I have held an academic position within the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at Charles Sturt University since 2008. My PhD was a phenomenological study that focused on cultural competence development across a cohort of students within a Bachelor of nursing degree: Australian Indigenous Cultural Competence and Nursing and was published in 2017. I am involved in several other research projects looking at effective teaching strategies in cultural competence and nursing team communication. During my time at CSU, I have held a number of leadership roles and am the co-editor of a text titled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellness. I have a strong profile both in teaching and research in the area of cultural competence and equity in healthcare/education. I have experience managing projects and leading teams. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling both overseas and throughout Australia. I am married to an academic Brett and have two children Stella and Audrey. Please view my publication and media releases via this link: https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/persons/jbilescsueduau and webpage: https://jessicabilesphd.wixsite.com/jessicabilesphd

Teaching  Interests

• Cultural competence
• The first year higher degree experience
• Undergraduate nurse education
• Reflective practice
• Primary health care
• Health promotion
• First Nations health

Research ($278,706,00 research funding in collaboration with teams)

• 2019- Charles Sturt University, Faculty of Science Seed grant- $9885, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Nursing and Midwifery workforce mentoring program in a rural NSW Local Health District2018- Charles Sturt University, Learning and Teaching grant- $9865, Multi-disciplinary case study Educating health students for evidence-based practice: Three action research case studies.
• 2018- Improving Undergraduate Evidence-Based Practice Education: Four Participatory Action-Research Case Studies. CI- Kylie Murphy Researchers: Catherine Thomas, Jessica Biles, Clarissa Hughes, Marguerite Bramble, Tracey Parnell, Michael Curtin, Rodney Pope, Simon O’Connor, Lisa Brown, Linda Wilson, Evan Plowman, Lisa Speedie
• 2017- Preparing Students for Evidence-Based Practice: What’s happening? Dr Kylie Murphy, Ass/Prof Michael Curtin, Jessica Biles, Ruth Crawford $8456
• 2017- International Survey of Nurse Managers' Views on Compassion in Nursing. Professor Irena Papadopoulos; Dr Magdeline Aagard, Shelia Ali, Jessica Biles in collaboration with academics from 15 countries
• 2016- First year undergraduate nurses experiences of wearing uniforms whilst undertaking simulated clinical skills within nursing laboratories: A cohort comparison study: Protocol approval number: HREC 400/2015/15 CSU. CI: Karen Stanley
• 2016- Exploring the cultural aspects of compassion in nursing: An international on-line survey- International collaboration with Middlesex University
• 2010- 2017 PhD Candidate, School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University- Australian Indigenous Culture competence and Nursing.
• 2013 School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health Seed Grant - Research matters: harvesting collective wisdom to find new ways of engaging in research.
• 2013 Scholarship in Teaching Grant - Cassie's Story, Dyan Ngal: who is hearing and who is listening? A problem based learning resource approach to transformative cultural competence experiences.
• 2013 Nursing Partnerships with Aboriginal Health Centres: A pilot project for undergraduate Nursing clinical placements.
• 2009 - 2010 The Living Curriculum: Bridging the gap between the espoused and the enacted curricula.

Research interests

• First Nations Health and well being
• Cultural competence
• Higher education
• Equity and Social justice

Awards

• 2016- Betty Jeffreys Award, Nurses Memorial Centre $5000

Professional Memberships

• Australian Representative Committee Member – Board of the European Transcultural Nursing Association – National/International 2013 - current
• Hume Region Nurse Educators Group: 2005- current
• Australian Rural Health Education Network: current
• Australian Volunteers Association: current
• Australia Nurse Teachers Society (ANTS): previous
• University of Sydney Life membership

Career Highlights

• Recipient of the Nurses' Memorial Centre (Defence), Betty Jeffrey Award for 2016
• Scholarship in Teaching Grant 2013, 2009 $10,000
• School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health Seed Grant 2013 $500
• NSW Nursing Association Professional Development scholarship 2008
• Victorian Registration Board Professional Development scholarship 2007
• Working together with students to fulfil nursing academic ambitions