Lecturer, at University of Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Agness Tembo is a distinguished academic, clinician, and community leader with expertise in nursing, midwifery, intensive care, and public health. Currently serving as a lecturer in Intensive Care Nursing at the University of Sydney, she integrates constructivist and transformative pedagogies into her teaching. Her research, grounded in Heideggerian and Merleau-Pontian phenomenology, explores the lived experiences of critically ill patients, aiming to enhance person-centred care models. Beyond academia, Dr. Tembo is the founder of the Hunter ICU Support Group and serves as the president of the Hunter African Communities Council, advocating for social cohesion and migrant community development. Her clinical roles span various institutions, including John Hunter Hospital and El Roi Healthcare Pty Ltd, where she focuses on long-term mechanical ventilation and complex care. Dr. Tembo’s work reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, compassionate care, and culturally responsive leadership.ipons-sydney.org+1ipons-2023.p.asnevents.com.au+1ipons-2023.p.asnevents.com.au+1ipons-sydney.org+1
Professional Profile
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ORCID
🎓 EducationÂ
Dr. Agness Tembo’s educational journey reflects a commitment to excellence in nursing and healthcare. She earned her PhD in 2012 from the University of Newcastle, Australia, with a thesis titled “Being in Limbo: The Experience of Critical Illness in Intensive Care and Beyond.” In 2006, she completed a Master of Intensive Care Nursing at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. Her foundational training includes a Certificate in Critical Care Nursing from Technikon SA, South Africa (2001), a Registered Midwife Diploma from Mufulira School of Nursing, Zambia (1993), and a Registered Nurse Diploma from Ndola School of Nursing, Zambia (1988). Additionally, Dr. Tembo was awarded an Advance HE Fellowship in 2022 by the UK Innovation Centre, York Science Park, UK, recognizing her contributions to higher education. Her diverse educational background underpins her multifaceted approach to healthcare and education.
🏥 ExperienceÂ
Dr. Agness Tembo brings a wealth of clinical experience to her roles in nursing and healthcare. As a Clinical Nurse Consultant and Director at El Roi Healthcare Pty Ltd since 2019, she has pioneered community-centered critical care, focusing on long-term mechanical ventilation, complex care, and home-based ICU services. Her leadership has led to improved patient outcomes and decreased readmissions. At John Hunter Hospital, she authored a haemodynamic monitoring self-directed learning package and contributed to multi-centre research with The Alfred and Monash University. Her tenure at Maitland Hospital (2016–2022) included roles as Team Leader and Relief Nurse Unit Manager, where she mentored junior staff and managed medical emergencies. Dr. Tembo’s international experience spans ICUs in Australia, South Africa, and Zambia, where she led teams, delivered education, and provided bedside care in diverse settings. Her clinical expertise is complemented by her advocacy for culturally responsive care.
🔬 Research InterestsÂ
Dr. Agness Tembo’s research interests lie at the intersection of phenomenology, critical care, and public health. Her work, grounded in Heideggerian and Merleau-Pontian phenomenology, explores the lived experiences of critically ill patients, aiming to inform person-centred care models. She has investigated topics such as communication difficulties in ICU patients and the impact of daily sedation interruption. Dr. Tembo’s research extends to public health, focusing on the prevention of communicable diseases like COVID-19 and their effects on marginalized communities, particularly African immigrants in Australia. Current collaborations include examining behavioral and social drivers of COVID-19 vaccination in Zambia and the experiences of Long COVID among Sub-Saharan African migrants in Australia. Her research philosophy emphasizes the importance of understanding patients’ experiences to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.ipons-sydney.org+1ipons-2023.p.asnevents.com.au+1sabii.sydney.edu.auipons-2023.p.asnevents.com.au+1ipons-sydney.org+1
🏆 AwardsÂ
Dr. Agness Tembo’s professional journey is marked by numerous accolades recognizing her excellence in nursing and healthcare. In 2017, she was named Runner-up for Nurse of the Year at Maitland Hospital, acknowledging her outstanding clinical leadership, patient advocacy, and commitment to nursing excellence. Her innovative approach to community-centered critical care at El Roi Healthcare Pty Ltd has been recognized for improving patient outcomes and reducing readmissions. In 2022, Dr. Tembo was awarded an Advance HE Fellowship by the UK Innovation Centre, York Science Park, UK, highlighting her contributions to higher education. Her leadership roles, including founding the Hunter ICU Support Group and presiding over the Hunter African Communities Council, reflect her dedication to social cohesion and migrant community development. These awards underscore her commitment to equity, compassionate care, and culturally responsive leadership in healthcare.
đź“š Top Noted PublicationsÂ
Dr. Agness Tembo has authored and co-authored several influential publications in the field of nursing and healthcare. Her work, grounded in phenomenological research, has been published in peer-reviewed journals and cited extensively. Notable publications include:ipons-sydney.org+1ipons-2023.p.asnevents.com.au+1
1. Tembo, A. C. (2017). “Critical Illness as a Biographical Disruption.” Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare.
This paper explores the concept of critical illness as a disruption to an individual’s life narrative, analyzing how such experiences affect patients’ sense of self and identity.
2. Tembo, A. C., Higgins, I., & Parker, V. (2015). “The Experience of Communication Difficulties in Critically Ill Patients in and Beyond Intensive Care: Findings from a Larger Phenomenological Study.” Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 31(3), 171-178.
This study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to examine the communication challenges faced by critically ill patients during and after their ICU stays. The research identifies themes such as ‘Being in limbo,’ ‘Being disrupted,’ ‘Being imprisoned,’ and ‘Being trapped,’ highlighting the profound impact of critical illness on patients’ ability to communicate. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+1academia.edu+1
3. Gullick, J., Wu, J., Reid, C., Tembo, A. C., Shishehgar, S., & Conlon, L. (2020). “Heideggerian Structures of Being-with in the Nurse–Patient Relationship: Modelling Phenomenological Analysis through Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.” Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 23(4), 645-664.
This paper conducts a meta-synthesis of 29 phenomenological studies to explore the ‘Being-with’ concept in nurse-patient relationships through a Heideggerian lens. The analysis identifies key themes such as Dasein-with, circumspection, solicitude, and discourse, offering insights into the existential dimensions of nursing care. researchers.westernsydney.edu.au+3philpapers.org+3pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+3philpapers.org+2researchers.westernsydney.edu.au+2pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+2
Conclusion
Dr. Agness Tembo is an exceptionally strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award based on the depth, relevance, and societal impact of her work. Her research not only informs best practices in intensive care nursing but also bridges clinical and community needs through education, policy influence, and service innovation.