Dr Melissa Robinson-Reilly commenced at CSU July 2023 and is a Nurse Practitioner within the specialties of Oncology and Palliative Care. Melissa’s previous professional roles included the NSW Chair for the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners. Melissa’s nursing career spans over 40years in both acute and community-based settings and has worked extensively within oncology, radiation oncology, haematology and palliative care. Melissa commenced her academic career in 2015, after completing her PhD, Doctor of Philosophy.

During the 5 years with the University of Newcastle, Melissa delivered high quality student-centred learning opportunities within the School of Nursing and Midwifery and achieved excellence in teaching in a range of delivery modes, which included virtual/online teaching/residentials, face to face delivery of course teaching and assessment; including clinical viva voces at postgraduate level.

With her passion for Nurse Practitioner education, Melissa recruited external stakeholders, to develop the curriculum for the Master of Nursing Practitioner M NP, as the Program Convenor. Melissa actively contributed to collaborative processes to design, deliver and continually improve high quality courses and learning experiences for students. An example of this was the introduction of Telehealth for Nurse Practitioners (NP) in 2019, prior to the pandemic, and lobbied to quarantine clinical postgraduate courses specific to nurse practitioner students. As part of the M NP program Melissa facilitated face to face orientation and course residential each year. This was transformed into an online/virtual residential, via Zoom platform, to meet the needs of the students during the enforced Covid isolation. Thus, enhanced the opportunity to mentor future NP students and build professional relationships to support completing the degree given the current health climate. Adjunct to this was also supporting higher degree students with supervision.

Research interests highlight lived experience, having an active research profile related to cancer care, the field of nursing - in particular nurse practitioners, telehealth, older age mental health, and palliative care.

Melissa is the co-investigator in the study, “Investigating health literacy of Stage 4 breast cancer women in rural NSW: approaches to self-empowerment”.  This research addresses the NSW Health State strategic priorities to improve the patient experience. It aims to integrate the approach to end of life by redefining care for this cohort and to translate to other tumour streams. All too often health care interventions are not designed to meet the needs of more disadvantaged people, and it is important to avoid widening inequalities.