Associate Professor Yvonne Parry is an internationally recognised paediatric nurse and applied health science researcher whose pioneering work bridges the critical divide between health, education, and social care for vulnerable children and families. Since 2000, her interdisciplinary research, student-engaged projects, and community-based evaluations have transformed access to health care, streamlined referral pathways, and driven systemic change through co-designed, place-based models of care.

Her leadership has advanced early recognition and intervention for children with complex needs—particularly those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and social marginalisation—by embedding health professionals in early education and community settings. These innovative models of interdisciplinary care have extended service reach to children often invisible to traditional systems.

As Chair of the Australian College of Children and Young People’s Nurses, Dr Parry is nationally and internationally acclaimed for championing health equity. Her award-winning research (including national NAPCAN recognition) has shaped public policy in Australia, the UK, and globally, with recent impact seen in submissions to the Welsh Parliament, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness, and the United Nations.

Dr Parry’s work is underpinned by a deep commitment to child-centred practice, social justice, and equitable access to care. Through partnerships with global institutions including University College London and the CHAMPIONS Project UK, as well as NGOs and not-for-profits, she continues to lead transformational research that improves life outcomes for underserved children and their families.

Current research projects:

2022-2024 Office of the Early Years (OEY) Improving Health and Development Outcomes for all children aged 0-5 years: A Nurse Practitioner led Routine Healthy Development Check Universal, community-embedded, and collaborative Nurse Practitioner-led Health Hub model of care ($1.4M).

2021 -2022 Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation: Linking homeless children and their families to community health and wellbeing services: Using a Nurse Practitioner model of care to improve child health outcomes (Phase 3 and 4). Parry, YK., Willis, E., Kendall, S., Marriott R., Sivertsen, N., (ECR) and Bell, A,. (Nurse Practitioner and TS/Clinical). $92,713.

2019-2020 Caring Futures Institute, Enhancing lifelong development and the Health and Wellbeing of marginalised children 0-18 years (Phase 1). Parry YK., Willis, E., Kendall, S., Marriott R., Thornton, C., and Button D (3,931). https://indaily.com.au/ispy/2019/12/13/unitingcare-wesley-bowden-nurse-practitioner-launch/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=INDAILY%2013%20December%202019&utm_content=INDAILY%2013%20December%202019+CID_5aa641b526b0dc7ac8b521174a149caa&utm_source=EDM&utm_term=READ%20MORE

2017-2018 The use of Community for Children (CfC) Facilitating Partners and their impact on service delivery and collaborative community service delivery. Funded by 6 Facilitating Partners: Uniting Communities Port Adelaide, ac.care Murraylands, ac.care Port Augusta, Salvation Army Salisbury, Anglicare Christies Beach and Anglicare Northern (PARRY YK $85,000).

2016-18 Domestic Violence against older women: Developing networks to improve service provision DSS grant (Zannentino, Fuller & Parry) ($147,000).

2015-16 Phase 2: Communities for Children (C4C). "The use of community programs to improve the health outcome of participants from Western Adelaide" Collaborative project with Wesley UnitingCare Port Adelaide. (Parry & Grant) ($50, 000)

2014-16 OLT Grant: Developing a national interdisciplinary educational framework for professionals working with children in the ealry years National collaborative project to develop national LTAS. (Grant, Parry, Brinkman, Walsh, Colmer, Miller, Sumsion, Gibson, Gregoric, Kruske) ($220, 000).

2014-15 Communities for Children (C4C). Collaborative project with Wesley UnitingCare Port Adelaide. (Parry & Grant) ($15, 000)

2011-2014 An Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Right Bite Strategy (Department of Education and Children's Development DECD). The research will inform the Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) on the uptake of the Right Bite Strategy and explore the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of this policy initiate (Drummond & Parry) ($90, 000).

2013-2014 The in-service educational needs of front line homelessness service staff in a Generic Homelessness Service to deliver Child Aware Practice in accordance with the 'no wrong door' policy The overall aim is to ensure the developmental needs of children are recognised and met in homelessness services. (Parry, Grant & Burke) ($9, 208).

2014-15 Investigating Adolescents Girls Disengagement with Physical Activity (Drummond, Parry, Gunson, Norton & Hutton) (19, 588)

Associate Professor Yvonne Parry has supervised numerous higher degree research (HDR) candidates to completion across interdisciplinary topics in child health, public health nursing, and health service equity. Her commitment to mentorship, research excellence, and policy translation is reflected in the success of her students.

2025

Dr Matthew Ankers (PhD, 2072231) – under the principal supervision of Associate Professor Parry, Dr Ankers successfully completed his doctoral research on The impact of Non-government organisational interventions with former street children and their families and has since secured a prestigious position with The Kids’ Institute Australia, a national research institute committed to improving child health outcomes through innovation and applied science. Following completion, he was appointed to a national research role at The Kids’ Institute Australia, reflecting the translational and policy-relevant focus of his research.

2023 

Dr Abdullah Y. A. M. A. Hasan (PhD, 2168539)
Thesis Title: Exploring the Association Between Health-Related Behaviours and HbA1c Among Kuwaiti Young People at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Supervisory Team: A/Prof Yvonne Parry (Principal Supervisor), Prof Richard Woodman, Dr Didy Button, Dr Meshari Alkoot

Impact & Recognition:
Abdullah has translated his research into global health leadership and advocacy. He has been:

• Invited member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Scientific Committee and Conference Planning Committee for the 30th ICN Congress, Helsinki 2025

• Eastern Mediterranean Regional Representative, ICN

• President, Kuwait Nursing Association and National Representative to the ICN

• National Representative, International Diabetes Federation – Kuwait

• Member of:

  • Kuwait Scientific Society

  • International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes

  • Kuwait National Association of School Nurses (President)

  • South Australian School Nurses Association

Abdullah’s contributions demonstrate the global relevance and interdisciplinary nature of Associate Professor Parry’s research supervision, with impacts spanning diabetes prevention, youth health, nursing leadership, and school-based health policy.

Mar 2017 Tien Dung Pham - https://blogs.flinders.edu.au/alumni-stories/2019/09/27/a-passion-for-the-nursing-profession/?fbclid=IwAR3aD-qaO7unDSokoXv92up9pEntXE7ru6HsYlXA_woPCAj5E1QEfwpPSro

• The Impact of Community Perceptions of Nursing on the Shortage of Kuwaiti Nurses
• Maltreatment against Child Workers in Rural Bangladesh and It’s Consequences: A Study at Moulvibazar District in Bangladesh
• Studies to explore the association between health-related behaviours and HbA1c among Kuwaiti young people at risk of T2DM
• The impact of Non-government organisational interventions with former street children and their families
• Iranian mothers of children with cancer and the impacts of hope (1)
• The Development of 'Babyicare' app for new parents (1)
• The extent of Child Centred Practice principles in a homelessness service in South Australia (1)
• The impact of Psoriasis on the Quality of Life of Vietnamese Patients (1)
• The knowledge of Nepalese Nurses in the use of Zinc for treating Dehydration in Children (1)

• A Qualitative Investigation of the Roles of Aboriginal Health Workers in supporting Aboriginal people living with Diabetes in a rural town in South Australia (1)
• Stress in graduate registered nurses undertaking a Transition to Professional Practice Program in an Australian public hospital setting (1)
• The Effects of Prenatal Scheme on Perceived Self-efficacy of Health Behaviours and Outcomes of Pregnancy in Unplanned Adolescent Pregnancy (1)

Child Homelessness

Internationally: Prof Monica Lakhanpaul, UCL., Dr Nadzeya Svirydzenka, DMU., Ms Susan Balmer, Happy Baby Community (Charity)., Prof Manu Mathur, QMU., Dr Huda Yusuf, QMU., Dr Zoe Palfreyman, DMU., Assoc Prof Yvonne Parry, FU., Dr Matthew Ankers, FU., Prof Priti Parikh, UCL., Dr Julie Billett, Dept H&SC., Dr Jasmin Malik.

In SA: Assoc Prof Yvonne Parry, Dr Nina Sivertsen, Emeritus Professor Eileen Willis, Professor Annette Briley, Dr Lauren Lines (ERC), Mrs Alicia Bell (Clinical Lead, NP), Prof Nicola Anstice (Optometry), and Mr Matt Ankers. 

McInnes, E., (CIA), Neill, B., (CIB), Diamond, A., (CIC), Parry, YK.,

Nurse-led models of care

Nationally: Prof Jane Currie (CIA), Assoc Prof Yvonne Parry (CIB), Dr John Paul Kuwornu (CIC), Prof Lisa Nissen (CID),