Robin Harvey

Profile

Robin takes a critical social gerontology perspective in her work as a gerontology lecturer with a commitment to practice linked education. This perspective enables understanding of both individual and societal aspects of ageing, along with a commitment to human rights, social justice and inclusive policies, practices and services to support people as they grow older. She is committed to gerontology education as a means to build specialist knowledge and skills of practitioners in the health, aged care, human services and community sectors in Australia that will, in turn, enable her students to work in partnership with older adults to improve their experience of ageing.

She has taught gerontology to multidisciplinary cohorts of students from nursing, allied health, human and community services, aged care and medical professions since 2005 and also held Course Coordinator/ Director roles for the Master of Gerontology articulated set of courses from 2007 –  2017.

Robin has substantial experience as a social worker in clinical practice with older adults, with a focus on mental health and health promotion, prior to her academic career.

Her thesis for her Master of Social Work (Hons.) examined gerontology higher education in local, Australian and international contexts.

She teaches and researches in a range of areas, including:

• collaborative models of practice with older adults
• leadership for professional practice in ageing services
• social and environmental perspectives on ageing, including social determinants of health
• age-friendly communities
• challenging ageism
• gerontology curriculum

Robin also has a focus on developing  interactive and practice linked curriculum for education in ageing and has recently authored, with CSU Educational Designer, Leanne White, a free, online, self-paced course hosted on the Open Learning platform for Charles Sturt, titled Understanding Ageinghttps://www.openlearning.com/csu/courses/understanding-ageing/homepage/?cl=1

She is a founding member of the Leadership in Healthy Ageing (LiHA) Network which links Charles Sturt gerontology with industry partners across northeast Victoria and further afield.

(More information on LiHA here)

https://charlessturtuni1.padlet.org/michael_osborne/87von5moxamipb1n

Teaching

Robin teaches in the Master of Gerontology and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, as well as in short courses for industry partners.

Her teaching currently includes:

• Ageing and Professional Practice
• Choices and Options in Later Life
• Contemporary Issues in Gerontology
• Leadership in Clinical Practice
• Age Friendly Communities

Research

Robin's research interests include the following areas:

• Gerontology teaching and curriculum development
• Education for the health and aged care workforce
• Environments for healthy ageing

Memberships

• Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) (2007 – 2021)
• AAG Victorian Division Executive Committee (2007- 2021)
• AAG Ageing, Workforce and Education Special Interest Group  Co-convenor (founding) (2016 – 2021) https://www.aag.asn.au/education/special-interest-groups/ageing-workforce-and-education-awesig
• AAG Research Trust Grants Committee member (2018 – 2021)
• Ageing Well Research Group – Charles Sturt University
• Leadership in Healthy Ageing Network, 2017 – 2021

Publications

2019

Submission to the Royal Commission into aged care quality and safety Bernoth, M., Hughes, C., Bramble, M., Cash, B. & Harvey, R., 18 Sep 2019, 28 p. Research output: Book/Report › Submissions to inquiries and consultations

2018

Better parks for people: Using geographic information system technology to improve park planning for older people Whitsed, R., Black, R., Knight, A., Harvey, R., Watkins, S. & Duffy, D., 2018, In: Australasian Parks and Leisure. 21, 1, p. 26-27 2 p.

Enhancing the usability and benefits of open space for older people in regional Australia Knight, A., Black, R., Whitsed, R. & Harvey, R., 2018, In: Australian Planner. 55, 2, p. 73-83 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

Better rural city park planning to improve older people’s health and well-being Whitsed, R., Black, R., Knight, A. & Harvey, R., 2017. 1 p. Research output: Other contribution to conference › Abstract

2016

Better Parks for People: A tool to improve park planning for older people: The better parks for people project Whitsed, R., Black, R., Harvey, R., Knight, A., Watkins, S. & Armstrong, D., 2016, In: Australasian Parks and Leisure. Summer, p. 38-39 2 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2014

The Coming of Age: An Academic's Autoethnography Examination of Gerontology Education Harvey, R., 2014, Australia: Charles Sturt University. 240 p. Research output: Thesis › Masters Thesis

2013

Aged care workforce needs and the under-development of gerontology education in Australia Harvey, R. & Masterman-Smith, H., 2013, 2013 Proceedings of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Conference: Reflections, Intersections and Aspirations: 50 Years of Australian Sociology. Osbaldiston, N., Strong, C. & Forbes-Mewett, H. (eds.). Melbourne: The Sociological Association of Australia (TASA), p. 1-12 12 p. Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

2010

Health Education for Sustainability: A Higher Education Curriculum Handbook, Masterman-Smith, H., Sheahan, M., Dunphy, J. and Harvey, R. 2010  Charles Sturt University, Albury, December. Research output: Report