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Contact Details

Phone
+64 29 770 1798
Email
rachel.tester@otago.ac.nz
Position
Research Fellow
Department
Department of Primary Health Care (Wellington)
Research summary
Communication in healthcare; Narrative research

Research

Rachel completed her BSc and GradDipSci qualifications in psychology (social discursive), and uses her personal lived experience to inform her work.

She has an interest in Jungian analysis and recovery from psychological trauma, and has been involved in several research projects with a mental health and addictions focus (for example, conversations on sensitive topics such as substance use, weight management, lifestyle, and behaviour change).

Rachel is the programme manager for two HPA-funded Like Minds, Like Mine anti-stigma and discrimination education programmes being developed, delivered, and evaluated by the World of Difference service user research group: one for healthcare professionals (medical students and psychiatric registrars), and one for the NZ Police.

Her key interest is in promoting recovery-oriented services to help improve health outcomes for people who experience mental distress.

Publications

Cavana, E., Tester, R., Gladman, T., & Stubbe, M. (2026). Real world video recorded consultations bringing case-based-learning to life. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Conference: Weaving Connection Nau te routou, naku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. 252. Retrieved from https://www.anzahpe.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Ahir-Knight, S., Monro, H., Arango, J., Clark, S., Huls, T., & Tester, R. (2026). Supporting lived experience teaching academics through co-reflection. Higher Education Research & Development, 45(2), 382-395. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2026.2617285 Journal - Research Article

Cavana, E., Tester, R., Gladman, T., & Stubbe, M. (2025, November). Real world video recorded consultations bringing case-based learning to life. Verbal presentation at the Academic GP conference, Hamilton, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Ahir-Knight, S., Monro, H., Gordon, S., Tester, R., Jenkins, M., Goodstadt, F., Newton-Howes, G., & Every-Palmer, S. (2024). Growing the lived experience voice in psychiatry education and research: An academic department’s journey. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58(10), 825-828. doi: 10.1177/00048674241274278 Journal - Research Other

Garrett, S. M., Hilder, J., Tester, R., Dunlop, A., Gardiner, T., Dowell, T., … Shippam, M., Tanirau, S., Kenny, N., McBride, C., … Rukuwai, E., Aryan, N., & Stubbe, M. (2024). Young people talk about digital support for mental health: An online survey of 15-30 year olds in New Zealand. Health Expectations, 27, e70001. doi: 10.1111/hex.70001 Journal - Research Article

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