Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator - Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

PhD BSc(Hons) GDipPsych GDipComp

Jo is passionate about evidence-based healthcare and research that holds potential to improve people’s lives.  For the past decade, Jo has undertaken research in the Australian public and private healthcare sectors.  Her experience includes Research Fellow roles with Monash University (Department of Psychiatry; Cochrane Australia) and the Psycho-Oncology Unit, Cabrini Institute.

Jo recently led the first study of the face-to-face Mindful Self-Compassion program for adult cancer survivors.  She has also managed studies on Meaning and Purpose Therapy for people living with advanced cancer and the Occupational Mindfulness program for healthcare staff.  Jo has served as a member of the Cabrini Human Research Ethics Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group.  Jo was coordinator and founding committee member of the Mental Health Professionals Network Psycho-oncology Interest Group.

Expertise

• Research methods including systematic reviews; qualitative research; and intervention studies
• Research ethics

Research Interests

• Health psychology
• Psychosocial wellbeing among transgender and/or gender diverse people
• Psychosocial wellbeing among refugees and asylum seekers
• Systematic review methods
• Mindfulness, self-compassion

Google Scholar Link

Recent Publications and Presentations

• Brooker, J., Julian, J., Millar, J., Prince, H. M., Kenealy, M., Herbert, K., Graham, A., Smith, R., Kissane, D., Taylor, K., Frydenberg, M., Porter, I., Fletcher, J., Haines, I., & Burney, S. (epub ahead of print). A feasibility and acceptability study of an adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion program for adult cancer patients.  Palliative & Supportive Care.
• O'Callaghan, C., Brooker, J., deSilva, W., Glenister, D., Melia, A., Symons, X., Kissane, D., & Michael, N. (2019). Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 58(6), 977-988. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.004
• Kissane, D., Lethborg, C., Brooker, J., Hempton, B., Burney, S., Michael, N., Staples, M., Osicka, T., Sulistio, M., & Hiscock, H. (2019). Meaning and Purpose (MaP) Therapy II: Feasibility and acceptability from a pilot study in advanced cancer. Palliative & Supportive Care, 17(1), 21-28. doi: 10.1017/S1478951518000883
• Shand, L., Brooker, J., Burney, S., Fletcher, J., & Ricciardelli L. (2018). Psychosocial factors associated with posttraumatic stress and growth in Australian women with ovarian cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 36(4), 470-483. doi:  1080/07347332.2018.1461728
• Robinson, S., Kissane, D., Brooker, J., Hempton, C., & Burney, S. (2017). The relationship between poor quality of life and desire to hasten death: A multiple mediation model examining the contributions of depression, demoralization, loss of control and low self-worth. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 53(2), 243-249. doi: 1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.08.013
• Shand, L. K., Cowlishaw, S., Brooker, J. E., Ricciardelli, L. A. & Burney, S. (2015). Correlates of post-traumatic stress symptoms and growth in cancer patients:  A systematic review and meta-analysis.  Psycho-Oncology, 24(6), 624-634. doi: 10.1002/pon.3719
• Brooker, J., Webber, L., Julian, J., Shawyer, F., Graham, A., Chan, J., & Meadows, G. (2014). Mindfulness-based training shows promise in assisting staff to reduce their use of restrictive interventions in residential services. Mindfulness, 5(5), 598-603.  doi: 10.1007/s12671-014-0306-2