Penelope Harrison

Dr. Penelope Harrison is a Lecturer in Nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast's Caboolture campus, specializing in pediatric nursing and community health. With clinical experience across metropolitan, regional, and remote settings, she brings practical insights to her academic role teaching Nursing Practice Foundations, Practical Nursing Skills, and Child Client care.

Her historical research examines disability education in post-WWII Queensland, challenging conventional narratives through critical analysis of integration practices, policy implementation, and lived experiences. Recent scholarship (2015-2021) focuses particularly on educational access barriers and classification systems affecting children with disabilities during Australia's social transition period.

Professional Recognition: Awarded Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) for teaching excellence. Research contributions include book chapters on nursing ethics and historical evolution of nursing theory in core textbooks like Australian and New Zealand Fundamentals of Nursing.

Historical Methodology: Employs critical recovery approaches to illuminate diverse educational experiences of children with disabilities, moving beyond institutional histories to explore community-based learning alternatives and family advocacy efforts within Queensland's evolving educational landscape.