Professor Kim Usher
Associate Dean, Research - Faculty of Medicine and Health
Phone: +61 2 6773 2975
Email: kusher@une.edu.au
Biography
Professor Usher AM, RN, PhD, FACMHN, FACN, is Professor of Nursing in the School of Health, Research Fellow, Ngangk Yira Research Institute for Aboriginal Health & Social Equity, and Adjunct Professor Murdoch and University of Technology Sydney, Australia. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.
Professor Usher was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2017 in recognition of sustained contribution to nursing and midwifery education and research. She was recognised for teaching by the award of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2008) and a James Cook University Vice Chancellor’s Award for Higher Degree Research Supervision in 2009. In 2018, Professor Usher was named in the top 10 nursing academics in Australia and New Zealand.
Professor Usher’s research outputs include more than 300 publications in high quality peer reviewed journals and numerous book chapters. Her current bibliometric statistics include: H-index – 58 (Google scholar), 41 (Scopus), and 20 (Web of science), and she has a FWCI of 2.65 for 2018-2023 with 33.30% of articles in the top 10% of publications (as at 14/02/2024). She has served on Editorial Boards of key journals in her field, such as the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, and has served on the National Health and Medical Research Committee (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence panel, and regularly reviews for the Australian Research Council (ARC) and NHMRC project grants. She was appointed to the ARC College of Experts in 2022.
Professor Usher has successfully supervised over 40 PhD students to completion and continues to supervise many higher degree research students. Her students have received numerous awards and most publish numerous outcomes from the research during their period of candidature.
Qualifications
RN, RPN, A/DipNEd, BA, BHSc, MNSt, PhD, FACN, FACMHN
Teaching Areas
Research supervision
Research Methodology
Mental Health Nursing
Research Interests
Research Interests
One health; mental health including the psychosocial impact of emergencies and disasters, psychopharmacology, and substance use; patient safety; Indigenous health; family centred care and family carers; consumer and family experiences in health services; and workforce issues.
Grants
2023 - Deeming, S., Reeves, P., Ramanathan, S., Carey, M., Williams, M., Usher, K., Mason, G., Sutherland, K., Billiards, S., Manton, T., Larkins, S., Hodyl, N. & Karnon, J. Demonstrating and optimising the impact generated from the RART Initiative. MRFF 2022 Rapid Applied Research Translation Grant scheme. $494,986
2023 - Jones, R., Sutton, C., Gayed, A., Arena, A., Leggs, L., Rice, K., AIs Usher, K., Jackson, D. & AI Ranse, J. Mental health of first responders. MRFF Early to mid-career researcher grant opportunity-Stream 1 (Incubator). $344,920.70.
2023/4 - Jones, R., Usher, K., Jackson, D., Thompson, D. & Smith, J.L. (2003). Understanding trauma informed-informed approaches to disclosure of child sexual assault. UNE Internal grant. $10,000.
2023/24 - Rice, K., Usher, K., Rock, A., Kennedy, A., Charlson, F., Kiem., Austin, A. & Handley, T. (2023). Farmers on the frontline of extreme weather events: Exposure, mental health and adaptation. UNE Internal grant. $10,000.
2020 - Usher, K., Bhullar, N. & Jackson, D. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Australians’ preventive health behaviours: A mixed methods study. NSW COVID-19 Round one grant. $332,000 Successful
2020 – Usher, K. Marriott, R., Saunders, V., Bhullar, N., Ranmuthugala, G. & Maple, M. (2020-2022). Enhancing social and emotional wellbeing healing through arts-based storytelling for Aboriginal communities of Northern Inland NSW. Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Bushfire Impact Research Grant. $628,983.80
2020 – Usher, K. & Bhullar, N. (2020). HNECC PHN Empowering our Communities grant. Art and mental health community event. $49,906
2020 – Smith, J., Aitchison, R. & Usher, K. Understanding the emotional consequences of the redress scheme for survivors of abuse. UNE Faculty of Medicine and Health/NEIHR grant. $9,883
2019 – Usher, K. & Porter, C. (2019-2020). HNECC PHN Healthy Weight Community Grants, $55,000
2017 – East, L., Woods, C. & Usher, K. (2017-18). Healthy nutrition and exercise program for Aboriginal families. Cancer Institute NSW, $49,000
2013 – Woods, C., Usher, K. & Maguire, G. Mapping access to polysomnography studies across Australia. JCU Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research (CNMR) grant $2,725
2013 – Woods, C., Usher, K. & Maguire, G. Identifying barriers and enablers to successful uptake for treatment of sleep apnoea for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. JCU Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research (CNMR) grant $3,832
2013 – Robertson, J., Clough, A. & Usher, K. A study to inform the review of the current Alcohol Management Plan for Palm Island. Local Government Association of Qld (LGAQ) and Palm Island Aboriginal Council. $48,000
2013 – Woods, C., West, C., Usher, K., Park, T., Mills, J., Bentley, K. Final year student nurses readiness for practice. Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation Research Award $2,000
2012 – Usher, K. & Cadet-James, Y. Developing an individual model of midwifery care. Perpetual Trust, $32,000
2012 – Usher, K., West, C. & Mills, J. Research capacity upskilling of the Asia Pacific Emergency Disaster Network (APEDNN) members. AusAID Australian Leadership Award (ALA) – Research capacity development. AusAID $167,000.
2012/13/14/15 – McDermott, R., O'Dea, K., Segal, L., Clough, A., Usher, K., Panaretto, K., & Morgan, A. Australian Primary Health Care Strategy CRE for Chronic disease $2,500,000
2012 – West, C., Usher, K., & Woods, C. The impact of Cyclone Yasi on healthcare workers. JCU Faculty grant $3,000
2011 – Usher, K., Tucker, C., West, R., & Cadet-James, Y. Developing an individual model of midwifery care. Perpetual Trust $10,000
2011 – Mills, J., West, C., Usher, K., Mason, M., & Henry, R. Simulated clinical learning using unfolding case studies. WIL grant JCU $10,000
2010 – West, R., Usher, K. & Gardner, A. Indigenous nurses and midwives in service delivery: An exploration of skills and attributes. Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Research Grant $10,000
2009-2012 – Usher, K., Lindsay, D., Stewart, L., McAuliffe, M. & West, C. Enhancing nursing standards across the Pacific. WHO $375,000
2010-2011 – Boon, H., Tsey, K. Usher, K. Emergency preparedness for children with disabilities in schools. Cross Faculty Collaboration Grant, JCU $10,000
2009-11 – Usher, K., Foster, K. & Park, T. Development of a weight and exercise intervention. Ely Lily $26,000
2008-10 – Usher, K., Foster, K., Park, T. & Buettner, P. Prevention of weight gain with second generation antipsychotics: a nurse-led intervention. Chief Investigator for Queensland Nursing Council Research Grant $30,000
Publications
Link to Professor Usher's publications list
Memberships
Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14470349
Fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
Fellow of the Cairns Institute, James Cook University
Member of the Golden Key National Honour Society (James Cook University Chapter) by invitation
Consultancy Interests
2013 – Usher, K., Park, T. & Trueman, S. Mental health nursing upskilling course for the Pacific. AusAID Australian Leadership Award (ALA). AusAID $178,000.
2011 – Usher, K., Stewart, L., West, C. & Henry, R. Partnership case study. WHO funding US$ 6,000
2010 – Usher, K., Lindsay, D. & Oman, K. Continuing professional development framework. PHRHA/WHO funding $35,000
2010 – Usher, K. & Griggs, M. Psychosocial disaster-short course for nurses. WHO funding US $10,000
2009 – Usher, K. & Stewart, L. Kiribati health services plan. WHO funding US$22,000
2009 – Usher, K., Tollefson, J., McAuliffe, M. & Baldwin, A. Midwifery curriculum review, Fiji School of Nursing. WHO funding $25,000
