MsFrances Barraclough

I have been nationally recognised as a leader in higher education. In 2022, I received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning through the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT), acknowledging my innovation and leadership in enhancing student learning and experience. This recognition places me among Australia’s most exceptional university educators.

Other teaching awards include 

 - 2022 University of Sydney, Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Educational Engagement and Innovation

 - 2025 University of Sydney, School of Health Sciences, Highly Commended Teaching Citation For excellence in Education (Mid-Advanced Career Staff)

Traditionally health care students are trained to work predominantly in acute hospital settings within their own disciplines. They have limited understanding of each other's roles and the functions of health and social care service providers outside of these settings. Similarly, academics and clinical educators are familiar with teaching and supervising students within their own discipline, usually in a health-related setting and with a focus on disease and cure. In my teaching program, I lead programs of work that break down these silos to provide an environment of interprofessional learning.

The IPL program which I lead at the UCRH teaches our current and future health and social care workforce to manage health and care (rather than disease and cure) and to work in teams across disciplines and with service providers within the health and social care setting. My engagement with health and social care providers from local, state and national organisations in order to have then actively engage in the teaching is critical for the program.

I provide opportunities for the students to work in small groups to problem solve and develop solutions for complex vulnerable patients with chronic disease, improving their knowledge of other disciplines and service providers and encouraging innovative thinking and ways to implement and influence current and new services, policies and practice.

Capacity building with respect to faculty development is a very essential focus of my leadership. Traditional training still emphasises the diagnosis and treatment of acute diseases; fragmented, outdated and static curricula and education and practice that focus on component elements of an issue or disease. Approaches to teaching within an integrated care model therefore need to be shared to prepare faculty to teaching into our program. I have provided significant mentorship and sponsorship to build capacity across the different universities and discipline leads. These learners include senior academics, general practitioners, rural clinicians, clinical educators and industry partners. I teach and showcase innovations and invite others to co teach to role model how to create rich learning environments for students and other program participants

To complement my previous Master's in Nursing (Education), I  completed the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Higher Education).

I also develop the research capabilities of students in this field. Walmsley et al, 2020 describes a student research project that I supervised looking at the requirements for interprofessional collaborations in rural hospitals.

I also supervise MD students in research projects for example a scoping review on electronic prescribing in rural settings.