Nicola Ivory

Dr. Nicola Ivory is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Charles Sturt University, where she has been a faculty member since 2022. She holds a PhD from Deakin University, focusing on Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and coping behaviors in alcohol use. Her teaching portfolio includes research methods, statistics, and foundational psychology courses such as personality and cognitive psychology.

Dr. Ivory’s research interests center on drug and alcohol use, addictive behaviors, and neurobiological models of personality, particularly leveraging Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. Her work frequently intersects with interdisciplinary studies, including collaborations on global childhood communication and rural health disparities. Notable contributions include scoping reviews on professional identity in social work and innovative placement models in education.

She has received several accolades, including the Charles Sturt “Research Excellence Through Partnership Award” (2022) and the ANZSWWER Research Achievement Awards (2023). Her research has addressed topics like rural mental health staff wellbeing, global child voice projects, and disaster preparedness in social work practice.

Dr. Ivory’s grants include funding for rural student research during the pandemic and a pilot study on non-governmental mental health staff retention. She actively participates in collaborative networks, such as the Psychosocial Well-being of Rural and Regional Australians Research Group and the Children’s Voices Centre, advancing community-focused initiatives.