Dr Vinathe Sharma-Brymer

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Senior Lecturer in Social Work, School of Law and Society

Core Member, Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre

Researcher identifiers

ORCiD: 0000-0003-4185-1795
Scopus: 24472089300
ResearcherID: AGH-6765-2022

Keywords

Counselling, wellbeing and community services
Gender studies
Health and community services
Human impacts of climate change and human adaptation
Social work not elsewhere classified
Health and well-being
Human capabilities
Flourishing
Human development

I am a lecturer in Social Work. I research nature-human relationships emphasising healthy natural environment’s influence on human health and well-being. My practice area is Eco-Social Work also known as Environmental Social Work and Green Social Work. As an accredited social worker (AASW) and a Forest School practitioner (UK accreditation), my translational research has a spread across climate change and action, healthy humans and healthy environments, eco-justice, and green social prescribing for health and wellbeing.

As an interdisciplinary researcher, my publications are on topics in psychology, social work, education, and gender studies. I specialise in qualitative research methodologies, valuing participatory co-designed approach. I am a member of cross-institutional interdisciplinary research teams and projects. I have contributed entries to UN Sustainable Development Goals–Goal 3 Good Health and Well-being, and Goal 5 Gender Equality. My translational research relates to these areas: Wellbeing and nature-connectedness, natural disasters and impact on mental health, healthy humans and healthy environments, gender studies, human development and human capabilities, international social work, and multicultural social work.

Research

Publications

Journal article | Peer reviewed

Healthcare professionals' experience with routine mental health screening in pediatric diabetes care: findings from a global survey ↗

by Agata Chobot, Laura Cudizio, Apoorva Gomber, Timothy Skinner, Agnieszka Lejk, Euan Preston, Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Steven James, Jess Forster, Lindsay Sawatsky, Judy Craft, Olive James, Rebecca Barber, Claudia Piona, Samantha Berry and Kerrie Abel

15 May 2026
Hormone Research in Paediatrics

Introduction: Consensus guidelines recommend the use of age appropriate and validated assessment tools to monitor and discuss psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Our study explored healthcare professionals' (HCPs) standardized psychological screening tool use and experiences discussing mental health concerns, in pediatric diabetes care worldwide. Methods: Data were collected via a survey, using a research team developed, externally reviewed and piloted questionnaire (English and Portuguese); administered via Google Forms. Research team partners advertised the survey through their electronic newsletters, websites and social media platforms. Results: Overall, 204 HCP's (90 physicians, 47 nurses, and 67 others) responded; covering 33 countries and six continents. Half (49%) indicated their centers didn't perform any psychological screening; 51% of those that did used standardised psychological screening tools. Most (69.1%) were confident discussing mental health concerns; those were not detailed lack of time and resources and not wanting to cause offence. Some perceived depression (46.1%) and disordered eating (40.7%) screening should occur annually; diabetes distress (40.7%) every three months. Few (2.9%) perceived psychological screening should not be undertaken. Conclusion: There is a need for increased focus on mental health screening and related support, for both HCPs, youth with diabetes, and where applicable their caregivers.

Report

Submission to the Inquiry into Elder Abuse in Queensland ↗

by Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Jessica Lockitch, Madeline Lee, Noah Vickery, Jemima Petch and Emily Moir

2025

No abstract available.

Journal article | Peer reviewed

The Therapeutic Benefits of Outdoor Experiences in India ↗

by Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Denise Mitten, Janet Ady and Soumya J Mitra

2025
Behavioral Sciences

Drawing on in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study explores the therapeutic benefits of outdoor experiences through the lived experiences of 24 outdoor practitioners, including educators, environmentalists, therapists, and program leaders. Three core themes emerged: (a) nature as an emotional regulator and reflective space; (b) therapeutic benefits of human–nature relationships; and (c) decolonial, bioregional, and cultural healing. Although practitioners facilitated physical challenges and skill-building for their participants, they primarily described outdoor experiences as relational, somatic, and culturally rooted practices that foster emotional regulation, grief processing, identity integration, and social inclusion. Healing emerged through solitude, silence, ancestral connections, sacred landscapes, inclusive dynamics, and the restoration of cultural knowledge. This study’s results challenge Western-centric outdoor education models by foregrounding Indigenous and postcolonial perspectives embedded in Indian ecological traditions. The results contribute to global discussions on decolonizing outdoor fields and offer implications for culturally responsive, emotionally safe, and ecologically grounded practices.

Report

Elder Abuse: Best Practice Perpetrator Interventions and Programs. ↗

by Emily Moir, Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Jessica Lockitch, Madeline Lee, Noah Vickery and Jemima Petch

2025

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of best practice interventions focused on people who use abuse against older people, covering two key components: (1) a scoping review of the literature on studies evaluating interventions for abuse of older people, informal carer support, and domestic and family violence (DFV), and (2) interviews and focus group with stakeholders working in organisations relevant to abuse of older people prevention.

Editorial | Peer reviewed

Editorial: Health, wellbeing, performance and learning in extreme contexts and natural environments ↗

by Royce Willis, Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Matthew J Leach and Eric Brymer

2025
Frontiers in Psychology

No abstract available.

Explore all Dr Vinathe Sharma-Brymer's publications in UniSC Research Bank

Grants

1 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Building Community Health Pathways to Green Prescriptions: Community Based Participatory Research using a Scientific Realist Framework

University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
Grant no. 0980029863.

Angela Hinz, Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Judith Maher, Daniel Wadsworth and Roslyn Prichard

19 June 2024 - 21 August 2024

SPARK Essence of Research Leadership Program [Vinathe Sharma-Brymer]

University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
Grant no. 0980029367.

Vinathe Sharma-Brymer

5 June 2024 - 31 July 2024

Elder Abuse: Best practice perpetrator interventions and programs research

Relationships Australia Queensland
Grant no. 0980029200.

Vinathe Sharma-Brymer and Emily Moir

21 June 2024

Program Evaluation: Social Prescription Pilot on the Fraser Coast

Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre (Australia)
Grant no. 0980029136.

Vinathe Sharma-Brymer, Andrea Thawley, Tamara Sysak and Dimitra Lattas

Teaching and supervision

Teaching

Psychology and Social Work

Course leader