Meet one of our newest members, Rebecca Caulfield.
Rebecca is an emergency nurse with more than 15 years of clinical experience in a large tertiary Emergency Department and over 5 years of academic experience. After establishing her academic career in Canberra, she relocated to Western Australia in 2025 and is now a Lecturer at Murdoch University. In this role she coordinates a work integrated learning unit for final year nursing students, supporting their transition into complex and rapidly changing clinical environments.
Rebecca is completing a PhD exploring the experiences of emergency nurses in relation to ambiguous patient outcomes, a topic shaped by her long clinical background and deep interest in the emotional and ethical terrain of emergency care. Her teaching and research interests include neurodivergent learners, gamification for learning, Universal Design for Learning, and the preparation of nurses for diverse roles beyond the bedside, including policy, research, administration and education. She is also particularly passionate about integrating simulation into learning environments as a way to build confidence, clinical reasoning and adaptability in future nurses.
"I joined ANZAHPE because I was seeking a professional community that genuinely values inclusive, learner centred education, especially for students who don’t always fit neatly within conventional structures. As a nursing lecturer with a strong passion for supporting neurodivergent learners, I wanted to connect with colleagues who are committed to meaningful, evidence informed change across the health professions.
My first ANZAHPE conference in Adelaide set the tone. I expected a typical academic event but instead found an exceptionally welcoming community with an impressive breadth of professions and interests. The HTAG/SIGs have been a particular highlight, especially the growing group focused on neurodivergent learners, which offers space for shared exploration and practical innovation. I’ve also had the opportunity to publish in FOHPE, which was both rewarding and confidence building, reinforcing my sense that ANZAHPE is a place where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but actively supported.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the possibilities for deeper collaboration, future publications and ongoing conference involvement. Joining ANZAHPE feels less like a single decision and more like the beginning of a long, engaging partnership for my career as a nursing educator."
