Professor Lesley Wilkes

• Biography
• Areas of Research/Teaching Expertise
• Awards/Honours
• Grants/Current Projects
• Selected Publications
• Engagement Interests
• Contact details

Biography

Professor Lesley Wilkes is a Professor of Nursing at the Clinical Nursing Research Unit (Joint appointment with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UWS and the Sydney West Area Health Service) as well as the Dean of Research Studies at UWS. Professor Wilkes has contributed significantly to the growth and enhancement of nursing research in Australia. She has successfully led a number of research projects including NHMRC and ARC Linkage grants. She has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and has undertaken a number of studies related to nursing issues. In addition, she has supervised and is currently supervising a number of Masters and PhD students. Professor Wilkes is one of the UWS top researchers for 2004-2006 triennium in the top 40 by publication and in the top 20 by higher degree research student completions. She is a prolifically active researcher and has a high track record of successful research grants. Her research has received high community recognition nationally and internationally through extensive media coverage showcasing her research expertise in areas such as organisational violence, family and community health, prostate cancer, and child-to-mother violence, through both radio and television networks. She is one of the most prolific publishers of nursing research in Australia.

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Areas of Research/Teaching Expertise

Chronic & complex care
Palliative care
Dementia care
Adolescent health
Family and community health
Violence in the context of work and family life
Nursing workforce issues
Women’s health
Leadership issues
Qualitative and quantitative research methods

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Awards/Honours

• 2007: Wilkes is one of UWS top researchers for 2004-2006 triennium, in the top 40 by publication and in the top 20 by higher degree research student completions
• AM Kellett Medal for First Place in NSW Nurses Registration Board Examination, April, 1969

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Grants/Current Projects

Care of clients with chronic and complex conditions: Role of the community nurse in the multidisciplinary team.
Funding: UWS Partnership Grant, $19,974.

2007
Model of care: A family focused approach to promote child protection.
Funding: ARC Linkage Grant, $25,118 per year for 3 years.

2006
Surviving and thriving in the face of workplace adversity: An intervention to develop personal resilience in nurses and midwives.
Funding: ARC Linkage Grant, $25,000 each year for 3 years.

Determining best practice for management of the confused older person in acute care setting.
Funding: UWS Partnership Grant, $9,543.

2005-2006
Defining pastoral care and its value for older people.
Funding: UWS Partnership Grant, $20,120 each year.

2005-2007
Full-time workers caring for children with chronic illness: A national study.
Funding: ARC Linkage Grant, $24,148 each year.

2005
Investigation into the communication which takes place between chemo-nurses and patients during periods of drug administration.
Funding: Nurses Registration Board, Category 5 Scholarship, $6,021.

2003-2006
Bullying in the workplace: A study of Australian nurses.
Funding: ARC Linkage Grant, $69,099.

A study of the prevalence, experience and nature of child-to-mother violence in a high-risk geographical area.
Funding: ARC Linkage Grant, $69,099.

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Selected Publications

Refereed Journal Articles (2007)

O’Baugh, J., Wilkes, L.M., Vaughan, K., & O'Donohue, R. (2007). The role and scope of the clinical nurse consultant in Wentworth Area Health Service. Journal of Nursing Management, 15, 12-21.

Jackson, D., Wilkes, L., & McDonald, G. (2007). "If I was in my daughter’s body I'd be feeling devastated": Women’s experiences of mothering an overweight or obese child. Journal of Child Health Care, 11(1), 29-39.

Ogunsiji, O, Wilkes, L., & Jackson, D. (2007). Female genital mutilation: Origin, beliefs, prevalence and implications for health care workers caring for immigrant women in Australia. Contemporary Nurse, 25(1-2), 22-30.

Cioffi, J., Fleming, A., Wilkes, L., Sinfield, M., & Le Miere, J. (2007). The effect of environmental change on residents with dementia: The perceptions of relatives and staff. The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 6(2), 215-231. 

Endrawes, G., O’Brien, L., & Wilkes, L. (2007). Mental illness and Egyptian families. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16(3), 178-187.

Endrawes, G., O’Brien, L., & Wilkes, L. (2007). Egyptian families caring for a relative with mental illness: A hermeneutic study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16(6), 431-440

Cioffi, J., Wilkes, L, Warne, B., Harrison, K., & Vonu-Boriceanu, O. (2007). Community nursing care for clients with chronic and complex conditions. Collegian, 14(4), 21-25.

Conference Papers Published in Proceedings (2006-2007)

George, A., Vickers, M.H., Wilkes, L., & Barton, B. (2007). Building resilience in working parents of children with chronic illness. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual International Conference of the Association of Employment Practices and Principles (AEPP), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 4-6 October, 2007.

George, A., Vickers, M., & Wilkes, L.M. (2006). Working and caring for a child with chronic illness: Workplace concerns. 20th ANZAM Conference, Capricorn Coast, Qld, 6-9 December 2006.

Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M.H., Jackson, D., & Wilkes, L. (2006). "The worse you behave, the more you seem to be rewarded!": Bullying in nursing as organizational corruption. ASPROS 11: Asia Pacific Researchers in Organisation Studies 11th International Colloquium, pages 447-487, Melbourne RMIT Informit e-Library series. Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 December 2006.

Muneshwar, S., Vickers, M., Wilkes, L.M., & Fallon, W. (2006). Understanding bullying in commercial kitchens: An insider’s view. Inaugural New Zealand International Hospitality Management Conference 2006, Hamilton, New Zealand, 30 November–1 December 2006.

George, A., Vickers, M., Wilkes, L.M. (2006). Working and caring for a child with chronic illness: Careerist concerns and stressful choices. 2006 Annual International Conference of the Association of Employment Practices and Principles, New York, USA, 5-7 October 2006.

Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M., Jackson, D., Wilkes, L.M. (2006). The development of a multidimensional workplace bullying instrument in nursing. 14th Annual International Conference of Association on Employment Practices and Principles (AEPP), New York City, USA, 5-7 October 2006.

Conference Papers With No Published Proceedings

Wilkes, L., Jackson, D., Mohan, S., & Wallis, M. (2008). Determining best practice for the management of the confused older person in acute care. RCN 2008 International Nursing Conference, 8-11 April 2008, Liverpool, England, UK.

Mohan, S., Wilkes, L., & Jackson, D. (2008). Coronary Heart Disease and Asian Indian migrants in Australia: Influence of Indian culture on experiences, knowledge, health beliefs and behaviours. RCN 2008 International Nursing Conference, 8-11 April 2008, Liverpool, England, UK.

Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M.H., Jackson, D., & Wilkes, L.M., (2007). Organisational antecedents and consequences of bullying in the nursing workplace: Results from an Australian study. The Royal College of Nursing, Annual International Nursing Research Conference, Dundee, Scotland, UK, 1-4 May 2007.

Stewart, M., Wilkes, L.M., Jackson, D., & Mannix, J. (2006). Support for mothers experiencing child-to-mother violence: A pilot study. International Council On Women’s Health Issues, Sydney, 16-18 November 2006.

Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M.H., Jackson, D., & Wilkes, L. (2006). The chronic disease burden of workplace bullying: A study of Australian nurses. International Council On Women’s Health Issues, Sydney, 16-18 November 2006.

George, A., Vickers, M.H., Wilkes, L., & Barton, B. (2006). Women working full-time and caring for a child with chronic illness: Grief and dealing with professionals. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of the International Council on Women’s Health issues (ICOWHI) Conference, Sydney, Australia, 16-19 November 2006.(Poster presentation).

Mohan, S., Wilkes, L.M., & Jackson, D. (2006). Asian Indian women’s understanding of coronary heart disease: Influence of Indian culture in the Australian context. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of the International Council on Women’s Health issues (ICOWHI) Conference, Sydney, Australia, 15-19 November 2006. (Poster presentation).

Stewart, M., Wilkes, L.M., Jackson, D., Mannix, J. (2006). Child-to-mother violence: A pilot study. 2006 Northwest Council on Family Relations Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 21-23 June 2006.

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Engagement Interests 

Member - Publication Review Panels for Refereed Journals 

• Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Contemporary Nurse, Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne
• Research in Science Education, Monash University, Victoria
• Cancer Forum, Australian Cancer Society, NSW
• Collegian, Royal College of Nursing, Australia
• The Medical Journal of Australia, The Australasian Medical Company Ltd, North Sydney, NSW.

Member - Editorial Board

• Invited international member of Editorial Board, 1995 for three years to Holistic Nursing Practice Journal, Aspen Publishing Incorporate, Maryland, USA
• Collegian

Membership of Professional Bodies 

• Australian Association of Palliative Care Nurses
• Royal College of Nursing Australia (Fellow)
• COSA
• Cancer Nurses Society, Australia
• National Tertiary Education Industry Union
• NSW College of Nursing, Elected to Council February 1991-February 1993
• College of Nursing (Fellow)

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