Researcher biography
Dr. Mehwish Nisar is a medical doctor, academic, and public health researcher with a diverse background spanning clinical practice and higher education.
She is a mixed-methods researcher specialising in chronic disease and health behaviours, with a strong focus on diverse communities. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, UQ, she leads projects that apply mixed-methods, co-design, and implementation science to improve health outcomes in underserved populations. Her contributions to migrant health have been internationally recognised through her inclusion in the United Nations Migration Health and Development Research Initiative (MHADRI) portal.
In her role as an MD Academic at UQ, Dr. Nisar draws on over a decade of teaching experience across medical schools and tertiary institutions in Australia and abroad. Her commitment to excellence in university teaching is reflected in her recognition as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
At the heart of her work is a dedication to advancing health equity through evidence-based and culturally responsive approaches. She brings expertise in research design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, knowledge translation, and building meaningful partnerships with community organisations.
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Publications
Journal Articles
Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Furze, Cailyn, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John, Hickson, Louise, Timmer, Barbra, Armitage, Christopher J. and Dawes, Piers (2025). What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? The views of service users, clinicians, and researchers. Ear and Hearing 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001686. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001686
Hossian, Mosharop, Nisar, Mehwish, Iven Mielke, Gregore and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2025). Twenty Four-Hour Movement Behaviours Research Among Australian Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36 (2) e70021, 1-14. doi: 10.1002/hpja.70021
Nisar, Mehwish, Costa, Nathalia, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2025). Exploring healthcare access challenges among South Asian migrants in Australia: a mixed-method study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36 (2) e70008, 1-14. doi: 10.1002/hpja.70008
Nisar, Mehwish, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2025). Chronic diseases and their behavioural risk factors among South Asian immigrants in Australia. Australian Health Review, 49 (1) AH24032, 1-8. doi: 10.1071/ah24032
Li, Wen, Nisar, Mehwish, Gillies, Robyn, McGrail, Matthew and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2024). Challenges and strategies for international medical graduates in registration and integration into the Australian healthcare system: Protocol for a systematic scoping review. Figshare. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.27896436.v1
Feng, Jie, Huang, Wendy Yajun, Zheng, Chen, Jiao, Jiao, Khan, Asaduzzaman, Nisar, Mehwish and Wong, Stephen Heung-Sang (2024). The overflow effects of movement behaviour change interventions for children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Sports Medicine, 54 (12), 3151-3167. doi: 10.1007/s40279-024-02113-1
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John, Furze, Cailyn, Nisar, Mehwish, Timmer, Barbra, Ching, Teresa Y. C., Harris-Roxas, Benjamin, Scanlan, Emma, Van Buynder, Patricia, Waite, Monique, Orlando, Marc, Kruger, Jan-Louis, Ekberg, Katie, Dib, Mayada, Ginis, Jan, Barr, Margo, Armitage, Christopher J. and Hickson, Louise (2024). Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities in Australia: Research Protocol. Figshare. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.26499952.v1
Nisar, Mehwish, Kolbe‐Alexander, Tracy L. and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2023). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour among South Asian immigrants in Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35 (1), 57-67. doi: 10.1002/hpja.711
Nisar, Mehwish, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy L. and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2023). Bullying experiences of South Asian immigrants in Australia: a mixed-method study. Prevention Science, 24 (4), 785-797. doi: 10.1007/s11121-022-01487-w
Nisar, Mehwish, Uddin, Riaz, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2022). The prevalence of chronic diseases in international immigrants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 51 (3), 1-12. doi: 10.1177/14034948221116219
Nisar, M., Alexander, T. and Khan, A. (2022). Health behaviors changes during COVID-19: a study of Australian immigrants. Public Health Review, 9 (3), 7-11. doi: 10.17511/ijphr.2022.i03.01
Nisar, Mehwish, Khan, Asaduzzaman and Kolbe‐Alexander, Tracy L. (2022). ‘Cost, culture and circumstances’: barriers and enablers of health behaviours in South Asian immigrants of Australia. Health and Social Care in the Community, 30 (5), e3138-e3149. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13759
Nisar, Mehwish, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy L., Burton, Nicola W. and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2021). A longitudinal assessment of risk factors and chronic diseases among immigrant and non-immigrant adults in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (16) 8621, 8621. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168621
Ansari, Umair, Naz, Fouzia, Shujat Husain, Syed, Shabbir, Taha, Mazhar ul Hasnain, Syed, Memon, Saeed, Kalwar, Bashir Ahmed, Shuja Uddin, Syed, Nisar, Mehwish and Nazish, Sardar Ahmed (2020). Effects of social media group communication campaigns among school children: an experimental study. Ilkogretim Online - Elementary Education Online, 19 (1), 686-699. doi: 10.17051/ilkonline.2020.661900
Hameed, Saad, Nisar Ahmed, Beenish, Waqas Nisar Ahmed, Muhammad, Anis Musani, Muhammad, Arfeen, Mohammad, Nisar, Mehwish, Hassan Abbas Naqvi, Syed, Hameed, Javeria, Imran, Arshi, Ikram, Asad and Iqbal Afridi, Muhammad (2019). Awareness of BMI among health professionals in tertiary care hospitals. Annals of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, 5 (2), 87-92.
Nisar, Mehwish, Ahmed, Muhammad Waqas Nisar, Ahmed, Beenish Nisar, Imran, Arshi and Ahmed, Sana Nisar (2016). Stress and the Onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Annals of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, 48-52.
Zaman, Shaikh Muhammad and Nisar, Mehwish (2009). Primary hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, alopecia totalis, and müllerian hypoplasia: A clinical study. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 59 (8), 571-573.
Shaikh, Zaman, Umar, Muhammad and Nisar, Mehwish (2007). Unusual presentation of Addison's disease. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 23 (3), 475-478.
Conference Papers
Kirjava, Shade Avery, Faulkner, Sam, Raab, Clara and Nisar, Mehwish (2025). Evaluating colorism in hearing aid and cochlear implant design in the United States market: a 20-year longitudinal analysis. American Academy of Audiology Conference, New Orleans, LO USA, 26-29 March 2025.
Nisar, Mehwish, Costa, Nathalia and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2025). Exploring healthcare access challenges among South Asian migrants in Australia: A mixed-method study. Global Conference on Migration and Health Equity, Sydney, NSW Australia, 30-31 January 2025.
Nisar, Mehwish, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Orlando, Marc, Kruger, Jan-Louis, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John and Dawes, Piers (2025). Engagement with Interpreters to Improve Hearing Health Equity in Audiology Clinics. Global Conference on Migration and Health Equity, Sydney, NSW Australia, 30-31 January 2025.
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Newall, John, Nisar, Mehwish, Furze, Cailyn and Scarinci, Nerina (2024). Identifying Person-Centred Culturally Responsive Hearing Care Professional Behaviours: An International eDelphi Study. 36th World Congress of Audiology, Paris, France, 19-22 September 2024.
Scarinci, Nerina, Furze, Cailyn, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Newall, John and Dawes, Piers (2024). Factors influencing the use of hearing services among adults from diverse ethnic communities in Australia. 36th World Congress of Audiology, Paris, France, 19-22 September 2024.
Newall, John, Nisar, Mehwish, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Orlando, Mark, Scarinci, Nerina and Dawes, Piers (2024). Exploring factors influencing engagement of interpreters with hearing care professionals. 36th World Congress of Audiology, Paris, France, 19-22 September 2024.
Nisar, Mehwish, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Scarinci, Nerina, Furze, Cailyn, Newall, John and Dawes, Piers (2024). “You Are Just Making Him More deaf”: Exploring Paediatric Hearing Services Engagements in Australia's Culturally Diverse Communities. International Hearing-Aid Research Conference (IHCON 2024), Lake Tahoe, CA United States, 21–25 August 2024.
Nisar, Mehwish and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2024). Sunflower's Sorrow: Health Struggles of South Asian Women in Australia. QLD Women’s Health Forum 2024, Brisbane, Australia, 11-12 July 2024.
Nisar, Mehwish (2024). Exploring barriers and facilitators for translators and interpreters in audiology clinics: a mixed-method investigation. 5th East Asian Translation Studies Conference (EATS5), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26—28 June 2024.
Nisar, Mehwish, Orlando, Marc, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Kruger, Jan-Louis and Dawes, Piers (2023). Engagement between Hearing Services Providers and Translation & Interpreting (T&I) services. Early Career and Postgraduate Research Conference, SHRS, UQ, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 30 November 2023.
Nisar, Mehwish and Khan, Asaduzzaman (2022). Bullying experience among South Asian immigrant population of Australia: A mixed-method study.. Preventive Health Conference 2022 PHAA, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 May 2022. Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA).
Thesis
Nisar, Mehwish (2023). Chronic diseases and behavioural risk factors in immigrants: An Australian perspective. PhD Thesis, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/2e1c0f1
Department Technical Report
Gane, E., Brakenridge, C., Johnston, V., Khan, A., Way, K. A., Healy, G., Zerguine, H. and Nisar, M. (2022). Evaluating changing environmental, psychological, and organizational characteristics of working from home and their impact on work and health outcomes of employees. A report for the Office of Ergonomics Research Committee (USA), Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Newspaper Articles
Nisar, Mehwish (2025, 04 17). Cultural competence needed to build equitable health care Intouch Public Health
Nisar, Mehwish (2025, 03 11). Uncovering the hidden challenges of healthcare for South Asian Australians School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences news
Nisar, Mehwish (2024, 03 02). Audism’s echo in the hearing-impaired terrain Medium
Nisar, Mehwish (2023, 08 30). Crossing Borders, Crossing Health: Exploring Chronic Diseases in Migrants Best Practice Nordic
Nisar, Mehwish (2023, 05 04). South Asian heart health has never been more important Indian Link