Associate Professor Danny Hills
Phone: (07) 37273312
Email: d.hills@federation.edu.au
Position: Deputy Dean, School of Health
Workforce Development Research Stream Director, Health Innovation and Transformation Centre
Discipline: Nursing and Health Care
Qualifications
BN, Grad Cert Mgt, Grad Cert Ter Teach, MN Hons, PhD
Teaching areas/interests
Research Methods, Statistical Methods, Evidence Based Health Care, Patient Safety and Care Quality / Clinical Governance
Professional associations/affiliations
- Australian Association of Gerontology
- Australian College of Nursing
- Australasian Epidemiological Association
- Sigma Theta Tau International (Psi Zeta-at-Large Chapter)
Research interests
Health and aged care services and workforce, workplace aggression, mental health and well-being, and ageing.
Supervised Projects
PhD
- The role of leadership in combating incivility toward new graduate nurses in Australian rural health settings
- Perceptions and practices of Registered Nurses: A grounded theory of pain management for people with severe dementia in residential aged care
- Preparing pre-registration nursing students to effectively manage workplace incivility: A multi-method study
- Foreign credential recognition of nurses as part of Australia's international trade in services
- Modelling a cardiac rehabilitation program in Saudi Arabia
- Towards sustainable equity in mental health services for LGBT people: A rhizomatic contribution from nurses constituted at n – 1.
Masters
- The effects of osteopathic intervention on the relaxation response
- Measuring the association between nurses and midwives’ workloads and burnout and job turnover: A systematic review
- How do care staff in a regional residential aged care facility assess and manage pain in residents with dementia?
Honours
- What are new graduate nurses’ experiences of disrespect, incivility and marginalisation in Australian hospitals?
- Perceived barriers to high quality haemodialysis care for patients with co-occurring end stage renal failure and mental health issues: A qualitative approach
Grants and awards
| Year(s) | Investigators | Title | Funder | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2024 | Lim, K., Moore, K., Hayes, B., Le, B., Yates, P., Bloomer, M., Gray, L., Pond, D., Gerber, K., Engal, L., Tracey, M., Hills, D., Bachelor, F., Goh, A., Bicknell, R., Nestel, D., Johnson, C., Savvas, S. & Bodna, K. | IMPART – Improving Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care using Telehealth | NHMRC – 2020 TCR into End of Life Care | $1.05m |
| 2021-2022 | Hills, D., Browning, C., Theobald, M., Ekegren, C., Klein, D. & Batchelor, F. | Reducing patient sedentary behaviour in sub-acute units at Ballarat Health Services | Western Alliance / National Institute of Ageing Research | $50,008 |
| 2021-2022 | Bentley, R., Weller-Newton, J., Raynor, K. & Hills, D. | An intergenerational visioning of affordable housing in a regional context | Affordable Housing Hallmark Research Initiative – Uni of Melbourne | $14,783 |
| 2021-2022 | Vuillermin, P., Versace, V., Hutchinson, A., Allender, S., .... Hills, D., et al. | The pregnancy research and translation ecosystem | Western Alliance | $198,969 |
| 2021-2022 | Hills, D., Gudur, R. & Flynn, D. | Ageing with dignity in Taiwan: Innovation supporting our older populations | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – NCP | $115,500 |
| 2021-2022 | Terry, D., Hills, D., Kirschbaum, M., Obamiro, K., Bishop, J., Schmitz, D. & Baker, E. | Better enabling, retaining and sustaining the pharmacy workforce in regional, rural and remote settings | Health Innovation and Transformation Centre, Federation University | $9,893 |
| 2020 | Hills, D | Lessons from Thailand: Promoting health and well-being in our ageing societies | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – New Colombo Plan | $66,000 |
| 2019 | Gasevic, D., Ekegren, C., Bonham, M., Bowles, K-A., Callaway, L., Dakic, J., Daly, S., Dunstan, D., Gilmartin-Thomas, J., Hills, D., et al. | Optimising physical activity and sedentary behaviour counselling in education for healthcare students | Monash Education Academy | $5,000 |
| 2018 | Robinson, T., Hills, S. & Hills, D. | Anxiety in later life - Screening and intervention study | Ella Lowe Grant, Nurses Board of Victoria Legacy Limited | $49,890 |
| 2018-2020 | Sharoun, L., Montana-Hoyos, C. & Hills, D. | Inspired by Singapore: Design and healthy ageing in multicultural societies | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | $554,400 |
| 2017-2018 | Robinson, T. & Hills, D. | Towards integrated care: improving patient and frontline staff engagement and experience of ambulatory care referral and communication processes | Medical Research Future Fund | $135,779 |
| 2017-2018 | Hills, D. & Lam, L. | Workplace aggression experiences in nursing and midwifery: Prevalence, prevention, responses and impact | Mona Menzies Post-doctoral Research Grant, Nurses Board of Victoria Legacy Limited | $40,828 |
| 2017-2018 | Hills, D., Hills, S., Robinson, T. & Hungerford, C. | Identifying anxiety in later life | Univers Foundation, Japan | ¥990,000 ($11,402) |
| 2017 | Sharoun, L., Montana-Hoyos, C. & Hills, D. | Inspired by Singapore: Design and healthy ageing | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | $85,800 |
| 2016 | Robinson, T., Northam, H. & Hills, D. | Implementing a workforce resilience program with clinicians working in cancer services: A feasibility study | University of Canberra, Faculty of Health | $4,935 |
| 2014-2015 | Hungerford, C., Gibson, D., Hercelynskij, G., Hills, D., Petrie, E. & Grealish, L. | Co-operative for healthy ageing research and teaching (CHART) service in the ACT and Southern NSW – a focus on sustainability | Department of Social Services | $ 30,000 |
| 2014 | Hills, D., Hutchinson, A., Jones, T. & Craig, P. | Tri-focal Model of Care: Practice and service development project | Co-operative for Health Ageing Research and Teaching (CHART) | $5,000 |
| 2012-2014 | Shochet, I., Wurfl, A., Robinson, T. & Hills, D. | Development of a resilience program for Indigenous job seekers in rural NSW | Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation (MPREC) | $200,000 |
| 2011 | Robinson, T. & Hills, D. | Transcultural mental health care scoping study | NSW Ministry of Health | $20,000 |
| 2011 | Robinson, T. & Hills, D. | Evaluation of the deadly thinking program | Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health | $30,000 |
| 2009-2011 | Robinson, T., Hills, D. & Kelly, B. | Mental health emergency care learning and development program | NSW Ministry of Health | $533,000 |
| 2008-2009 | Robinson, T. & Hills, D. | Introduction to rural mental health practice | NSW Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching | $150,000 |
| 2006-2008 | Robinson, T., Hills, D. & Kelly, B. | Mental health emergency care learning and development pilot | NSW Ministry of Health | $80,000 |
Publications
Gerber, K., Brijnath, B., Lock, K., Bryant, C., Hills, D. & Hjorth, L. (2022), ‘Unprepared for the depth of my feelings’ – Capturing grief in older people through research poetry, Age and Ageing, 51(3), 1-7. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac030
Terry, D., Phan, H., Peck, B., Hills, D., Kirschbaum, M., Bishop, J., Obamiro, K., Hoang, H., Nguyen, H., Baker, E. & Schmitz, D. (2021). Factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of rural pharmacist workforce: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1052), 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-07072-1
Hills, D., Ekegren, C., Plummer, V, Freene, N., Kunstler, B., Robinson, T., Healy, E., Vo, J., Gasevic, D., & Crabtree, A. (2021). Nursing perspectives on reducing sedentary behaviour in sub-acute hospital settings: A mixed methods study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, Early View. doi: 10.1111/jocn.15994
Hills, S., Crawford, K., Lam, L. & Hills, D. (2021). The way we do things around here: A qualitative study of the workplace aggression experiences of Victorian nurses, midwives and care personnel. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 28(1), 18-26. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2020.02.012.
Scott, A. & Hills, D. (2021). Unprofessional behaviour in Australian hospital staff. Medical Journal of Australia, 241(1), 21-22. doi: 10.5694/mja2.50891
Geoffrion, S., Hills, D.J., Ross, H.M., Pich, J., Hill, A.T., Dalsbø, T.K., Riahi, S., Martínez-Jarreta, B. & Guay, S. (2020). Education and training for the prevention and minimisation of workplace aggression directed toward healthcare workers (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9(CD011860), 1-81. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011860.pub2
Kidgell, D., Hills, D., Griffiths, D. & Endacott, R. (2020). Trade agreements and the risks for the nursing workforce, nursing practice and public health: A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 109(103676), 1-10. doi: 10.0.3.248/j.ijnurstu.2020.103676.
Wanaratwichit, C., Hills, D., & Cruickshank, M. (2020). Home-based care for people with disabilities: Role of registered nurses within the district health system in Thailand. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 27(1), 18-22. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2019.06.004.
Hills, D., Hills, S., Robinson, T., Northam, H. & Hungerford, C. (2019). General practice nurse led screening for anxiety in later life in Australian primary care settings. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 38(4), e121-e126. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12637.
Hills, D., Hills, S., Robinson, T. & Hungerford, C. (2019). Mental health nurses supporting the routine assessment of anxiety in older people in primary care settings: Insights from an Australian study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 40(2), 118-123. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1517285.
Freene, N., Cools, S. Hills, D., Bissett, B., Pumpa, K. & Cooper, G. (2019). A wake-up call for physical activity promotion in Australia: Results from a survey of Australian nursing and allied health professionals. Australian Health Review, 43(2), 165-170. doi: 10.1071/AH16240
Hills, D., Lam, L. & Hills, S. (2018). Workplace aggression experiences and responses of Victorian nurses, midwives and care personnel. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 25(6), 575-582. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2018.09.003
Mammen, B., Lam, L. & Hills, D. (2018). Newly qualified graduate nurses’ experiences of workplace incivility in Australian hospital settings. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 25(6), 591-599. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2018.08.003
Hills, D. J. (2018). Defining and classifying aggression and violence in health care work. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 25(6), 607-612. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2018.08.002
Foster, K. P., Hills, D. & Foster, K. N. (2018). Addressing the support needs of families during the acute hospitalization of a parent with mental illness: A narrative literature review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(2), 470-482. doi: 10.1111/inm.12385
McKenna, L., Robinson, E., Penman, J., Hills, D. (2017). Factors impacting on psychological wellbeing of international students in the health professions: A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 74(1), 85-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.06.007
Hills, D. J. (2017). Differences in risk and protective factors for workplace aggression between male and female clinical medical practitioners in Australia. Australian Health Review, 41(3), 313-320. doi: 10.1071/AH16003
Robinson, T., Janssen, A., Harnett, P., Museth, K., Provan, P., Hills, D. & Shaw, T. (2017). Embedding CQI processes in multi-disciplinary teams in cancer care: Exploring the boundaries between quality and implementation science. Australian Health Review, 41(3), 291-296. doi: 10.1071/AH16052
Hills, D. (2016). Associations between Australian clinical medical practitioner exposure to workplace aggression and workforce participation intentions. Australian Health Review, 40(1), 36-42. doi: 10.1071/AH14246
Hills, D. J., Ross, H. M., Pich, J. Hill, A.T., Dalsbø, T. K., Riahi, S., Guay, S., Martínez-Jarreta, B. (2015). Education and training for the prevention and minimisation of workplace aggression directed toward healthcare workers (protocol). The Cochrane Library, 9(CD011860), 1-18. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011860
Wanaratwichit, C., Hills, D., Cruickshank, M. & Newman, B. (2015). A model of home based care for people with disabilities: Better practice in rural Thailand. The Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 10(2), 44-51.
Hills, D. & Joyce, C. (2014). Workplace aggression in clinical medical practice: Associations with job satisfaction, life satisfaction and self-rated health. Medical Journal of Australia, 201(9), 535-540. doi: 10.5694/mja13.00152
Hills, D. & Joyce, C. (2013). A review of research on the prevalence, antecedents, consequences and prevention of workplace aggression in clinical medical practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal, 18(5), 554-569. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2013.07.014
Hills, D. & Joyce, C. (2013). Personal, professional and work factors associated with Australian clinical medical practitioners’ experiences of workplace aggression. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 57(7), 898-912. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/met012
Hills, D., Joyce, C. & Humphreys, J. (2013). Workplace aggression prevention and minimisation in Australian clinical medical practice settings – a national study. Australian Health Review, 37(5), 607-613. doi: 10.1071/AH13149
Robinson, T., Hills, D. & Rossiter, R. (2013). Mental health emergency care in Australia: An education program for clinicians. Education for Health, 26(3), 172-177. doi: 10.4103/1357-6283.125994
Hills, D., Joyce, C. & Humphreys, J. (2012). A national study of workplace aggression in Australian clinical medical practice. Medical Journal of Australia, 197(6), 336-340. doi: 10.5694/mja12.10444
Hills, D., Joyce, C. & Humphreys, J. (2012). Validation of a job satisfaction scale in Australian clinical medical practice. Evaluation and the Health Professions, 35(1), 47-76. doi: 10.1177/0163278710397339
Hills, D., Joyce, C. & Humphreys, J. (2011). Prevalence and prevention of workplace aggression in Australian clinical medical practice. Australian Health Review, 35(3), 253-261. doi: 10.1071/AH10983
Robinson, T., Hills, D. & Kelly, B. (2011). The evaluation of an online orientation to rural mental health practice in Australia. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(7), 629-636. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01712.x
Hills, D., Robinson, T., Kelly, B. & Heathcote, S. (2010). Outcomes from the trial implementation of a multidisciplinary online learning program in rural mental health emergency care. Education for Health, 23(1), 1-12.
Hills, D. (2008). Relationships between aggression management training, perceived self-efficacy and rural general hospital nurses’ experiences of patient aggression. Contemporary Nurse, 31(1), 20-31. doi: 10.5172/conu.673.31.1.20
Books and Book Chapters
Scharoun, L., Hills, D., Montana-Hoyos, C., Peng, F. & Sung, V. (2020). Cross-cultural design for healthy ageing. Bristol: Intellect. https://www.intellectbooks.com/cross-cultural-design-for-healthy-ageing
Hills, D., Tan, K.K. & Heng, D. (2020). Clinician perspectives on preregistration nursing student participation in interdisciplinary, cross- cultural study tours and design workshops. In L. Scharoun, D. Hills, C. Montana-Hoyos, F. Peng, & V. Sung, V. (Eds.), Cross-cultural Design for Healthy Ageing (pp. 63-72). Bristol: Intellect.
Hills, D., with contributions (2020). Student perspectives on participation in multidisciplinary, cross-cultural study tours and design workshops. In L. Scharoun, D. Hills, C. Montana-Hoyos, F. Peng, & V. Sung, V. (Eds.), Cross-cultural Design for Healthy Ageing (pp. 133-159). Bristol: Intellect.