Dr Lauren Lines

Dr Lauren Lines (RN, BNhons, MN, PhD) is a Lecturer in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University. Lauren has a background working clinically as a paediatric nurse for almost 10 years in acute medical and surgical environments. Lauren is a Credentialled Children and Young People's Nurse (CCYPN). In her current role, Lauren teaches undergraduate nursing and postgraduate child and family health nursing. Lauren’s PhD thesis (2020) focussed on nurses' experiences of responding to child abuse and neglect in child focussed settings in Australia.

Research Impact

In her post-doctoral work, Lauren is passionate about ensuring all children can live in safe, strong families and communities where they can reach their full potential. This work includes the 'Safeguarding Project' funded by the Flinders Foundation. The Safeguarding Project explores the nature and scope of Australian nursing and midwifery roles in preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect. This project includes a review of policies and frameworks about children's health, development and safety to identify how safeguarding is enacted in Australia, especially as it relates to nurses and midwives. At the same time, the research gathers data from Australian nurses and midwives currently working with children to explore their role in keeping children safe across diverse child focussed settings. The findings will inform further development of nursing and midwifery practice in safeguarding, facilitate enhanced interdisciplinary communication and promote better outcomes for children in Australia.

Lauren's ongoing research builds capacity of the multidisciplinary child and family workforce to support children and families experiencing adversity. This includes exploring ways to better educate and equip early childhood professionals for interdisciplinary practice that support families experiencing adversity. In addition, research will explore ways to better support the existing child and family workforce through enhanced postgraduate education, resourcing, ongoing support and practice development opportunities.