Dr Rowaida Sleem

Lecturer

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

place Sturt South
GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE, SA, 5001

Rowaida Sleem is a VPED award-winning educator and recipient of the 2024 College of Nursing and Health Sciences Teaching Excellence Award, with over a decade of university teaching experience. She began her journey at Flinders University in mid-2014 as a casual staff member, teaching across multiple colleges while completing her Doctor of Education (EdD). Through dedication and excellence in her roles, she progressed to a permanent position in 2022 and now serves as a lecturer (Teaching Specialist) within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS). In addition, she is the Student Experience/Engagement Coordinator (SEC) for Teaching Program 4, overseeing Health Sciences, Aging, Clinical Rehabilitation, and Palliative Care.

Dr. Sleem is the Topic Coordinator for HLTH1004 Human Bioscience and AGES2003 Physical Activity and Aging, where she delivers innovative, student-centred teaching. She is renowned for her multi-sensory approaches, such as body painting and Play-Doh, which create engaging, hands-on learning experiences that improve knowledge retention and practical understanding.

Her doctoral research informed a safer sex intervention aimed at reducing Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates among young South Australians aged 18–24 years. Dr. Sleem’s teaching and research interests include human anatomy and physiology, quantitative research, sexual health, sexuality, and health promotion.

In her role as SEC, Dr. Sleem is dedicated to supporting students by providing tailored academic guidance and study plans that foster a sense of belonging and improve student success and retention.

Dr. Sleem is also a Co-Team Leader of the Respect. Now. Always. (RNA) CNHS working group, where she collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault prevention. She has completed specialised training to support students in sensitive situations and is an accredited Mental Health First Aider, reflecting her commitment to student wellbeing.

Through her innovative teaching, leadership, and advocacy, Dr. Sleem continues to inspire and empower students while fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that prepares them for success in their professional and personal lives.

Qualifications
  • 2024 - Flinders Leadership Mastery Experience (FLAME)- Silver
  • 2023 - Flinders Leadership Mastery Experience (FLAME) - Bronze
  • 2023 - Mental Health First Aider Accredited
  • 2022 - Flinders Foundations of University Teaching (FFOUT)
  • 2021- Doctor of Education; Disciplines Sexual Health/Sex Education (Flinders University). Thesis: Let's Talk About Safer Sex: An analysis to inform safer sex intervention using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)
  • 2017- Academic Internship for Doctoral Students (Flinders University)
  • 2014 - Certificate IV Training and Assessment (TAFESA)
  • 2014 - Certificate IV English Proficiency (TAFESA)
  • 2013 - Master of Education and Teaching Biology (Lebanese University)
  • 2007 - Bachelor of Biological Sciences (Lebanese University)
Honours, awards and grants
  • 2024- CNHS Teaching Excellence Award for demonstrating teaching excellence through the integration of inquiry-based learning, authentic assessments, and other innovative approaches including body painting and Play-Doh™ in teaching human anatomy and physiology.
  • 2024- CNHS Vice President and Executive Deans (VEPD) Award- Education Level A/B Award
  • 2024 - CNHS Vice President and Executive Deans (VPED) Team Award. 

     

Key responsibilities

Teaching Role:

Topic Coordinator and topic Lecturer for HLTH1004 and AGES2003

Leadership and Service role at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS)

  • 2025- Present: Student Engagement/Experience Coordinator for Teaching Program 4: Health Sciences, Aging, Clinical Rehab and Palliative Care. 
  • 2023-Present: Co-Team Leader of Respect. Now. Always (RNA) group at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (one of the main key aims of RNA working group is “to raise awareness of sexual assault and sexual harassment and lift the visibility of support services for students and staff”.
  • 2023- Present: Work Health and Safety Representative (HSR) for the Health Sciences Working Group (Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy, Nutrition/Dietetics, Optometry, Rehab/Palliative Care, Speech Pathology, Audiology and Clinical staff lab).
  • 2022- Present: Fire Emergency Warden- South Sturt Building Level 2
  • 2022- 2024: Student Engagement/Experience Coordinator for Bachelor of Health Sciences
Teaching interests
  • Sexual Health and Sexuality
  • Health Promotion
  • Gender and Health
Topic coordinator
AGES2003 Physical Activity and Ageing
HLTH1004 Human Bioscience
Topic lecturer
HLTH1004 Human Bioscience