Julian has national and international standing in the discipline of child and family health nursing in research that attends to health inequities experienced by children and young people. Her research focuses on understanding the individual and systemic barriers for the nursing and interdisciplinary workforce tasked with promoting the wellbeing of children and young people. Particularly those who are vulnerable due to the intersections of race, gender and class and those at risk of, or exposed to abuse or neglect.
This has involved working with families and mothers, nurses, midwives and the interdisciplinary workforce across health, education and social welfare. Her research has subsequently moved into developing and trialling innovations and resources that can improve health and wellbeing for vulnerable children. After working substantially with refugee mothers and families, and due to her increasing reputation as a culturally safe researcher, Julian has been invited to work with children and families from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. Having worked in clinical practice and education with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Ceduna (SA) Port Lincoln (SA) and Gunnedah (NSW) Julian is committed to working collaboratively for change.
As immediate outgoing President of Maternal, Child and Family Health Nurses Australia, Julian led the core professional workforce providing primary health care for well infants, and young children in Australia. She is regularly invited to make expert submissions on national issues related to infant and child health, wellbeing and child protection. Her work strengthens the child health, education and welfare workforce, and shapes policy to enable families to optimise their children’s health and wellbeing.