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Contact Details

Email
rose.richards@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Professor, Associate Dean (Pacific), Division of Health Sciences, Va’a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health
Qualifications
BSc PGDipSci MSc PhD
Research summary
Pacific health, sleep and how our connections with the ocean shape Pacific wellbeing

Research

Professor Rosalina (Rose) Richards is a Samoan / English academic whose background is in behavioural psychology and public health. Rose’s areas of research include sleep health among Pacific families and how connections with the ocean shape Pacific wellbeing and identity. In pursuing these she has the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of colleagues across disciplines and organisations.

As Associate Dean Pacific for the Health Sciences, Professor Richards contributes to the strategic direction of the Division and is part of a close network of Pacific leaders across the university. Over the years she has served as Acting Director of the Pacific Development Office, Deputy Director of Va'a o Tautai, and is a former Co-Director of the Coastal Peoples: Southern Skies Centre for Research Excellence.
Coastal People: Southern Skies

As former Director of the Centre for Pacific Health and Co-Director of the Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit, she has published across a diverse range of areas including physical activity, nutrition, tobacco control and supportive cancer care. Professor Richards teaches Pacific health across various health professional programmes and research contexts. She is involved with local and national Pacific community collectives, contributing to initiatives that support community aspirations.

Publications

Ruhe, T., Bowden, N., Lucas, A., Richards, R., & Kokaua, J. (2025). A Tivaivai research framework: A strengths-based quantitative approach to Pacific health research. Pacific Dynamics, 9(1), 1094-1116. doi: 10.26021/15930 Journal - Research Article

Norris, P., George, M., Symon, V., Keown, S., Bhawan, S., Richard, L., & Richards, R. (2025). Does access to medicines differ from access to healthcare? Experiences of barriers to medicines access by people facing social disadvantage. Research in Social & Administrative Pharmacy, 21(6), 480-486. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2025.02.010 Journal - Research Article

Norris, P., Keown, S., George, M., Symon, V., Richards, R., Bhawan, S., & Richard, L. (2025). Lived experience of affordability as a barrier to prescription medicines: A longitudinal qualitative study. Exploratory Research in Clinical & Social Pharmacy, 17, 100571. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100571 Journal - Research Article

Norris, P., George, M., Symon, V., Keown, S., Richard, L., Bhawan, S., & Richards, R. (2025). Why go back?: Advantages and challenges of longitudinal qualitative research in social pharmacy, and recommendations for social pharmacy researchers. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 33(1), 113-118. doi: 10.1093/ijpp/riae072 Journal - Research Article

Ruhe, T., Marek, L., Bowden, N., Wiki, J., Theodore, R., Hobbs, M., Thabrew, H., Richards, R., Milne, B., Hetrick, S., Boden, J., & Kokaua, J. (2024). The natural and built environments where Pacific children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand live: A nationwide cross-sectional geospatial study. New Zealand Population Review, 50, 99-124. Retrieved from https://population.org.nz/journal/ Journal - Research Article

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