Lisa Mauro-Bracken

lisa-mauro-bracken

Principal Lecturer in Health & Wellbeing

School of Health and Wellbeing

Department of Community, Social Justice and Health

Contact Details

email: l.mauro-bracken@worc.ac.uk

Lisa Mauro-Bracken is a Principal Lecturer specialising in Health and Wellbeing/Public Health at the ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester, where she has worked for 15 years. She contributes to teaching on the BA (Hons) Applied Health and Social Care (Top-Up) and the MSc Healthcare Management and Leadership programmes. Lisa is the Course Leader for the FdSc Assistant Practitioner (FDAP) course and teaches into the FDAP apprenticeship pathway.

In recognition of her excellence in teaching, Lisa received the ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester Leading Teaching Award for her work in supporting staff to develop inclusive learning and teaching practices and a Team-Teaching Award in 2019 for her contributions to the Work-Based Learning module team.

Before entering academia, Lisa led a programme in Ireland supporting asylum seekers and refugees in community integration programmes including work on improving access to health and social services. She also spent several years working across the Pacific region, where she developed and implemented health and wellbeing initiatives focused on nutrition, reproductive health, mental wellbeing, infectious and non-communicable diseases, and capacity building for local health workers. 

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests are in the arena of public health and well-being across the life course and include:

  • Promoting health and well-being
  • Life course approaches to health improvement
  • Healthy Living
  • Global Health and public health interventions
  • Applied research and evidence-based practice
  • Values, attitudes, diversity and inequalities
  • Trauma Informed Care

Research Interests

Having worked internationally and with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants I have great interest in the impact of humanitarian crisis and migration on the well-being on individuals and communities.

At the moment, my research interest is around well-being but more focused on the student population. I am currently developing research in the following areas:

Research Interests

Having worked internationally and with asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, I have a strong interest in how humanitarian crises and migration affect the well-being of individuals and communities. I am particularly interested in the social and emotional recovery after natural disasters and programmes designed to support this process—this is an area she is exploring for future research.

 

At the ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester, Lisa’s research focuses on:

  • Widening access and participation in higher education
  • Reducing health inequalities
  • Embedding inclusive practices in teaching and learning

She is an active member of the Inclusion by Design research group, where her work explores the development of culturally safe learning environments and supports staff in becoming more culturally curious in their practice.

Current Projects

  • Scoping Review of the Implementation of the UNCRC in Education Settings
    A comparative study between educational practices in England and Sweden.
  • Belong and Thrive
    A research project examining access, participation, and achievement among ethnic minority students in higher education.
  • Culturally Safe Learning Spaces
    Development of a training workshop aimed at fostering inclusive and culturally responsive teaching environments.

Professional Bodies

  • Member Royal Society for Public Health
  • Fellow Higher Education Association
  • Member Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Publications

Publications

Mauro-Bracken, L. (2025) ‘Understanding Health for health and social care practices. in C. Sealey (ed.) The Students’ Handbook for Studying Health and Social Care ( forthcoming ).Routledge, Abingdon.

Sundari, S., Fernandez-Mills, K. & Mauro-Bracken, L. (2025) Constructing Culturally Safe Learning Spaces for International Students. Available at: Intern. Journal Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning Vol 1.1 (pp224-236). Available at:

Thomas, Y., Frank, H., Mauro-Bracken, L., Goodall, D. et al (2014) The value of writing groups and the barriers to writing: A response. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 21:6, 259-259.

Mauro-Bracken L. (2008). Shaping Interculturalism for Youth work: A report on consultations for an intercultural strategy for youth work. National Youth Council of Ireland.

Presentations

Sundari, S. and Mauro-Bracken, L. (2025) ‘Exploring the benefits of conducting workshops on constructing culturally safe learning spaces’ paper presented at Learning and Teaching Conference ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester June 2025

Mauro-Bracken, L. (2025) ‘Inclusive approach to supporting emotional needs of students in higher education’ discussion presented at the ‘3rd International Conference on Education (ICE3): Embracing Diversity the Intersectional Experience,’ January 9-11, 2025 in Mumbai India.

Sundari, S. Fernandez-Mills, K. & Mauro-Bracken, L. (2024) ‘Workshop Constructing Culturally Safe Learning Spaces for International Students’ workshop presented at Power of Potential Conference, ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester/INCLUDE June 2024.

Mauro-Bracken, L. (2022)’Creating a community of learners. A whole department approach to inclusive practice’ case study presented to ‘Communication and Media Research Group, ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Ibn Zhor’ July 2022.

Mauro-Bracken, L. (2019)’ Cultivating Change for Inclusive Practice: Creating a Community of Learners’ poster presented at Learning and Teaching Conference, ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester June 2019.

Mauro-Bracken, L. (2019) ‘Cultivating a culture change: A Department Wide Journey.’ Poster/paper presented a ‘Journey to Oz. Travelling together towards inclusive education. AHEAD Conference’ Dublin, March 2019.

Mauro-Bracken, L. & Goodall, D. (2016) ‘The role of the Foundation Degree in enabling students to achieve work place success or progression’ paper presented at ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester Learning and Teaching Conference, June 2016.

McGregor, K, Mauro-Bracken, L & Anderson, J. (2016) ‘Survival of the fittest: The impact of post-recession Britain on women and women's services.’ Paper presented at conference: Social Justice: building a fairer, more equal society, ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Worcester, June 2016.

External Roles

External Examiner: ºù«ÍÞÊÓÆµ of Suffolk’s  Assistant Practitioner and Nursing Associate Foundation Degree courses 2020-2024