Jessica Biles

Jessica Biles is an Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University's School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences since 2008. Her academic journey includes a PhD on Indigenous Australian cultural competence in nursing (2017) and a Master of Health Sciences Education from the University of Sydney. She has held leadership roles such as Associate Head of School, Academic Research Lead, and Academic Integrity Advisor. Her research focuses on regional health equity, cultural safety, and First Nations health, with over $650,000 in grants. She co-edited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellness and received the 2016 Betty Jeffreys Award for nursing leadership. She currently chairs the Australian Nurses Memorial Centre and represents the European Transcultural Nursing Society internationally.

Education: PhD (Charles Sturt University, 2017), Master of Health Sciences Education (University of Sydney, 2009), Bachelor of Nursing (University of Sydney, 2000).

Research Interests: Regional health equity, cultural competence in healthcare, First Nations health, and nursing education. She leads projects like the Deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Mentoring (DANMM) Program. Her articles explore topics like nicotine vaping among youth, workplace satisfaction in nursing, and cultural safety definitions.

Awards: Notable recognitions include the Betty Jeffreys Award (2016) and grants for mentoring programs and rural nursing research. She supervises multiple PhD, master’s, and honors students in areas like paramedic experiences and clinical handover frameworks.

Grants: Includes a $360,256.98 NSW Translational Research grant for the DANMM Program (2022) and a $15,000 grant for a rural nursing research center (2022). She also manages projects on racism during the pandemic and evidence-based practice education.

Professional Roles: Director of Australian Nurses Memorial Centre, Board Member of European Transcultural Nursing Society, and member of Australian Rural Health Education Network.