Mrs Jane Ferns

Mrs Jane Ferns

Lecturer

University Newcastle Department of Rural Health

Career Summary

Biography

Jane Ferns is a Lecturer in Interprofessional Practice at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health (UONDRH), based in Taree. In this role, she coordinates interprofessional education for students across a range of health disciplines, facilitating interactive and collaborative learning experiences that prepare students for team-based healthcare delivery.

Jane leads the development and implementation of interprofessional work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for health students in rural communities. These experiences enable students to engage in authentic, community-based practice while developing collaborative competencies and contributing to local health outcomes. Her work is grounded in strong collaboration with academic colleagues across UONDRH to ensure high-quality interprofessional education and support for students in rural and remote settings.

Her academic interests include interprofessional education and collaborative practice, the design and delivery of high-quality rural health student placements, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Jane is actively engaged in research in these areas and is committed to advancing best practices in health professions education.

A credentialed pharmacist, Jane holds a Master of Pharmacy from the University of Newcastle (2010) and is accredited by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to conduct medication management reviews. She is also certified to provide immunisation services within pharmacy practice. Her professional background spans community pharmacy management and professional services roles.

Jane is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE), recognising her commitment to excellence in teaching and learning in higher education.

Qualifications

  • Master of Pharmacy, University of Newcastle
  • Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle
  • Registered Pharmacist, Pharmacy Board of Australia

Keywords

  • Interprofessional Education
  • Pharmacy
  • Rural Health
  • Service Learning

Languages

  • English (Fluent)

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
420399 Health services and systems not elsewhere classified 100

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title Organisation / Department
Lecturer University of Newcastle
University Newcastle Department of Rural Health
Australia

Membership

Dates Title Organisation / Department
1/1/2025 -  Credentialed Pharmacist Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Australia
31/7/2024 -  Advance HE Fellow Advance HE (UK) Higher Education Academy
United Kingdom
1/1/2017 - 1/1/2025 Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy Accredited Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy
Australia

Professional appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
1/1/2012 -  Community Pharmacist Various
Australia

Awards

Award

Year Award
2019 DVC(A) Educator Innovation and Impact Award
The University of Newcastle
2018 Excellence in Health Professional Education
Flinders University and Australian and New Zealand Association of Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE)
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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Conference (26 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2025 Little A, Ferns J, Heaney S, 'Embracing past and present horizons to pursue our interprofessional future' (2025)
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Susan Heaney
2025 Ridd M, Quilliam C, Ferns J, Green E, Moore L, Sheepway L, Seaton C, Taylor C, Rasiah R, Bailie J, Fitzgerald K, Debenham J, 'Determinants of high-quality rural health student placements are on the horizon' (2025)
2024 Heaney S, Ferns J, Little A, Croker A, Burrows J, Brown L, 'Developing Students' Collaborative Practice: Tapping into Rapport Between Clinical Educators from Different Professions' (2024)
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Julie Burrows, Anne Croker, Susan Heaney, Leanne Brown
2024 Quilliam C, Green E, Rasiah R, Ridd M, Ferns J, Moore L, Sheepway L, Seaton C, Bailie J, Debenham J, Taylor C, Fitzgerald K, Matthews K, 'Features of high-quality rural health student placements – Perspectives of university employees' (2024)
2024 Ferns J, Moore L, Taylor C, 'Searching for quality through quantity: working together to understand an issue' (2024)
2024 Quilliam C, Rasiah R, Fitzgerald K, Green E, Ridd M, Moore L, Taylor C, Sheepway L, Seaton C, Bailie J, Ferns J, Matthews K, Debenham J, 'University perspectives of high-quality rural health professions student placements: a mixed methods study protocol' (2024)
2024 Ridd M, Taylor C, Green E, Rasiah R, Sheepway L, Seaton C, Moore L, Bailie J, Matthews K, Ferns J, Debenham J, Fitzgerald K, Quilliam C, 'ECOUTER: Awkward acronym; wonderful way to investigate the essential ingredients of high quality rural and remote health student placements' (2024)
2022 Heaney S, Ferns J, Grotowski M, Brown L, Killey N, 'Embracing partnerships: Developing a QuALITY community of practice for teaching & learning' (2022)
Co-authors Nicole Killey, Susan Heaney, Miriam Grotowski, Leanne Brown
2022 Heaney S, Brown L, Ferns J, Little A, Urquhart L, Crowley E, 'Nurturing student dietitians to emerge as interprofessional practitioners' (2022)
Co-authors Susan Heaney, Elesa Crowley, Lisa Urquhart, Alexandra Little, Leanne Brown
2021 Little A, Croker A, Carter L, Grotowski M, Ferns J, Cooper E, 'Grappling with linguistic subtleties when teaching interprofessional practice: Can theory help move us from ‘bewilderment’ towards ‘clarity’?' (2021)
Co-authors Miriam Grotowski, Alexandra Little, Anne Croker
2021 Little A, Ferns J, Hawkins N, Heaney S, Carter L, 'Escaping the clinical to build the interprofessional' (2021)
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Susan Heaney
2021 Ferns J, Little A, Heaney S, Frewin C, 'Online Interprofessional Education: the journey from defeat to triumph' (2021)
Co-authors Claire Frewin, Susan Heaney, Alexandra Little
2021 Ferns J, Hawkins N, Little A, Carter L, 'Escaping the lecture theatre: A team effort' (2021)
Co-authors Alexandra Little
2020 Little A, Hawkins N, Carter L, Cone L, Ferns J, Heaney S, Killey N, 'Escaping the clinical to build the interprofessional', Escaping the clinical to build the interprofessional (2020)
Co-authors Nicole Killey, Alexandra Little, Susan Heaney, Lauren Cone
2020 Hawkins N, Little A, Carter L, Cone L, Wisely K, Norris J, Ferns J, 'Escaping the lecture theatre: A team effort', Escaping the lecture theatre: A team effort (2020)
Co-authors Kerrie Wisely, Alexandra Little, Lauren Cone
2020 Little A, Carter L, Croker A, Grotowski M, Edgar A, Ferns J, 'Grappling with linguistic subtleties when teaching interprofessional practice: Can theory help move us from ‘bewilderment’ towards ‘clarity’?', Grappling with linguistic subtleties when teaching interprofessional practice: Can theory help move us from ‘bewilderment’ towards ‘clarity’? (2020)
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Anne Croker, Miriam Grotowski
2019 Killey N, Ferns J, 'Realising the value of a student led service learning placement in challenging mental health stigma: “This placement has changed me forever”' (2019)
Co-authors Nicole Killey
2019 Killey N, Ferns J, Wolfgang R, 'Developing a student-led, service learning placement for allied health student in community mental health' (2019)
Co-authors Nicole Killey, Rebecca Wolfgang
2019 Little A, Ferns J, Edgar A, Grotowski M, De Silva L, Croker A, 'Putting the spotlight on clinical reasoning: Implications for facilitating interprofessional education' (2019)
Co-authors Anne Croker, Alexandra Little, Miriam Grotowski
2019 Ferns J, Little A, Croker A, 'Do we mean what we say and say what we mean?: Exploring implications of terminology associated with interprofessional education and learning' (2019)
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Anne Croker
2018 Little AL, Ferns JL, 'Me, myself and us: Unpacking the origins of our own interprofessional perspectives to facilitate collaborative patient-centred care' (2018)
Co-authors Alexandra Little
2018 Ferns JL, Little AL, Smith AN, Croker AL, Brown LJ, 'Educating for collaborative healthcare opportunities (ECHO): Evolution on a rural landscape' (2018)
Co-authors Tony Smith, Anne Croker, Alexandra Little, Leanne Brown
2018 Ferns JL, Little AL, Croker AL, 'Me, myself and us: Unpacking the origins of our own interprofessional perspectives to facilitate collaborative patient-centred care' (2018)
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Anne Croker
2018 Little AL, Ferns JL, Croker AL, Brown LJ, 'Educating for collaborative healthcare opportunities (ECHO): Ideas for a sustainable model' (2018)
Co-authors Leanne Brown, Anne Croker, Alexandra Little
2018 De Silva LK, Cooper E, Wakely LT, Brown LJ, Little AL, Ferns JL, 'Preparing for the interprofessional landscape: a program facilitating collaboration between physiotherapy and radiography students' (2018)
Co-authors Tony Smith, Luke Wakely, Alexandra Little, Leanne Brown
2018 Plunkett BM, Robinson A, Brown L, Pretty J, Ferns J, 'Creating new opportunities for student placement and enhancing patient care through the establishment of a rural dietetic service learning clinic (DSLC)' (2018)
Co-authors Leanne Brown, Amy Robinson
Show 23 more conferences

Journal article (8 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2025 Green E, Rasiah RL, Quilliam C, Moore L, Ridd M, Ferns J, Sheepway L, Seaton C, Taylor C, Fitzgerald K, 'What do Australian university staff perceive are the features of high-quality rural health student placements? A sequential explanatory study', BMJ Open, 15 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098381
2025 Tullipan M, George J, Magin P, Godbee K, Ferns J, Frewin C, 'A systematic review of targeted dementia risk reduction interventions in middle-aged adults in Primary Care.', Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 12, 1-8 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100187
Co-authors Parker Magin, Claire Frewin
2025 Heaney S, Little A, Ferns J, Burrows J, Croker A, Brown L, 'Supporting students’ collaborative practice: a narrative reflection on a workshop for developing clinical educators’ interprofessional rapport', Journal of Interprofessional Care, 39, 692-697 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1080/13561820.2025.2501732
Co-authors Alexandra Little, Leanne Brown, Susan Heaney, Julie Burrows, Anne Croker
2024 Quilliam C, Green E, Rasiah RL, Sheepway L, Seaton C, Moore L, Bailie J, Matthews KM, Ferns J, Debenham J, Taylor C, Fitzgerald K, Ridd M, 'University staff perspectives on determinants of high-quality health professions student placements in regional, rural and remote Australia: protocol for a mixed-method study', BMJ OPEN, 14 (2024)
DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077079
Citations Scopus - 2
2024 Ferns J, Hawkins N, Little A, Hamiduzzaman M, 'The escape room experience: Exploring new ways to deliver interprofessional education', INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION AND TEACHING INTERNATIONAL, 61, 516-527 (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.1080/14703297.2022.2158900
Citations Scopus - 9Web of Science - 4
Co-authors Alexandra Little
2022 Green E, Quilliam C, Sheepway L, Hays CA, Moore L, Rasiah RL, Bailie J, Howard C, Hyde S, Inyang I, Matthews K, Ferns J, Brown LJ, Jones S, Collett M, 'Identifying features of quality in rural placements for health students: scoping review', BMJ OPEN, 12 (2022) [C1]

Objectives To explore and synthesise the evidence relating to features of quality in rural health student placements. Design Scoping review. Data sources MEDLINE, CINAH... [more]

Objectives To explore and synthesise the evidence relating to features of quality in rural health student placements. Design Scoping review. Data sources MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest, Informit, Scopus, ERIC and several grey literature data sources (1 January 2005 to 13 October 2020). Study selection The review included peer-reviewed and grey literature from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development listed countries that focused on quality of health student placements in regional, rural and remote areas. Data extraction Data were extracted regarding the methodological and design characteristics of each data source, and the features suggested to contribute to student placement quality under five categories based on a work-integrated learning framework. Results Of 2866 resulting papers, 101 were included for data charting and content analysis. The literature was dominated by medicine and nursing student placement research. No literature explicitly defined quality in rural health student placements, although proxy indicators for quality such as satisfaction, positive experiences, overall effectiveness and perceived value were identified. Content analysis resulted in four overarching domains pertaining to features of rural health student placement quality: (1) learning and teaching in a rural context, (2) rural student placement characteristics, (3) key relationships and (4) required infrastructure. Conclusion The findings suggest that quality in rural health student placements hinges on contextually specific features. Further research is required to explore these findings and ways in which these features can be measured during rural health student placements.

DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057074
Citations Scopus - 2Web of Science - 16
Co-authors Leanne Brown
2022 Little A, Croker A, Ferns J, Grotowski M, Edgar A, Carter L, 'Sharing our research experience in higher education: should doing it differently be the exception?', Access, 10, 88-98 (2022)
Co-authors Miriam Grotowski, Anne Croker, Alexandra Little
2016 Littlejohns SN, Ferns J, 'Rural Pharmacy: Adding value to the rural experience in student placements with community engagement', Australian Pharmacist, 35, 24-24 (2016)
Co-authors Sonja Littlejohns
Show 5 more journal articles

Report (1 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2024 Heaney S, Little A, Ferns J, Burrows J, Croker A, Brown L, 'Rapport between clinical educators from different professions: Tapping into this unrealised potential when developing students’ collaborative practice for work-integrated learning' (2024)
Co-authors Leanne Brown, Susan Heaney, Alexandra Little, Julie Burrows, Anne Croker
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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants 3
Total funding $18,406

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

20221 grants / $10,000

Rapport between supervisors from different professions: Tapping into unrealised potential for developing students’ collaborative practice through work integrated learning$10,000

Funding body: Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)

Funding body Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)
Project Team Doctor Susan Heaney, Mrs Alex Little, Mrs Jane Ferns, Professor Leanne Brown, Doctor Anne Croker
Scheme Research Grant
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2022
Funding Finish 2022
GNo G2200476
Type Of Funding C3100 – Aust For Profit
Category 3100
UON Y

20192 grants / $8,406

"Knots to know?": Making visible, untangling and exploring tensions associated with different pedagogical approaches to interprofessional education for healthcare students$5,000

Funding body: the Educator Network (tEN)

Funding body the Educator Network (tEN)
Project Team

Mrs Alexandra Little, Mrs Anna Edgar, Mrs Jane Ferns, Dr Miriam Grotowski, Ms Lani De Silva , Dr Anne Croker
Scheme Teaching and Innovation Investment Scheme (TI2)
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2019
Funding Finish 2019
GNo
Type Of Funding Internal
Category INTE
UON N

Escaping the lecture theatre: a team effort$3,406

Funding body: the Educator Network (tEN)

Funding body the Educator Network (tEN)
Project Team

Mrs Jane Ferns, Mrs Natasha Hawkins, Mrs Kerrie Wisely, Ms Jenny Norris, Mrs Alexandra Little, Ms Lani De Silva, Ms Lauren Cone
Scheme Teaching and Innovation Investment Scheme (TI2)
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2019
Funding Finish 2019
GNo
Type Of Funding Internal
Category INTE
UON N
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Mrs Jane Ferns

Position

Lecturer
University Newcastle Department of Rural Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing

Contact Details

Email jane.ferns@newcastle.edu.au
Phone 0240551909
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