Dr Peter Howley

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 2005
• Bachelor of Mathematics (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1995
• Bachelor of Mathematics, University of Newcastle, 1994

Research

Research keywords

• Bayesian hierarchical models
• Clinical indicators
• Performance indicators
• Statistical modelling

Research expertise

My primary research focuses on Bayesian hierarchical modeling and its application to foster quality improvement activity in health care, through the creation of improved methods for analysis and reporting of clinical indicator data. This has involved work with the Australian Council on Health Care Standards and Health Services Research Group. This area relates well with my research into 'performance measures', which extends beyond the health care field. My broader interests (incl. publications and consulting) lie with research and applications of Statistics in the fields of health, finance and management and with quality improvement activity in health, industry, business and education.

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Editor - Statistical Society of Autralia Inc.
• Editor - Statistical Society of Autralia Inc.

Appointments

Section Chair of Medical Statistics Statistical Society of Autralia Inc. (Australia)	01/01/2003 - 01/12/2005
Co-Section Chair of Statistical Education Statistical Society of Autralia Inc. (Australia)	01/01/2007

Awards

Recognition.

2004	Faculty of Science and IT's teaching award Faculty of S&IT, The University of Newcastle (Australia)
2004	Peter Reizenstein Prize International Journal for Quality in Health Care (Australia) Runner up for the Journal's Peter Reizenstein Prize for best paper published in 2004 - Gibberd Robert, Hancock Stephen, Howley Peter P., Richards Kay (2004) Using indicators to quantify the potential to improve the quality of health care. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 16 (2) 1-7.

Research Award.

2000	Conference poster award Biostatistics Research Group, Edmonton, Alberta, (Canada) Received cash prize for my poster presentation at the 'Statistics & Health' conference held in Edmonton, Canada in June on my post-graduate research topic, 'Using Hierarchical Models to Report Clinical Indicators'.

Invitations

Australian Teaching and Learning Council National Forum: Building networks in statistics education Australian Teaching and Learning Council, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2009
Combined QUT - St Andrew's Medical Institute collaborative industry/academic workshop, Driving excellence in clinical outcomes: methods for monitoring and influencing change workshop St Andrew's Medical Institute and QUT, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2008
NSW SSAIs Workshop on integrating statistical ideas in mathematics NSW SSAI, Australia (Invited Presenter)	2008
Australian Statistical Conference 2004 Statistical Society of Australia Inc., Australia (Invited Speaker at International Conference)	2004

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Coordination of courses (on-campus and web-based). Acting Head of Discipline. Membership of School Boards. Coordinator and chair of conference sessions. Associate Editor of International Journal. Section Chair in Statistical Society of Australia Inc. Statistics' Honours and Research Higher Degree Programme Coordinator.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Business Statistics
• Quality Improvement
• Research Methods
• Statistical Education
• Statistics
• Total Quality Management

Teaching expertise

I have taught all levels of undergraduate Statistics courses and courses for Master of Statistics and MBA programs, both on-campus and online. My expertise lies with teaching statistical courses (including introductory courses, regression, experimental and questionnaire design, quality improvement courses), particularly to non-statistically minded people. My pet areas are Business Statistics, Business Research Methods and Total Quality Management. I've designed and presented two-day seminars on Continuous Improvement to organisations as well as creating and coordinating the inaugural delivery of the Statistic's Disciplines first online (web-based) course, Total Quality Management.

Programs

• Bachelor of Mathematics
• Bachelor of Science (Mathematics co-major)