Dr (Mrs) G.G.W. Chamali Wijesekara

Senior Lecturer (Grade II)

PhD (Public Health) (QUT, Australia), MSc (Hlth. Sc.) (HKR, Sweden), BSc (Hons) in Nursing (USJ), FHEA (UK), RN

Nursing
Faculty of Health Sciences
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Contact:

Colombo Regional Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda

Office: +94112881325, Ext: 355

E-mail: ggwij@ou.ac.lk / wijesekara.chamali5@gmail.com

Web: https://ou.ac.lk/mrs-g-g-w-chamali-wijesekara/

Education

  1. PhD in Public Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia
  2. MSc (Health Sciences) (October 2017), Kristianstad University, Sweden,
  3. Certificate course in Teaching in Higher Education, the Open University of Sri Lanka – 2016/2017
  4. BSc (Nursing) Special Degree (April 2010), Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJP, Sri Lanka

Current Employment 

  1. Lecturer in Nursing, Department of Nursing, The Open University of Sri Lanka – 23 February 2018 to date

Previous Employment/s

  1. Lecturer (Probationary), Department of Nursing, The Open University of Sri Lanka – 1 April 2013 to 22 February 2018
  2. Lecturer (On Contract), Department of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka Matara Regional Centre – 1 Sept. 2010 to 31 August 2012 & 17 Nov. 2012 to 17 Jan. 2013
  3. Locum Nurse, Asiri Surgical Hospital, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka – 5 February to 13 March 2011
  4. Staff Nurse, Lanka Hospitals Corporations, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka – 30 June to 31 August 2010

Professional Qualifications/ Memberships

  1. Registered Nurse (RN) at Sri Lanka Medical Council (Registration Number: 27806) – 29 October 2010 to date
  2. Fellow in Higher Education Academy (Fellowship Reference: PR206623) – 16 December 2020 to date
  3. Member of the Australian Society of Lifestyle Medicine – 15 June 2021 to date
  4. Member of the Open University Teachers’ Association (OUTA) – Since 1 April 2013
  5. Member of Graduate Nurses’ Foundation, Sri Lanka – Lifetime Member since Sep 2010

Last Updated on 6 months

Areas of Specialization:

Child Health Nursing, Public Health

Research interests:

Child Health Nursing, Public Health, Nutrition, Physical activity

Contributions:

Current

  1. Course teaching: Paediatric Nursing (NGU5405)
  2. Supervising undergraduate research projects
  3. Setting and marking exam papers: Paediatric Nursing (NGU5405)

Previous

  1. Previous course teaching: Concepts in Nursing Practice (NSU3104), Paediatric Nursing (NSU3212), Adult Nursing (NSU3218), Anatomy & Physiology (NSU3101), Nutrition (NSU3106), Learning Management Skills (NSE3119), EfIL (EDE3006).
  2. Program and course development (1) Supported and engaged in the restructuring of the curriculum of the B.Sc. Nursing program; 2) Course material writing (lesson writing in the course Paediatric Nursing (NSU3212)); 3) Course material revising (Anatomy & Physiology (NSU3101), Nutrition (NSU3106), and Learning Management Skills (NSE3119); and 4) preparing and developing teaching and learning materials including audio-visual teaching materials).
  3. Co-supervising of undergraduate research projects (NSU4206).
  4. Course coordination (Anatomy & Physiology (NSU3101), Nutrition (NSU3106), Concepts in Nursing Practice (NSU3104), Learning Management Skills (NSE3119), EfIL (EDE3006), Paediatric Nursing (NSU3212)).
  5. Examination paper/ assignment setting (Concepts in Nursing Practice (NSU3104), Paediatric Nursing (NSU3212), Anatomy & Physiology (NSU3101), Nutrition (NSU3106), Learning Management Skills (NSE3119)).
  6. Examination supervision and invigilation.
  7. Marking of Final Exam papers, Continuous Assessment papers, and take-home assignments (Concepts in Nursing Practice (NSU3104), NSU3105 (Teaching & Learning), NSU3108 (Communication in Nursing), Paediatric Nursing (NSU3212), Anatomy & Physiology (NSU3101), Nutrition (NSU3106), Learning Management Skills (NSE3119)].
  8. Presentation Evaluation [Communication in Nursing (NSU3108), Teaching & Learning (NSU3105), Undergraduate Research Projects (NSU4206)).
  9. Conducting academic counselling for students of the BSc Nursing Program.
  10. Representing committees (Faculty Board, Faculty Program Restructuring Committee, Course Development Committee).
  11. Receiving ongoing training related to university academia (completed Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education (CTHE) in 2017, obtained training on course development, course delivery, and evaluation from the Open University of Sri Lanka and Queensland University of Technology, Australia).
  12. Conducting research and participating in seminars and conferences.
Course Coordination:

Current course coordination

  1. NGU5405- Paediatric Nursing

Previous course coordination

  1. NSU3212- Paediatric Nursing
  2. NSU3104- Concepts in Nursing Practice
  3. NSE3119- Learning Management Skills
  4. EfIL (EDE3006)
  5. NSU3101- Anatomy and Physiology
  6. NSU3106- Nutrition
Awards:

Research Awards

  1. Travel Grant Award for the International Congress of Diabetes and Metabolism (ICDM) 2022, Seoul, South Korea, 6-8 October 2022
  2. Finalist Award of Queensland University of Technology 2021 Visualise Your Thesis Competition held on 15 September 2021, Australia
  3. Silver Medal Award for the best practices in ODL to the conference paper “Development and testing of a mobile application through design-based research” at 31st Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), 27-29 September 2017, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Scholarships

  1. Financial Assistance from the UGC, Sri Lanka under the scheme of “Financial Assistance to University Teachers for Higher Studies” to undertake Ph.D. studies at QUT, Australia- 2018
  2. Financial Assistance from the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) to undertake Ph.D. studies at QUT, Australia- 2018
  3. HDR Tuition Fee Sponsorship for Ph.D. studies from Queensland University of Technology, Australia- 2018
  4. HKR Exchange Student scholarship for the Master’s degree from Kristianstad University, Sweden- 2011

Research Grants

  1. Faculty Research Grants from the Faculty of Health Sciences, OUSL for the Faculty Research Project titled ‘Access and use of e-technologies by the undergraduates of the Faculty of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka’.- 2016 & 2017
  2. Faculty Research Grants from the Faculty of Health Sciences, OUSL for the Master’s degree Research Project titled ‘Barriers in nurse-patient communication in Sri Lanka: Undergraduate nursing students’ perspective’.
Publications:
  1. Wijesekara, G.G.W.C., King, N., McGraw, K., Gamage, M., & Sendall, M.C. (2023, September 8-9). Exploring the acceptability of a digital story on healthy eating and physical activity in Sri Lanka [Poster Presentation]. Lifestyle Medicine 2023 “Better Health for All” The Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria.
  2. Goigoda-Gamage, W. C. W., Gamage, M., McGraw, K., King, N., & Sendall, M. (2022). The effectiveness of a digital story intervention on healthy eating and physical activity of young people in Sri Lanka [Poster Abstract]. Diabetes & Metabolism Journal, Korea, 46(1), 53. eISSN 2233-6087. https://planix.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/ICDM-Abstract-Book.pdf
  3. Goigoda Gamage, W.C.W., Gamage, M., McGraw, K., King, N. & Sendall, M. (2022). The effectiveness of a Digital Story intervention on healthy eating and physical activity of young people in Sri Lanka [Poster Presentation]. 2022 International Congress of Diabetes and Metabolism (ICDM), 6-8 October 2022, Seoul, South Korea.
  4. Wijesekara, G. G. W. C., Sendall, M., McGraw, K., King, N., & Gamage, M. (2021, September 15). A digital story to improve healthy eating and physical activity of young people [Audio-visual material]. Visualize Your Thesis (VYT) Competition 2021 QUT Final, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. https://www.qut.edu.au/engage/industry-and-partnerships/work-with-students/research-student-engagement/graduate-research-student-showcase
  5. Wijesekara, G. G. W. C., Sendall, M., McGraw, K., King, N., & Gamage, M. (2021, August 5). A digital story to improve healthy eating and physical activity [Oral presentation]. Three Minutes Thesis (3MT) 2021 Faculty Competition, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
  6. Jayatilleke, B.G., Ranawaka, G.R., & Wijesekara, G.G.W.C. (2020). Summative evaluation of a mobile learning application using a tablet computer: Experiences of health science learners (Oral presentation & Abstract). Proceedings of the 18th Open University Research Sessions (OURS), 12-13 November 2020, The Open University of Sri Lanka
  7. Wijesekara, G. G. W. C., Sendall, M., McGraw, K., King, N., & Gamage, M. (2020). Digital Storytelling in promotion of healthy eating and physical activity of young people and their parents in Sri Lanka (Oral presentation & Abstract). Impact Makers 2020 Conference hosted by the School of Public Health and Social Work, 11 November 2020, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
  8. Jayatilleke, B. G., Ranawaka, G. R., Wijesekara, C., & Kumarasinha, M. C. B. (2018). Development of mobile application through design-based research. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal. doi: https:/doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-02-2018-0013
  9. Jayatilleke, B.G., Wijesekara, G.G.W.C & Ranawaka, G.R. (2017). Access and use of e-technologies by the undergraduates of the Faculty of Health Sciences (Extended Abstract & Oral Presentation). Proceedings of the 15th Open University Research Sessions- OURS 2017. ISSN 2012-9912, p.5-9.
  10. Jayatilleke, B., Ranawaka, G., Wijesekara, C. & Kumarasinha, M. (2017). Development and testing of a mobile application through design-based research (Oral presentation & Abstract). Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities, 27-29 September 2017, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, p. 49.
  11. Monika, K., Wijerathne, H.G.I., Gunarathne, G.A.M.I.L. Wijesekara, G.G.W.C. & Madhavi, A.V.P. (2017). Mothers’ experience of having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the 15th Open University Research Sessions- OURS 2017. ISSN 2012-9912, p.209-212.
  12. Rupawaththa, D., Dilrukshi, E.S.A., Chandrasena, H.M.A.R., Wijesekara, G.G.W.C., & Madhavi, A.V.P. (2015). Critical care nurses’ knowledge and practices on administering total parenteral nutrition for critically ill patients in two selected hospitals in Sri Lanka (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 19 & 20 November 2015, ISSN 2012-9912 @2015, p.155-158.
  13. Nadeeka, P.G., Edirisinghe, W.S.U., Sandamali, W.L.P., Wijesekara, G.G.W.C., & De Silva, B.S.S. (2015). Factors associated with formula feeding during the period of exclusive breast feeding (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 19 & 20 November 2015, ISSN 2012-9912 @2015 p.171-174.
  14. Karannagoda, D.I.U.K., Leelarathne, K.A.T.D., Wimalasooriya, K.B., Wijesekara, G.G.W.C. & Madhavi, A.V.P. (2014). Nurses’ knowledge and practices regarding the nutritional management of patients with naso-gastric tube feeding (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27 & 28 November 2014, ISSN 2012-9912 @2014, p.113-116.
  15. Randeni, R.M.H., Wanniachchi, S.S.K., Bisomenike, S.H.M., Wijesekara, G.G.W.C. & De Silva, B.S.S. (2014). The need of a community health nurse: a community perspective (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27th & 28th November 2014, ISSN 2012-9912 @2014, p117-120.
  16. Wijayasundara, W.M.S.K., Gunathilaka, K.P.P.C., Senavirathna, H.M.S., De Silva, B.S.S., & Wijesekara, G.G.W.C. (2013). Factors influencing low birth weight in babies born in Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27 & 28 November 2013, ISSN 2012-9912 @2013, p.189-192.
  17. Madhavi, A.V.P., Jayawrdena, J.M.S., Premachandra, H.G.N.D., Kumarasinghe, H.M.A.K., & Wijesekara, G.G.W.C. (2013). Mothers’ experience of maternity care during labour (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27 & 28 November 2013, ISSN 2012-9912 @2013, p.211-214.
  18. Wijesekara, G.G.W.C., & Seneviratne, S.M.K.S. (2011). Treatment compliance and its correlates in adult asthma patients attending Colombo South Teaching Hospital (Oral presentation & Extended Abstract). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 15 September 2011, ISSN 2012-9912 @2011, p.164-166.
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