Naomi Howell is a Nursing academic in the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Drawing on clinical experience across acute medical specialties, including stroke, geriatrics, immunology, neurology, renal, gastroenterology, and hepatology, Naomi brings a depth of real-world expertise to her teaching and research. She has also specialised in infusion medicine and blood management, and worked in Safety and Quality, where her role involved implementation and evaluation of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards across a health service.
Her academic work integrates clinical experience with a strong research focus on healthy ageing, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and evidence-based clinical practice. Naomi is actively engaged in collaborative, partnered research that advances patient safety and quality improvement, translating outcomes into tangible benefits for health services and communities. She has also worked on the nursing curriculum, embedding culturally safe and evidence-informed teaching practices into undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programs. Naomi’s commitment to developing the next generation of nurses is underpinned by her passion for improving healthcare outcomes through education, research, and community engagement.
Professional Awards and Memberships
- Clinical Advisor - Office of the Health Ombudsman (Queensland)
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
- The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM)
- Indigenous Nursing and Midwifery Education Network (LINMEN)
- Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR)
- Australian Vascular Access Society (AVAS) networks
Professional Awards and Memberships
- Associate Fellow (indigenous knowledges) Higher Education Academy, 2025
- Associate Fellow Higher Education Academy, 2023
- Indigenous Australian Higher Degree by Reasearch Scholarship, 2023
- Joy Croker Centaur Silver Medal -Centaur Memorial Fund for Nurses, 2014
Naomi's research focuses on improving care outcomes for older adults and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She has also undertaken research on vascular access, and infection prevention and control. She is also engaged in scholarship around cultural safety, Indigenous data sovereignty, and the integration of Indigenous knowledges in health education. In addition to national priorities, her work contributes to regional health system strengthening through collaborative infection prevention projects in the Pacific, undertaken in partnership with the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research.
Research areas
- Improving outcomes for geriatric patients
- Emergency Geriatric models of care
- Vascular access
Naomi has taught and coordinated a range of courses across the undergraduate nursing program and is currently the course coordinator for NUR222 Health Law and Ethics. She is committed to creating inclusive, supportive, and dynamic learning environments that encourage student engagement and critical thinking. Naomi integrates innovative and evidence-informed learning and teaching practices, with a strong focus on embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, perspectives, and Cultural Safety principles into the curriculum.
Teaching areas
- Health law and ethics
- Nursing Theory
- Best practice frameworks
- NUR222 Health Law and Ethics