معرفی
Dr. Lisa Holmes serves as the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University, where she leads the development, implementation, and quality assurance of all teaching and learning activities across the school. She is also an active researcher whose work focuses on education, training, mental health and wellbeing, with particular emphasis on student preparation for the workplace.
Her educational background includes:
- Doctor of Philosophy from Edith Cowan University (2018)
- Bachelor of Arts in Education and Training from United Kingdom (2006)
Dr. Holmes' research interests center on creating supportive educational environments that prioritize both academic excellence and personal wellbeing. She has published extensively on mental health challenges in emergency service professions, particularly focusing on paramedics and first responders. Her innovative approach to wellbeing includes introducing wellness dogs (Watson & Edi) to campus, which has become a notable feature of her work environment and research focus.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on mental health challenges within emergency response professions, with particular attention to paramedics, firefighters, and 9/11 responders. Her work bridges education theory with practical mental health interventions, often examining how training programs can better prepare professionals for the psychological demands of their work. The introduction of wellness dogs represents a creative intervention that has generated specific research interest in animal-assisted interventions for stress reduction in academic and professional settings.
Her recognition includes:
- Suicide Prevention Australia annual LiFE Award in the Emerging/Early Career Researcher category (Finalist)
Dr. Holmes actively supervises research students at both Master's and Doctoral levels, with current projects focusing on paramedic education, disaster response, and LGBTIQA+ experiences in emergency services. She has secured significant research funding, including a $224,446 grant from the Department of Health WA for pandemic preparedness education, and multiple grants from Lifeline WA totaling over $170,000 for crisis supporter evaluation projects. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to translating research into practical interventions that improve mental health outcomes in high-stress professions.
Her innovative wellness dog program featuring Watson and Edi has created a unique campus environment that supports community building while serving as a living research project on the impact of animal-assisted interventions on emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging among students and staff.
