Biography and expertise
Biography
Dr Louise Horstmanshof is a registered psychologist and senior academic whose 20‑year career spans higher education, ageing and dementia literacy, health‑workforce development, and emerging professional practice. Her scholarship explores how humans learn, adapt, and make decisions across changing professional landscapes, with particular focus on identity formation, reflective practice, and the development of flexible, evidence‑based reasoning in future health professionals.
Louise has led two Australian Department of Health (formerly HWA) grants, producing award‑winning community‑engaged learning initiatives that strengthened interprofessional education and aged‑care capability. She brings a warm, relational teaching philosophy grounded in intellectual curiosity, academic humility, psychological flexibility, and openness to new forms of knowledge. These values underpin her work in Lifespan Psychology and Scientist–Practitioner training, where she supports students to integrate theory, experience, and reflective insight.
Research
She is a regular reviewer for several national and international Q1 journals, including Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, contributing to global scholarship in learning, teaching, and professional development. Her research aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequalities. She is currently contributing to emerging scholarship in human–AI decision making, responsible innovation, and the future of professional practice.
Community engagement
Louise is a Distinguished Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) and a Life Member of the Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance Inc (DIBA).