Dr Vinathe Sharma-Brymer is a core member of the Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre (ITRC) at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), where her research sits at the interface of human–nature relationships, gender and wellbeing, disaster and climate resilience, and community capability-building. With academic credentials spanning social work, human development, and environmental psychology, Dr Sharma-Brymer’s scholarship advances understanding of how people, culture and environment interact to shape social and ecological wellbeing.

Her work is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 13: Climate Action. Earlier research has explored nature-based physical activity for wellbeing, Forest School pedagogy, and the embedding of Indigenous knowledges in teacher education.

Key Research Impact

Dr Sharma-Brymer’s publication record highlights her cross-disciplinary reach across wellbeing, nature-human relationality and eco-social work. Her research is being mobilised into practice through:

• Eco-social prescribing - developing and evaluating nature-based intervention models and solutions that support mental health, wellbeing, and community connections.
• Policy frameworks for social service and disaster recovery - integrating environmental sustainability into social work and community resilience planning.

Translation to Practice and Policy

Her work informs social-work practice, community development programs, and policy directions that incorporate environmental and socio-emotional resilience. Through her eco-social lens, Dr Sharma-Brymer encourages inclusion of nature-based solutions and interventions in social service and disaster-recovery frameworks, translating research into practical and contextually relevant applications for communities adapting to environmental and social changes.

Recognition and Significance

Dr Sharma-Brymer’s global collaborations and growing academic profile reflect her commitment to transdisciplinary, socially impactful research. Her work embodies UniSC’s strategic priorities for sustainability, wellbeing and inclusion, and advances the ITRC’s vision to foster research that connects people, culture and environment in pursuit of equitable and sustainable futures.