John Drayton

Dr John Drayton is a Lecturer and Program Lead for the Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland. He actively supervises postgraduate research students and contributes to work integrated learning initiatives.

• Bachelor of Social Work, University of Sydney
• Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Dr Drayton’s research focuses on social work practice in mental health, trauma-informed approaches, and psychosocial disability. His work bridges theory and practice through innovative educational simulations and explores ethical dimensions in bereavement counseling. He investigates the impact of stress coping mechanisms among undergraduate students with caregiving responsibilities.

His recent publications highlight recovery frameworks for NDIS participants, trauma-informed ESL pedagogy, and the role of simulated patients in palliative care education. Research spans forensic social work, death governance, and ethical consultation in organ retention contexts.

• 2024–2025: Out of the city – rural clinical placement experiences in nursing
• 2023–2024: AI-assisted decision-making in clinical laboratories

Supervision: Current projects include palliative care family meetings, trauma-informed teaching in ESL, and simulated patients in pediatric palliative care. He collaborates on initiatives addressing psychosocial wellbeing in construction industries.

Labs and Teams: Dr Drayton contributes to the DEFENCE project, Women’s Wellness After Cancer, and infection prevention research at The University of Queensland.