Rachel Wardrop - Senior Consultant
About
Rachel is a senior academic, researcher, and nursing leader with a background in emergency and acute care nursing. She brings over 15 years of experience in clinical practice, higher education, and interdisciplinary research. Rachel’s focus lies in improving healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations, with a particular emphasis on mental health presentations in emergency settings. She contributes to strategic innovation in health workforce capability, education, and clinical practice through evidence-informed approaches, collaborative partnerships, and a deep understanding of the healthcare environment.
Capabilities
Rachel’s core strengths lie in strategic leadership, health education design, research, and health workforce development. Rachel has expertise in emergency and acute care, with a strong focus on health equity, mental health, and intersectoral collaboration. Through a research-practice lens, Rachel has led projects that evaluate service delivery models and explore ways to improve clinical care for people presenting in crisis, including those subject to involuntary assessment. Rachel contributes to knowledge translation and policy influence through high-quality publications, stakeholder engagement, and capability-building initiatives. Rachel’s strengths also include curriculum development, clinical supervision, and leadership in professional nursing associations. Rachel works across sectors to support complex change in healthcare systems and brings a values-based, collaborative, and outcomes-driven approach to all projects.
Approach to work
Rachel approaches work with a commitment to respectful, values-aligned collaboration. Whether consulting, leading research, or developing education programs, Rachel prioritises evidence, co-design, and a systems thinking lens. Rachel thrives in team settings that value diverse perspectives and is energised by solving complex problems that improve health outcomes. Rachel is guided by integrity, empathy, and a drive to influence real-world change through meaningful partnerships.
Professional Experience
Senior Consultant, Beacon Strategies (2025 - present)
Lecturer and Curriculum Consultant, Charles Darwin University (2024 - present)
Emergency Registered Nurse, Gold Coast Private Hospital (2024 – present)
Senior Research Associate (2024 - present)
Lecturer, Griffith University (2015 - 2024)
Registered Nurse, Queensland Health (2013 - 2019)
Academic Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Nursing – Griffith University, 2024
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education – Griffith University, 2018
Master of Acute Care with Honours – Griffith University, 2016
Bachelor of Nursing – Griffith University, 2012
Professional Memberships
Fellow, College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA)
Fellow, Higher Education Academy
Co-founder and member, International Emergency care Research Alliance (INTEGRAL) network
Member, Australian College of Nursing
Member, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Member, Queensland Nurses Union
Career Highlights
Led a multi-method PhD study into mental health-related ED presentations involving police transport
Led sate-wide data collection and analysis for ED presentations, examining over five million presentations with high-level regression analyses
Collaborated with nationally renowned academics across Australia and Queensland Police and Queensland Ambulance services
Published in high-impact journals on involuntary assessment and emergency care outcomes
Secured competitive funding for collaborative research projects in emergency nursing
Presented at several global trauma care conferences spanning Europe and Asia
Developed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate nursing curricula focused on acute and complex care
Personal Interests
Outside of work, I enjoy training, reading, and spending time with my husband and puppies. I love to travel and learn new languages.
