Dr. Wendy Newton
PhDResearch Worker
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
8 - G47
Wendy Newton is a Peri-Operative Nurse Educator for the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service. Wendy has a wealth of experience in the peri-operative setting as well as working across medical, surgical wards and the alcohol, tobacco and other drugs setting. She is also a casual Research Assistant for the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQU. She has also worked as a casual marker for public health and as a Unit Coordinator for Psychology (Honours) at CQU.
Background
Wendy is a Div 1 Registered Nurse and completed her training at the Bundaberg Base Hospital in 1988. Since then, she has completed a Certificate IV in Behavioural Dog Training with the Delta Society and a Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing (Peri-Operative). She completed her PhD titled “Animals in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities: Provision, Policy and Practice”.
Universities Studied At
2015 University of New England Graduate Certificate Acute Care Nursing (Peri-Operative)
2019-2024 Central Queensland University PhD “Animals in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities: Provision, Policy and Practice.”
2025 James Cook University Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education (in progress)
Universities Worked At
2022 - Current research assistant
Awards
2023 Australian Nurses Memorial Scholarship
Professional Experience
2025 Nurse Educator (Acting) Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (Bundaberg)
2018-2025 Registered Nurse Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (Bundaberg) Perioperative, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service
2002-2018 Clinical Nurse Mercy Health and Aged Care Central Queensland (Bundaberg)
Professional Memberships
2015 Australian College of Operating Room Nurses
2021International Society for Anthrozoology
2023 Animal Therapies Ltd
2024 International Association of Human Animal Interventions Organisations (IAHAIO)
Key Achievements
2023 Australian Nurses Memorial Scholarship $10,000
Consultancy Work
2024 Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (Pet Therapy Policy)