Jessica Bennett

Jessica Bennett is a Gamilaroi yinarr and active Lecturer at the University of Newcastle's College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. With a Master of Clinical Nursing from the University of Tasmania, she combines clinical expertise as a Neonatal Registered Nurse with 10 years of experience at John Hunter Children Hospital. Her academic roles include Course Coordinator for INDH2000/INDH2510 and teaching in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery courses.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Anti-Racism
• Cultural Safety
• Neonatal Nursing
• Paediatrics
• Prematurity
• Qualitative Research

Dr. Bennett's research focuses on culturally safe healthcare for Indigenous families in neonatal settings. She leads the 2025 Winangali: Breastfeeding in NICU project funded by HMRI and contributes to the national Gulibaa (Coolamon) Project (2023-2025) addressing smoking cessation in Indigenous pregnancies. Her work challenges Euro-Western research methodologies through sovereign Indigenous knowledge systems.

Scientific Recognition:

• 2024: Best New Presenter, Australian College of Neonatal Nurses
• 2020: Values Award, University of Newcastle

As an investigator on multiple grants totaling $2,285,026, she develops culturally responsive interventions like the MAMA-EMPOWER App for Indigenous maternal health. Her publications examine systemic barriers in healthcare, Indigenous family experiences in NICUs, and tobacco control strategies.