Associate Professor Peter Hartley

Associate Professor Peter Hartley was the Deputy Dean at Victoria University. This senior leadership role encompassed responsibility for the high-level development and implementation of the College’s learning and teaching performance, strategic and operational plans. It also incorporates the development of the College’s framework for quality reporting and improvement.

As a component of quality assurance of the College's courses, his role includes oversight and coordination of the College's student advisory/student complaints processes and the College-wide integration of the Interprofessional Education (IPE) curriculum.

Peter has a multi-discipline background in health, sociology, education, and has over 29 years clinical education experience nationally and internationally. After spending 10 years as a social worker within criminal justice and child protection units, he commenced his health-focused career in paramedicine undertaking clinical practice and clinical education in metropolitan and rural locations.

He is nationally and international renowned as a leader in clinical education and has been invited on numerous occasions to deliver courses and present on multifaceted aspects of academic leadership, clinical practice, and the clinical learning environment (CLE).

His specific academic and research interests utilise qualitative approaches. They include the development of ethical, cultural, and sociological aspects in health practice, incorporating social justice, access, and equity.

Peter is a member and holds leadership positions within a number of professional bodies and industry boards, both national and international.

He is serving as the National President of Paramedics Australasia (PA) – the peak industry professional body representing paramedic practitioners in Australasia promoting the profession and paramedic practice in the public interest, and influencing policy development in healthcare. Peter also serves as Secretary of PA’s Victorian chapter.

Peter is a member of the Australian Education Council housed with the Council of Ambulance Authorities serving as chair of accreditation of university paramedic programs. Peter is also chair of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM) Academic Board, and a Board Director on the Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC).

Additional responsibilities as Deputy Dean include:

• Management of the College’s Clinical Learning Environment (CLE) and the College’s ongoing industry and community partnership strategies that ensure the longer term sustainability of the College's core business of clinical operations.
• High level management of the College's accredited programs ensuring regulatory compliance and successful reaccreditation of the College's clinical programs.
• Providing advice on policy and strategic matters, particularly with respect to quality assurance of courses and their delivery and student support, in the context of enhancing the student experience.
• High level management of the College’s international strategy.

Peter has extensive experience in the development of CLE strategies and initiatives for the Higher Education sector, and has been an invitee on a number of Department of Health CLE review steering committees including:

• review of Well Placed Well Prepared
• BPCLE Framework
• Expert Advisory Group on Clinical Supervision.

He is committed to ensuring increased positive outcomes for clinical placements in a competitive environment. He holds an acute awareness of the complexities and political climate influencing all aspects of the CLE. Peter is committed to focusing on optimising all stakeholders to build graduate capabilities and to deliver strategies that enhance the volume and quality of clinical placements in a fiscally constrained environment.

Recent publications

Williams, B., Boyle, M., Tozer-Jones, J., Hartley, P., Devonish, S., McCall, M., McMullen, P., O’Meara, P. (2015). Undergraduate paramedic students' empathy levels: A two-year longitudinal study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5:58-64.

O’Brien, K., Moore, A., Dawson, D., Hartley, P. (2014). An Australian story: Paramedic education and practice in transition. Australian Journal of Paramedicine, 11:3.

O’Brien, K., Hartley, P., Moore, A., Dawson, D., (2013). Lessons about work readiness from final year paramedic students in an Australian university. Australian Journal of Paramedicine, 10:4.

Williams, B., Boyle, M., Brightwell, R., Hartley, P., McCall, M., McMullen, P., O’Meara, P., Webb, V. (21012). An assessment of undergraduate paramedic students’ empathy levels. International Journal of Medical Education, 3:98-102.

Williams, B., Boyle, M., Brightwell, R., Devenish, S., Hartley, P., Munro, G., McMullen, P., O’Meara, P. (21012). Paramedic empathy levels: Results from seven Australia universities. International Journal of Emergency Services, 2:18-23.

Professional memberships

• American Education Research Association (AERA)
• Paramedics Australasia (PA)
• International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine (IRCP)
• International Paramedic