Rate My Professor Stephen Neville

Professor Stephen Neville is a Registered Nurse and Gerontological Researcher serving as Professor and Head of Discipline – Nursing in the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He holds a PhD in Nursing, MA (Hons), and BA (Soc Sci) from Massey University. With extensive experience in nursing education and research, he previously held senior academic and research leadership roles in New Zealand. Currently, he is an Honorary Professor at the University of Auckland and Research Associate with the AUT Centre for Active Ageing. As Discipline Lead for Nursing, he provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership while advancing the health and wellbeing of communities through evidence-based practice.

Neville's research specializations centre on gerontology, including ageism, stigma, discrimination, social isolation, and cognitive health among older adults, with a focus on creating safe and supportive communities. He leads the 'Modified Pathways to Sustainable Ageing in Aotearoa' project to reduce frailty and promote sustainable healthy ageing. An active member of the UniSC Healthy Ageing Research Cluster, he has secured competitive research grants leading to numerous peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Key publications include 'Loneliness in Men 60 Years and Over: The Association With Purpose in Life' (2018), 'Program Evaluation for Health Professionals: What It Is, What It Isn't and How to Do It' (2020), 'Older People's Views about Ageing Well in a Rural Community' (2021), and contributions such as 'The Condom Imperative in Anal Sex' (2016) in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. In 2026, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for contributions to gerontology research and seniors. He serves as Editor for the Journal of Clinical Nursing, Associate Editor for the Australasian Journal on Ageing, member of the Age-friendly Advisory Board for New Zealand's Office for Seniors, and Research Advisory Committee member for the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand). A Fellow and Life Member of the College of Nurses Aotearoa and member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, he teaches research methods and gerontology.