Dr Georgia Rowley

• Biography/ Background

  With a Psychology Honours degree and PhD in Public Health from Flinders University, I am a qualitative researcher currently working within the School of Public Health. I am contributing to a Hospital Research Foundation Group Grant: (2021-S-01-PallCare-QA25288), seeking to improve access to and delivery of palliative care for under-served populations, particularly culturally and linguistically diverse groups.

  As a third generation Greek-Australian, my academic research interests have revolved around conducting meaningful, reciprocal, and engaging research with CALD and non-English speaking background individuals, and rural communities who are routinely excluded from mainstream research. My Honours thesis compared the health and well-being of older British-Australian and Greek-Australian migrant widows in South Australia. My PhD furthered my previous research on widowhood and well-being, concentrating specifically on older Greek widows and widowers in rural and urban SA. In this study, I conducted qualitative interviews in the Greek language to be inclusive of individuals who had previously not been afforded a 'voice' in academic research.

  I have presented at a multitude of academic conferences since 2010, and have been involved in the academic organisation of several national and international conferences. I have published in peer reviewed academic journals, in addition to writing research-related blogs for largely non-academic audiences.

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiapanagiotopoulos/

   

   

• Qualifications

  PhD Southgate Institute, Health Sciences, Flinders University (2011-2016)

  Thesis: Exploring the impact of social determinants of health on the well-being of older widowed Greek migrants in urban and rural S.A.
  
  My PhD research explored the impact of select social determinants of health on the well-being of older first-generation Greek widows and widowers in urban and rural South Australia. This was a qualitative study guided by a reflexive methodological approach within a life-course framework. I conducted 40 in-depth interviews primarily in the Greek language to be inclusive of individuals who are typically excluded from mainstream research due to language barriers and rural location, representing migrants less acculturated to Australian society. I translated and transcribed all interview data from Greek to English to facilitate data analysis. This PhD topic was inherently inspired by the stories of my grandparents and other Greek individuals who have migrated to Australia post-WWII.

  Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Flinders University (2005-2009)

  Thesis: The role of culture in the adjustment to widowhood: Comparing older Greek-Australian and British-Australian women in S.A.

  My Psychology Honours thesis was a quantitative cross-cultural study comparing the widowhood experiences and well-being of older British migrant women to older Greek migrant women to explore the influence of factors such as culture, depression, loneliness, self-rated health, social support, and continuing bonds to spouses.

• Awards & Achievements

  Golden Key International Honour Society (2007-current)

  Gary Andrews Student Award, AAG SA Division (2012)

  Dux of School, Renmark High School (2004)

  Young Achiever Award Nomination, Channel 9, Rural Health (2015)

• Teaching Interests

  Qualitative research methods, cross cultural research, psychology, widowhood and bereavement

• Research Interests

  qualitative research and methodology, CALD and refugee populations, migrant ageing, death, dying, widowhood and bereavement, sensitive life experiences, vulnerable population groups, cross-cultural research, social determinants of health, social health and wellbeing, psychology, public health

• Research Funding

  Flinders University Research Scholarship (FURS) (2011-2014)

  Esther Bright Travel Scholarship - Soroptimist International of Adelaide Inc. (2013)

  Faculty research grant - Public Health, Flinders University (2011)

• Publications

  Bastian, C., Wendt, S., Rowley, G. & Elder, A. (2023) Improving Service Responses for Children and Young People Who Experience Domestic and Family Violence: A Way Forward, Australian Social Work, DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2023.2267046

  
  Rowley, G., Tieman, J., Jones, K. (2022). Steps towards equitable care: creating web pages to highlight diversity for Australia’s aged care and end of life care workforce, Australian Journal of Primary Health 28 (4), 338-343.

  
  Ziersch, A., Walsh, M., Baak, M., Rowley, G., Oudih, E., Mwanri, L. (2021). "It is not an acceptable disease”: A qualitative study of HIV-related stigma and discrimination and impacts on health and wellbeing for people from ethnically diverse …, BMC Public Health 21 (1), 1-15.

  
  Panagiotopoulos, G., Walker, R.B., & Luszcz, M. (2013). A comparison of widowhood and well-being among older Greek and British-Australian migrant women. Journal of Aging Studies, Special Edition, December, 27(4), 519-528.

  
  Walker, R.B., Newman, L., Tsianikas, M., Panagiotopoulos, G. and Hurley, C. (2013). The perspectives of older Greek-Australians towards changes in the nature of family support: implications for family care policies, Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 25(4), 320-334.

  
  Hurley, C., Panagiotopoulos, G., Tsianikas, M., Newman, L., Walker, R.B. (2012). Access and acceptability of community-based services for older Greek migrants in Australia: user and provider perspectives, Health & Social Care in the Community, 21(2), 140-149.

  
  Newman, L.A., Tsianikas, M., Panagiotopoulos, G., Walker, R.B., & Hurley, C.J. (2011). The social support and service needs of Australia's ageing Greek migrants: a pilot project. Modern Greek Studies (Australia and New Zealand), 15, 287-306.

  
  Panagiotopoulos, G. & Walker, R.B. (2009). The role of culture in the adjustment to widowhood: Comparing older Greek-Australian and British-Australian women in SA. Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference of Greek Studies. 

• Professional Associations

  Flinders Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee (SBREC): Low Risk Panel Member (2020-2023)

  Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS), Flinders University, Member (2021-current)

  Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD), Flinders University, Member (2019-current), ECR Representative (2019-2020)

  Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translational Research - Expert Advisory Committee: Mental health and well-being and social isolation (2021)

  Generations Initiative, Flinders University - Member (2022-current)

  Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, HDR Mentoring Scheme (Mentor) (2021)

  Flinders University College of Nursing and Health Sciences ECR Community of Practice, Member (2021-2023)

  Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Affiliate Member (2019-current)

  Department of Health Service Navigation Community of Practice, Member (2021)

  2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th International Conferences on Ageing in a Foreign Land, Academic Conference Committee, (2012-2019)

  Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG), Member (2018-2019)

  Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG), National Conference Planning Committee (2014)

  Emerging Researchers in Ageing (ERA), National Conference Planning Committee (2014)

  International Education Association of Australia, Member (2017-2018)

  Refugee and Migration Research Network, Member (2013-2015)

  Flinders University Student Association (FUSA), Member (2014-2016)

  AAG South Australian Division, Student Representative (2013-2016)

  Soroptimist International of Adelaide Inc., Member and Social Media Officer (2013-2016)

  Greek Welfare Centre, Reference Group Member (2012-2013)

• Community Engagement

  Invited peer reviewer: Behavioural Sciences, Journal of Sociology, Australasian Journal on Ageing, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal on Aging and Social Policy, Nursing Reports, Healthcare, Auckland Medical Research Foundation.

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 14 Nov 2023

To link to this page, please use the following URL:  https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/georgia.rowley