, stakeholders, and policies. This study offers essential information in furthering research and designing long-term social care systems for rural older people.
Supervised by Dr. Rachel Winterton, Associate Professor Suzanne Hodgkin and Dr. Jacqui Theobald.