Staff Profile

Ms Natalie D'Abrew
Senior Research Manager, BA(Psych)(Hons)(ECU)

Natalie completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Hons) at Edith Cowan University in 2001. Since then she has worked in a number of research roles, in areas of health service research and cancer and palliative care. Prior to her current position Natalie was the principal project coordinator for the Associate Professor in Cancer and Palliative Care and HOS at Edith Cowan University. In Natalie's current position as a senior research manager she is involved in a number of different research projects in the areas of cancer and psychosocial care.

Natalie is currently enrolled in a PhD, titled ‘The male partners experience with Gynaecological Cancer’ this study will look at exploring men’s experiences when their partners are diagnosed and treated for gynaecological cancer, specifically around their relationships.

Areas of Expertise

Natalie interests are in the areas such as research project management, cancer and psychosocial care and interviewing.

Recent Research Projects

Supporting the supporters: Meeting the needs of male partners. (funded by the Nurses and Midwives Board NSW);

Development and testing of a community model for breast health for Chinese-Australian women: Establishing community advocates and using cultural specific breast health education. Cancer Institute NSW. Sponsorship Program.

Learn Now; Live Well: Train the Trainer (funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing);

Psychosocial and Practical Support Needs of Cancer Patients and their Families in Western Australia (funded by an ECU Collaborative Grant with the Western Australian Clinical Oncology Group);

A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Nurse Led Education Intervention on Body Image and Sexuality for Women with Breast Cancer (funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation and cancer Council WA);

A Randomised Control Trial Of Low Level Laser Therapy For The Treatment Of Lymphoedema Secondary To Breast Cancer (funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation);

The development and evaluation of a menopause information tool for young women following breast cancer. (funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation);

Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Palliative Care Patients and their Families: Palliative Care Nurses' Concerns (funded by the Nurses Memorial Trust - WA).

Psychosocial and Practical Support Needs of Cancer Patients and Their Families in Western Australia. ECU Collaborative Grant.

Recent Publications

Refereed Journals
White, K., D'Abrew, N., Aruet, K., Graham, N., & Duggan, G. (2008). Learn Now: Live Well: An educational program for caregivers who care for patients living with a life threatening illness. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 14 (10), 497 501.

Non-Refereed Journals/Media
Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Breast health advocates help combat cancer among Chinese-Australian women, Polyglot, 12 (3), p.4.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Chinese breast health advocates campaign to save lives, Australian Nursing Journal, 15, p.16-7.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Breast health: a new era for Chinese-Australian women, Sydney Alumni Magazine, Winter, p.8-9.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Successful implementation of breast health programme in Chinese- Australian Women., Australian New Express Daily, 26 April 2008,
p.A8.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Healthy Breast and Breast Health Programme, Australian Chinese Daily, 29 April 2008, p.4.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Information of breast health to Australian-Chinese women, Australian New Express Daily, 8 March 2008, p.A7.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) Successful implementation of Breast health seminar, SingTao, 8 March 2008, p.17.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) popular demand for breast health programme, Australian Chinese Daily, 8 March 2008, p.17.

Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N., & Koo. T. (2008) First breast health programme for Australian-Chinese: Successful development of culturally specific community advocates, SingTao, 25 April 2008, p.8.

Graham, N., Auret, K., White, K., D’Abrew, N. (2006). Supporting caregivers living with a life-threatening illness. Nursing Review, May, 12.

Recent Presentations

White, K., Katris, P., Threlfall, T., D’Abrew, N., Emery, L., O’Connor, M. & Ellis, I. (2008). Mapping the psychosocial and practical support needs of cancer patients and their families in WA. (2008). Poster presented at the 15th International Conference on Cancer Nursing, Singapore, August 2008. [Award for Outstanding Research].

D’Abrew, N., White, K., & Juraskova, I. (2008). Exploring the Impact of Breast and Gynaecological Cancer In Relation to Body Image and Sexuality: Male Partners Perspective. (2008). Paper presented at the 15th International Conference on Cancer Nursing, Singapore, August, 2008.

Kwok, C., White K & D'Abrew N & Koo, F.K. (2008). Developing and evaluating a culturally specific model for breast health education for Chinese Australian women: Developing culturally specific community advocates. Paper presented to the 9th Biennial Behavioural Research in Cancer Control Conference, Melbourne, April, 2008.

D’Abrew, N., White, K., & Juraskova, I. (2007). ‘The impact of breast and gynaecological cancer on sexuality and body image: the male partner perspective’. Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Postgraduate Research Seminars, June 2007.

D'Abrew, N. (2007) Exploring the impact of Breast and Gynaecological Cancer on Sexuality and Body Image: The male partners perspective, Invited Talk at ASSERT - Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists, Sydney, 22 May.

Jayde V, D'Abrew N, Hill O, White KJ, Juraskova I & Blomfield P (2006) The in-depth interview: an introduction to interviewing on sensitive topics, Mini-paper presented at the University of Sydney College of Health Sciences Health Research Conference 2006: From Cell to Society 5, Leura, 9 - 10 November

White K, Katris P, O'Connor M, D'Abrew N, Ellis I & Threlfall T (2006) Psychosocial and practical support needs of cancer patients in Western Australia: Results from the supportive needs survey, Invited Speech at the Mary Locket Lecture Theatre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia , 3 August

White K, Katris P, O'Connor M, Threlfall T, D'Abrew N & Ellis I. (2005) The Psychosocial and Practical Support Needs of Cancer Patients and their Families in WA, Paper presented at The Fifth WA State Cancer Conference: Cancer Knowledge - Cancer Practice, Western Australia, 18 October

White K, Wilkes L, Yates P, D'Abrew N & Cairns W (2004) Development of a palliative care service for rural and remote communities: the “pop-up model,” Paper presented at the National SARRAH Conference: Walking together, side by side: A Conference for Rural and Remote Allied Health Professionals, August, Alice Springs, NT.

Grants

2009, Nurses and Midwives Board (NMB) category 5 Grant: Supporting the supporters: Meeting the needs of male partners. White, K., D'Abrew, N., & Ryan, M. Total: $29,390.00.

2007, Development and testing of a community model for breast health for Chinese-Australian women: Establishing community advocates and using cultural specific breast health education. Kwok, C., White, K., D’Abrew, N. & Koo, T. Cancer Institute NSW. Sponsorship Program.$21, 513.90.

2006, Learn Now; Live Well. Train the Trainer. Auret, K., White, K., Graham, N., & D’Abrew, N. The Department of Health and Aging; Local Palliative Care Grants Program – Pastoral Care Counselling and Support Sub Program. $119,698.00.

2004, Psychosocial and Practical Support Needs of Cancer Patients and Their Families in Western Australia. White, K., Katris, P., O’Connor, M., Ellis, I., & D’Abrew, N. ECU Collaborative Grant $48,000.00.