Sophie Isobel

Associate Professor Sophie Isobel serves as Associate Professor of Mental Health Nursing in the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. Her primary research interests center on trauma and violence informed care within mental health nursing practice. This includes exploring the implementation of trauma-informed models in acute inpatient mental health units, the role of intergenerational trauma in mental health service users, vicarious trauma experienced by nurses, and trauma-sensitive approaches in perinatal mental health care. Isobel's work emphasizes improving care delivery for individuals with trauma histories to enhance recovery and reduce re-traumatization.

She completed her PhD at the University of Sydney in November 2020, with the thesis "Trauma, intergenerational trauma and Trauma Informed Care in mental health services: voices from consumers, carers and service providers," conducted within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her nursing qualifications comprise Registered Nurse (RN), Bachelor of Nursing (BN), Graduate Diploma in Child, Adolescent and Family Health (Gr.Dip. CAFH), and Certificate in Advanced Mental Health Nursing (CAMH). Prior to her current academic role, she was involved with the Sydney Local Health District Mental Health Service, contributing to research and clinical practice.

Isobel has an extensive publication record, with over 81 research items and more than 1,285 citations documented on ResearchGate. Notable works include her forthcoming book "Trauma Informed Care: A Guide for Nursing and Midwifery Practice" (Routledge, 2026), which provides practical guidance for implementing trauma-informed principles. Key peer-reviewed articles feature "Using trauma informed care as a nursing model of care in an acute inpatient mental health unit: A practice development process" (highly cited on Google Scholar), "The 'trauma' of trauma-informed care" (Australasian Psychiatry, 2021), "Vicarious trauma and nursing: An integrative review" (International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2022), "Trauma-informed qualitative research: Some methodological and ethical considerations" (International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2021), and "Trauma in the lives of parents experiencing severe perinatal mental illness" (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024). Her research has practical impacts, such as developing family rooms in mental health inpatient units (2015) and advancing communication skills for trauma-informed care.

Isobel's contributions have shaped mental health nursing practices, promoting ethical, trauma-aware frameworks across clinical and research domains.

Professional Email: sophie.isobel@sydney.edu.au