Honours flow for UTS leaders in research and education

UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt congratulated all members of the UTS community who received awards, an unprecedented list led by UTS Chancellor Catherine Livingstone. 

“The achievements recognised in these honours underline the fundamental purpose of a university to serve the public good, from supporting success and equity in education to advancing research and policy development for the benefit of the wider community,” Professor Parfitt said.

UTS Professor of Nursing Aged Care (Dementia) Deborah Parker has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “significant service to community health, particularly through palliative and aged care research.”

Joining the UTS Faculty of Health in 2016, Deborah Parker began her career as a registered nurse specialising in aged care. Over the subsequent 35 years she has become recognised as a leader in the fields of palliative care for older people, dementia and health services evaluation in aged care.

“The driver of Deborah’s work has been embedding evidence into practice,” Professor Parfitt said. “She works closely with clinicians, reviewing and evaluating research outcomes and incorporating identified missing elements into care.

“Her research has had national and international significance, with collaborations in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada.

“This has included being a co-investigator on the development of one of the most widely used pain scales in Australia and Canada for people with dementia – The Abbey Pain Scale. 

“Professor Parker is held in high regard internationally for her strategic contribution to palliative and dementia care research as well as identifying local issues and workable solutions to improve healthcare for older people.”

You can read the complete list of 2024 UTS Australia Day Honurs recipients here: Honours flow for UTS leaders in research and education.