Dr Carolyn Astley

Associate Professor

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

place Sturt North
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Carolyn is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University. She is a Research Fellow with the Country Heart Attack Prevention (CHAP) program of research, manages the Reducing Morbidity and Mortality in type 2 diabetes study and is incoming president of Australian Cardiovascular & Rehabilitation Association (ACRA). Carolyn has expertise in registries, randomised clincial trials, observational, population and data linkage quantitative research and is lead of the South Australian cardiac rehabilitation state-wide audit. With a doctorate in public health focusing on systems of care which enable patients to receive best practice therapies following an acute coronary syndrome, Carolyn is committed to research and improving health services in secondary prevention cardiac care. Carolyn has held previous roles with Flinders Medical Centre Cardiology Outcomes research, SA Health and the Heart Foundation and now devotes her time to research and translation to practice. She has held previous leadership roles on the board of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) and was the inaugural chair of the CSANZ Cardiac Nurses council.

Qualifications
  •      2006-2012: Doctorate in Public Health, (AQF level 10), Flinders University

Dissertation: Opportunities to increase clinical effectiveness in acute coronary syndrome care (Distinction)

  •      2005-2005: Honours Public health, Bachelor Health Science, Adelaide University

Thesis: An ethical analysis of the use of drug-eluting stent technology in the Australian health care system (IIA)

  •      1995-1997: Bachelor Nursing, Flinders University
  •      1987-1988: Diploma Applied Science: Nursing, Sturt CAE
  •      1979-1983: Certificate nursing/Advanced Clinical nursing, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia
Honours, awards and grants
  •      August 2018: Winner of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Cardiovascular nurses prize for;

Astley C, Chew DP, Keech W, Clark RA, Tirimacco R, Tavella R, Horsfall M, Arstall M,

Tideman P, Beltrame J, Nicholls S. Impact of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Late Clinical Outcomes; non- attenders versus attenders, Brisbane

  •      April 2017: Heart Lung and Circulation Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in reviewing. Elsevier Reviewer Recognition award.
  •      November 2009, Royal College of Nursing Australia, Florence Nightingale Memorial Scholarship for doctorate research entitled, Health Service Variability as a Determinant of Achievement of Superior performance and Outcome in ACS management: $10,000
  •      August 2007, CSANZ travelling scholarship for the 55th Annual Scientific Meeting,

Christchurch, New Zealand for;

Carolyn M. Astley, John Amerena, David Brieger, Steve Coverdale, Jamie Rankin, Luan T. Huynh, Derek P. Chew Identifying the factors contributing to poorer Outcome in women in the Acute Coronary syndromes prospective Audit (ACACIA). CSANZ, Christchurch NZ.

  •      August 2006: Winner of the CSANZ Affiliates poster prize for:

Astley CM, Molloy DA, Vaile JC, Aylward PE, Chew DP, The Relative Contribution of Risk Stratification Components to 6-Month Mortality in ACS. Canberra.

Key responsibilities

Project lead for: the Statewide cardiac rehabilitation audit and data linkage program.

Project lead for: NHMRC Country Heart Attack Prevention (CHAP):

1. Credentialing program for the implementation of the Australian national quality indicators for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention.

2. Improving Clinician Endorsement and Recommendation of Cardiac Rehabilitation: a Translational and Change Management Study (RECOMMEND).

Project manager for: Initiation of a novel In-Hospital Treatment for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes randomised clinical trial

Vice president: Australian Cardiovascular and Rehablitation Association( ACRA).

Teaching interests

Flinders University 2nd March 2016 and 18 July 2017.

College of Medicine and Public Health,Doctorate of Public Health, Public Health Organisation Intensive,Tutorial: the “Power of numbers in health science research”

Supervisory interests
Cardiovascular disease management
Chronic condition management and self-management
Health literacy
Pragmatic clinical trials
Psychological wellbeing
Quantitative research methodology
Registries
Survey research
Higher degree by research supervision
Completion
Principal supervisor: Acute coronary syndromes (1)
Higher degree by research student achievements
Ally Chapple

Honours (Distinction) - MAR 2017