Dr Zina O'Leary

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Awards and Recognition
• Publications
• Contact Details

Biography

Dr Zina O'Leary is a senior lecturer with a background in sociology that sees her interested in social theory, social movements, change management and research methods. At present her attentions are strongly directed in teaching and scholarship in the area of research methodologies. Zina is interested in developing research protocols that can be best described as practical approaches to real-world problems. She has authored three research methods texts for Sage Publications: ‘The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project’ (2009); ‘Researching Real World Problems: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry’ (2005); and ‘The Essential Guide to Doing Research’ (2004). She is also author of ‘The Social Science Jagron Buster: The Key Terms You Need to Know’ (2007). Zina is the Research Advisor for the Centre for Environmental Heath Development, a WHO collaborating Centre, and has contributed to several Centre projects in the Western Pacific region.

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

Research Methods, Evaluation, Social Movements, Change Management, and Professional Practice

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Grants / Current Projects

September 2009 – Evaluation of Fiji’s National Environmental Health Action Plan (2002-2007). Ministry of Health, Fiji.

December 2007 – Facilitation of evaluation of Farmer Field Schools in Vietnam working towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Agricultural Good Practice (GAP) – Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

July 2006 – Development of a strategic planning and staff development workshops for the of human resource development of the ACT’s Local Environmental Health Action Plan - ACT Health Environmental Health/Health Protection Service.

February 2005 – Development and delivery of a phase two workshop/ applied project on embedding evaluation into health promotion - National Centre for Health Promotion, Suva Fiji.

October 2004 – Development of a framework suitable for use in the evaluation of public-private partnerships – WHO Research Centre Kobe, Japan.

August 2004 – Development and delivery of a phase one workshop/ applied project on embedding evaluation into health promotion - National Centre for Health Promotion, Suva Fiji.

September 2003 - Development, design, and program leadership for an individual 3 week change management short course at UWS for the Director of the National Centre for Health Promotion, Suva Fiji.

March 2003 – Designed the methodological protocols for the WHO developing country safe syringe disposal project.

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Awards and Recognition

2006-2007 Inclusion in the Marquis Who’s Who is Science and Engineering

2002 Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award commended for social justice

2002 Nominated for the Australian College of Education Quality Teaching Award

1999 UWS Teaching Excellence Award

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Publications

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Books
O’Leary, Z. (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

O’Leary, Z. (2007) The Social Science Jargon Buster: Key Terms You Need to Know. London: Sage

O’Leary, Z. (2005) Researching Real-World Problems: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage

O’Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage

O’Leary, Z. (1999) Reaction, Introspection and Exploration: Diversity in Journeys out of Faith, Kew Victoria: CRA.

Book Chapters
Andersen, L., Ireland, J., O’Leary, Z., Powis, B. and Tamplin, S. (2005) ‘Meeting Community Public Health needs through Healthy Hospital Partnerships: Children as common ground’ in Health Promotion: Evidence, Practice and Policy. New York: CMB.

O’Leary, Z. (2001) ‘Conversations in the Kitchen’ in Postgraduate Research Supervision: Transforming (R)elations, eds A. Bartlett and G. Mercer, New York: Peter Lang

Powis, B. and O’Leary, Z. (2008) “Wellness Tourism and Health Promotion: Healthy Tourists and Healthy Environments”, Wellness Tourism. NY, NY.

Refereed Journal Articles
O’Leary, Z. and Barry L. (submitted 2008) “The Generation of Theory in Qualitative Analysis: An example from a study of rehabilitative programs in NSW women’s prisons”. Journal of Research Practice.

Barry, L. and O’Leary, Z. (submitted 2007) “Tensions and Impositions: The undermining of rehabilitation goals by larger systemic realities within the NSW women’s prisons”. Women and Criminal Justice.

Mopako, T., Powis, B. and O’Leary, Z. (submitted 2007) “Towards Local Solid Waste Management Plans: Operational Issues Impacting on The Municipal Solid Waste Collection Service In Botswana.” Waste Management.

McCreadie, K. and O’Leary, Z. (2005) ‘The Sale of out of date Foods in the Republic of Palau’, Pacific Health Dialog March 2005 v12, 1.

Tamplin, S., Davidson D., Powis, B and Z. O’Leary (2005) “Issues and Options for the Safe Destruction and Disposal of Used Injection Materials” Waste Management Vol 25/6 pp 655-665.

O'Leary, Z., and Powis, B. (2004) “Finding new direction for environmental health practice in Fiji.” Environmental Health Focus, August 2004, Vol2, No1

Brear, M., Powis, B., O’Leary, Z. and Davidson, D. (2004) ‘Evaluating Community Participation in a Healthy Islands Setting: Towards Evidence Based Decision Making, Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004: 15 (2) pp. 137-41.

Benedict, I., Nicholson, R., O’Leary, Z. and Tranter, M. (2003) ‘Healthy Workplaces’ Environmental Health Focus, March 2003, Kuala Lumpur: MoH.

O’Leary, Z. and Ambu S. (2003) ‘Frameworks for Research: Traversing Disciplinary Boundaries’ Environmental Health Focus, March 2003, Kuala Lumpur: MoH

O’Leary, Z. and Ambu S. (2003) “Frameworks for Research: Traversing Disciplinary Boundaries” Environmental Health Focus, March 2003, Kuala Lumpur: MoH

Powis, B., Litidamu, N., O’Leary, Z., (2003) “Re-orienting Environmental Health Practice in Fiji: Lessons Learnt form a National Policy Initiative” Pacific Health Dialog September 2003 Vol10 No2.

Powis, B., O’Leary, Z., and Litidamu, N. (2003) “Integrating Plans, Practice, and Place in Fiji: Settings Approaches to National Environmental Health Planning”. Environmental Health Focus, March 2003, Vol.1, No. 1 Kuala Lumpur: MoH

O’Leary, Z. (2000) ‘Apostasy: Exploring Resistance and Transformation’. Australian Religious Studies Review Autumn 2000, Victoria: New Litho

O’Leary, Z. (1999) ‘Journeys from Faith’ Quadrant, Nov99 v32 p. 6, CPO Worthing: UK

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