Biography

My primary research interest has been and continues to be the relationship between behaviour and heath, and in particular the modification of lifestyle factors to enhance health and well-being. The individual, organisational and environmental determinants of health-related behaviours are key to understanding and improving many aspects of health status and functioning. My research contributions to the health behaviour field have been especially significant in a number of ways, including:

• Linking individual and broader environmental/system determinants of health-related behaviours within comprehensive models of health behaviour change, and developing and trialling comprehensive interventions to produce change in health-related behaviours.

Focusing on applied research in real settings, with outcomes of immediate relevance and applicability to improve health status and functioning. In particular, I have investigated the barriers to implementation of best practice care for a variety of health conditions, and how such barriers might be overcome.

• Successfully undertaking the difficult but particularly rewarding challenge of conducting very rigorous research, using randomised controlled trial designs (RCTs), within real-world (often clinical) settings.
• Collaborating with health care delivery services and other organisations within the community to improve the delivery of care through the translation of research into practice.

Since attaining my PhD, I have held several non-academic positions which have significantly enhanced my capacity to undertake applied research that is likely to make a difference to health and quality of life outcomes. These positions have included 3 years as Program Manager for Drug and Alcohol Clinical services with the Hunter Area Health Service, and 2 years as the Evaluation Coordinator for the National Prescribing Service (a Commonwealth initiative to improve the quality use of medicines). These positions increased my levels of understanding and skill with respect to real-world service delivery and clinical care provision, complex program evaluation, and working collaboratively as a member of large multidisciplinary teams. They further enhanced my commitment to undertaking applied research with real outcomes for improved health and well-being.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 1992
• Master of Psychology (Clinical), University of Newcastle, 2008
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1986

Research

Research keywords

• health behaviour
• health program evaluation
• health promotion
• health risk reductoin
• smoking

Research expertise

• Public Health
• Psychology

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH)
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH)

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Brain and Mental Health
• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Public Health

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member - Australian Psychological Association and the College of Health Psychologists
• Member - Evaluation Sub-Committee of PHARM (Pharmaceutical Health and Rational Use of Medicines)

NHMRC Committee

• Member - NHMRC (Public Health) Project Grant Review Panel 2007

Invitations

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• health psychology

Teaching interests

• Course coordinator for Psyc 'Pre-Professional'
• Course coordinator for Psyc 'Experimental Methodology'
• Health Psychology
• Research Methodology (incl. qualitative methods)
• Program Evaluation