An Introduction to Community and Primary Health Care

Diana Guzys RN, MN, Grad Dip Ed, Grad Dip Adolescent Health and Welfare, B Pub Hlth is Lecturer in Nursing in the School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine at the University of Tasmania. After relocating to a rural environment and taking up a community health nursing role, Diana embraced a change in her professional practice and career direction. Health education and health promotion was the mainstay of her practice for over two decades, first as a generalist community health nurse and later as a secondary school nurse. Her current research demonstrates a return to seeking ways to improve and optimise the health of rural communities, and professional issues for nurses working in community nursing roles.

Rhonda Brown RN, PhD, M Soc Sci, Grad Dip Comm Hlth, Grad Dip Family Therapy, Grad Dip Psy Nurs, Grad Cert Higher Ed holds a conjoint position as Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health at Deakin University, Victoria. She is an experienced clinician and educator with a background in community and mental health nursing, family therapy, counselling, and tertiary and community education. Dr Brown is also a counsellor and family therapist in private practice and provides clinical supervision to health professionals. Rhonda's research primarily focuses on the physical and mental health outcomes of people from minority populations. Dr Brown is interested in developing strategies and interventions that promote health and address physical and mental health disparities among marginalised population groups.

Elizabeth Halcomb RN, BN (Hons), FACN, PhD is Professor of Primary Health Care Nursing at the University of Wollongong. She leads a strong research program in primary care nursing, with emphasis on nursing in general practice, chronic disease and nursing workforce issues. In 2018, she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame for her work in primary care nursing. In 2019, she was the first nurse to be awarded the Bridges-Webb Medal by the Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care for her significant contribution to academic primary care teaching and research. Professor Halcomb has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and has been a chief investigator of grants funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC). She is Editor of Nurse Researcher (RCNi) and an editor of Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research.

Dean Whitehead PhD, MSc/MPH, B Ed, RN, FCNA (NZ) is Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine at the University of Tasmania. He has published close to 200 theoretical/research papers – mainly in the fields of health promotion, health education, public health, primary health care, health policy and research methodology – both within and outside the nursing disciplines. He is an associate editor for BMC Public Health and Regional Editor for Health Education, as well as lead author of the forthcoming new edition of Health Promotion and Health Education in Nursing and Midwifery.