Tina was born in Arnhem, the Netherlands. She moved to Australia with her family when she was nine. In 1967 Tina became a Registered General Nurse (RGN), graduating from the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia.
Her BA degree in Sociology and English was completed at Flinders University SA in 1983. In 1993 her PhD in Nursing was awarded from the University of Manchester.
An active researcher since the 1980s, Tina Koch held the position of Professor of Community Nursing at Flinders University of SA (1996 to 2003). Tina has produced 14 book chapters and 82 peer reviewed journal publications. Blackwell published one research textbook on Action Research in 2006. Tina has supported 22 higher degree students towards PhD completion. Storytelling with Australian and UK centenarians had led to popular press articles about successful ageing.
In 2009-2010 Tina held a Leverhulme Visiting Professorship at the University of Surrey, Division of Health and Social Care. Although ‘retired’ and living in Adelaide, Tina holds professorial status as Conjoint Professor of Nursing, University of Newcastle, Australia; Adjunct Professor of Nursing, Flinders University of SA; Fellow of The Queen’s Nursing Institute since 2004 and Adjunct Professor, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK