Ms Natalie Townsend

Ms Natalie Townsend

Research Executive Manager

College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing

Career Summary

Biography

Ms Townsend is the Research Executive Manager for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health at the Centre for Women’s Health Research. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons 1) and a Master of Clinical Epidemiology (Distinction). Ms Townsend has been working in women's health for over a decade, with a focus on mental health and the impact of violence and abuse. She has expertise in longitudinal methods, study design, survey development, research translation and communication, participant recruitment, and project management.

Qualifications

  • Master of Clinical Epidemiology (Distinction), University of Newcastle
  • Bachelor of Psychology (Honours 1), University of Newcastle

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Mental Health
  • Public Health
  • Violence
  • Women's Health

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
420299 Epidemiology not elsewhere classified 30
440509 Women's studies (incl. girls' studies) 30
420699 Public health not elsewhere classified 40
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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Chapter (1 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2015 Loxton D, Townsend N, 'Chapter 4: All I want is a life free from violence the impact of family and domestic violence on children', Children's Rights Report 2015, Australian Human Rights Commission, Sydney, Australia (2015)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton

Journal article (10 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2021 Loxton D, Forder PM, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Holliday E, Chojenta C, Melka AS, 'The impact of adverse childhood experiences on the health and health behaviors of young Australian women', Child Abuse and Neglect, 111 (2021) [C1]

Background: Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to poor health and adverse health behavior in adulthood. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of adver... [more]

Background: Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to poor health and adverse health behavior in adulthood. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among young Australian women (aged 20¿25) and examine associations between adverse childhood experiences and adult health behaviors and physical and mental health. Participants and Settings: Data were from the 1989-95 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, who completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale at Survey 3 in 2015 (N = 8609). Methods: Outcomes included: self-rated health, sexual health, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, self-harm, substance abuse (drinking, smoking, illicit drugs), severe obesity, and exercise. Prevalence of childhood adversities were presented, with the association between childhood adversity and outcomes evaluated using log-binomial multivariable regressions (99% CI). Results: While 59% of women reported experiencing at least one childhood adversity, 10% of participants reported adverse childhood experiences across four or more categories, indicating a significant burden of risk for young Australian women. Women reporting four or more categories had higher rates of poor physical health (adjPR = 1.79, 99% CI = 1.51¿2.12), sexually transmitted infections (adjPR = 1.36, 99% CI = 1.11¿1.67), and poor mental health (adjPR = 2.78, 99% CI = 2.34¿3.32), and increased rates of severe obesity (adjPR = 2.14, 99% CI = 1.61¿2.86) and smoking (adjPR = 2.23, 99% CI = 1.89¿2.64). Conclusion: Using nationally representative data, this study shows adverse childhood experiences directly impact physical and mental health, and health behaviors in adulthood among young Australian women. The management of health and wellbeing in adulthood should look beyond the contemporaneous factors, incorporating a focus on how childhood adversity may negatively influence health behavior, health and wellbeing in later life.

DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104771
Citations Scopus - 22Web of Science - 11
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Catherine Chojenta, Peta Forder, Liz Holliday
2020 Coombe J, Anderson AE, Townsend N, Rae KM, Gilbert S, Keogh L, et al., 'Factors influencing contraceptive use or non-use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a systematic review and narrative synthesis', Reproductive Health, 17 1-17 (2020) [C1]
DOI 10.1186/s12978-020-01004-8
Citations Scopus - 7Web of Science - 5
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Deborah Loxton
2019 Loxton D, Powers J, Townsend N, Harris ML, Forder P, 'Longitudinal inconsistency in responses to survey items that ask women about intimate partner violence', BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, 19 (2019) [C1]
DOI 10.1186/s12874-019-0835-4
Citations Scopus - 8Web of Science - 6
Co-authors Peta Forder, Melissa Harris, Deborah Loxton
2019 Loxton D, Townsend N, Dolja-Gore X, Forder P, Coles J, 'Adverse Childhood Experiences and Healthcare Costs in Adult Life', Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 28 511-525 (2019) [C1]

The current study aims to present the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and examine the healthcare costs associated with primary, allied, and specialist healthcare servi... [more]

The current study aims to present the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and examine the healthcare costs associated with primary, allied, and specialist healthcare services. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women¿s Health is a general health survey of four nationally representative age cohorts. The current study uses 20¿years of survey and administrative data (1996¿2015) from the cohort born 1973¿1978. Overall, 41% of women indicated at least one category of childhood adversity. The most commonly reported type of childhood adversity was having a household member with a mental illness (16%), with the most commonly reported ACES category being psychological abuse (17%). Women who had experienced adversity in childhood had higher healthcare costs than women who had not experienced adversity. The healthcare costs associated with experiences of adversity in childhood fully justify a comprehensive policy and practice review.

DOI 10.1080/10538712.2018.1523814
Citations Scopus - 12Web of Science - 9
Co-authors Xenia Doljagore, Peta Forder, Deborah Loxton
2019 Loxton D, Harris ML, Forder P, Powers J, Townsend N, Bytes J, Mishra G, 'Factors Influencing Web-Based Survey Response for a Longitudinal Cohort of Young Women Born Between 1989 and 1995', JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH, 21 (2019) [C1]
DOI 10.2196/11286
Citations Scopus - 8Web of Science - 7
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Melissa Harris, Peta Forder, Julie Byles
2018 Loxton D, Harris ML, Forder P, Powers J, Townsend N, Byles J, Mishra G, 'Factors Influencing Web-Based Survey Response for a Longitudinal Cohort of Young Women Born Between 1989 and 1995 (Preprint) (2018)
DOI 10.2196/preprints.11286
Co-authors Julie Byles, Melissa Harris, Deborah Loxton, Peta Forder
2017 Loxton D, Dolja-Gore X, Anderson AE, Townsend N, 'Intimate partner violence adversely impacts health over 16 years and across generations: A longitudinal cohort study', PLOS ONE, 12 (2017) [C1]
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0178138
Citations Scopus - 78Web of Science - 57
Co-authors Xenia Doljagore, Amy Anderson, Deborah Loxton
2017 Townsend N, Powers J, Loxton D, 'Bullying among 18 to 23-year-old women in 2013', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41 394-398 (2017) [C1]

Objective: To identify the prevalence of bullying among women aged 18¿23 in 2013, and to describe the demographic characteristics, health and risk factors of those who experienced... [more]

Objective: To identify the prevalence of bullying among women aged 18¿23 in 2013, and to describe the demographic characteristics, health and risk factors of those who experienced bullying. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis using data from the 1989¿95 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, a nationally representative cohort (n=16,801). Results: More than one-quarter of women (28.4%) indicated they had never been bullied, 53.4% reported experiencing bullying in the past and 18.2% indicated that they were recently bullied. Women who had experienced bullying were more likely to have lower levels of education, less likely to be studying or employed, and had more difficulty managing on their income. Women who experienced bullying were more likely to use tobacco or illicit drugs, be overweight or obese and to be sedentary. Even after adjusting for these factors, women who had experienced bullying were at risk of poor physical health, psychological distress, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Conclusions: This is the first nationally representative study to demonstrate the strong association between being a victim of bullying and health outcomes in a post-school-age population. Implications for public health: The findings highlight the need for interventions for women who have already experienced bullying and are past school age.

DOI 10.1111/1753-6405.12671
Citations Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2
Co-authors Deborah Loxton
2016 Harris ML, Byles JE, Townsend N, Loxton D, 'Perceptions of coping with non-disease-related life stress for women with osteoarthritis: a qualitative analysis.', BMJ Open, 6 e010630 (2016) [C1]
DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010630
Citations Scopus - 4Web of Science - 2
Co-authors Julie Byles, Deborah Loxton, Melissa Harris
2015 Loxton D, Powers J, Anderson AE, Townsend N, Harris ML, Tuckerman R, et al., 'Online and Offline Recruitment of Young Women for a Longitudinal Health Survey: Findings From the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health 1989-95 Cohort', JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH, 17 (2015) [C1]
DOI 10.2196/jmir.4261
Citations Scopus - 72Web of Science - 60
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Amy Anderson, Melissa Harris, Julie Byles
Show 7 more journal articles

Report (29 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2022 Townsend N, Loxton D, Egan N, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Forder P, 'A life course approach to determining the prevalence and impact of sexual violence in Australia', Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (2022)
Co-authors Emma Byrnes, Peta Forder, Isabelle Barnes, Deborah Loxton
2022 Mishra G, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Cavenagh D, Dobson A, Forder P, et al., 'Health and wellbeing for women in midlife: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Australian Government Department of Health (2022)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles, Peta Forder, Emma Byrnes, Isabelle Barnes
2021 Loxton D, Townsend N, Forder P, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Anderson A, et al., 'Australian women s mental health and wellbeing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020', Australian Government National Mental Health Commission (2021) [N1]
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Peta Forder, Amy Anderson, Emma Byrnes, Julie Byles, Isabelle Barnes, Nick Egan
2021 Loxton D, Byles J, Tooth L, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Cavenagh D, et al., 'Reproductive health: Contraception, conception, and change of life Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Australian Government Department of Health (2021)
Co-authors Emma Byrnes, Isabelle Barnes, Peta Forder, Melissa Harris, Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles, Nick Egan
2020 Loxton D, Forder P, Townsend N, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Mishra G, et al., 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health COVID-19 Survey, Report 4: Survey 4, 10 June 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Peta Forder, Isabelle Barnes, Emma Byrnes, Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Forder P, Townsend N, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Mishra G, et al., 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health COVID-19 Survey, Report 3: Survey 3, 27 May 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Peta Forder, Isabelle Barnes, Emma Byrnes, Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Forder P, Townsend N, Thomson C, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health COVID-19 Survey, Report 1: Survey 1, 29 April 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles, Peta Forder
2020 Loxton D, Forder P, Townsend N, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Mishra G, et al., 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health COVID-19 Survey, Report 2: Survey 2, 13 May 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Julie Byles, Peta Forder, Isabelle Barnes, Emma Byrnes, Deborah Loxton
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 9: Survey 9, 19 August 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Amy Anderson, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 8: Survey 8, 5 August 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Forder P, Townsend N, Byrnes E, Barnes I, Cavenagh D, et al., 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 5: Survey 5, 24 June 2020', UON (2020)
Co-authors Isabelle Barnes, Emma Byrnes, Peta Forder, Julie Byles, Deborah Loxton
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 13: Survey 13, 14 October 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Cavenagh D, Forder P, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 6: Survey 6, 8 July 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Peta Forder, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 7: Survey 7, 22 July 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Julie Byles, Deborah Loxton
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 12: Survey 12, 30 September 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Julie Byles, Deborah Loxton
2020 Townsend N, Barnes I, Byrnes E, Anderson A, Lewis S, Goodwin N, et al., 'Integrated approaches for domestic and family violence, mental health issues and alcohol and other drug use', Sax Institute (2020)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Amy Anderson, Nicholas Goodwin, Isabelle Barnes, Emma Byrnes, Frances Kaylambkin
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 10: Survey 10, 2 September 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles
2020 Loxton D, Anderson A, Cavenagh D, Townsend N, Mishra G, Tooth L, Byles J, 'Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health COVID-19 Survey Report 11: Survey 11, 16 September 2020', Australian Government Department of Health (2020)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Amy Anderson, Julie Byles
2019 Mishra G, Byles J, Dobson A, Chan H-W, Tooth L, Hockey R, et al., 'Policy Briefs from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health', Australian Government Department of Health (2019)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Julie Byles
2019 Loxton D, Tegegne TK, Forder P, Townsend N, Graves A, 'Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence: Interactive layered maps - Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Australian Government Department of Social Services (2019)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Peta Forder
2019 Loxton D, Tegegne TK, Forder P, Townsend N, Graves A, 'Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence: Compendium of maps - Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Australian Government Department of Social Services (2019)
Co-authors Peta Forder, Deborah Loxton
2019 Loxton D, Townsend N, Barnes I, Forder P, 'Family, Domestic, and Sexual violence: Compendium of infographics Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Australian Government Department of Social Services (2019)
Co-authors Isabelle Barnes, Peta Forder, Deborah Loxton
2019 Townsend N, Loxton D, Barnes I, Anderson A, Coombe J, Thomson C, Abbas SS, 'Optimising Cervical Cancer Prevention Amongst Aboriginal Women in Rural and Remote New South Wales: A Pilot Study Screening Program Evaluation', Family Planning NSW (2019)
Co-authors Amy Anderson, Deborah Loxton, Isabelle Barnes
2019 Loxton D, Townsend N, Barnes I, Forder P, 'Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence: Mini report of infographics - Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Australian Government Department of Social Services (2019)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Peta Forder, Isabelle Barnes
2018 Byles J, Tooth L, Loxton D, Chan H, Coombe J, Dobson A, et al., 'From child care to elder care: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health', Department of Health (2018)
Co-authors Julie Byles, Deborah Loxton
2018 Loxton D, Townsend N, Coombe J, Thomson C, 'Aboriginal Reproductive Health Report', Family Planning NSW (2018)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton
2018 Loxton D, Townsend N, Forder P, Coombe J, 'Domestic violence, risk factors and health', Australian Government Department of Social Services (2018)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton, Peta Forder
2017 Loxton D, Townsend N, Cavenagh D, Green L, 'Measuring Domestic Violence in Longitudinal Research', Australian Government Department of Social Services (2017)
Co-authors Deborah Loxton
2014 Mishra G, Loxton DJ, Anderson A, Hockey R, Powers J, Brown W, et al., 'Health and wellbeing of women aged 18 to 23 in 2013 and 1996: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women s Health', Department of Health, 183 (2014)
Co-authors Julie Byles, Deborah Loxton, Amy Anderson, Meredith Tavener, Melissa Harris
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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants 6
Total funding $9,458,257

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

20231 grants / $8,537,673

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health 2023-24 to 2026-27$8,537,673

Funding body: Department of Health and Aged Care

Funding body Department of Health and Aged Care
Project Team Professor Deb Loxton, Professor Gita Mishra, Associate Professor Leigh Tooth, Ms Natalie Townsend
Scheme Consultancy/Tender
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2023
Funding Finish 2027
GNo G2301058
Type Of Funding C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose
Category 2100
UON Y

20211 grants / $285,503

Australian women’s mental health and wellbeing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic$285,503

Funding body: National Mental Health Commission

Funding body National Mental Health Commission
Project Team Professor Deb Loxton, Emeritus Professor Julie Byles, Ms Natalie Townsend
Scheme Research Grant
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2021
Funding Finish 2021
GNo G2100324
Type Of Funding C2200 - Aust Commonwealth – Other
Category 2200
UON Y

20202 grants / $328,365

A life course approach to determining the prevalence and impact of sexual violence in Australia: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health$295,865

Funding body: ANROWS (Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's safety)

Funding body ANROWS (Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's safety)
Project Team Professor Deb Loxton, Ms Peta Forder, Ms Natalie Townsend
Scheme ANROWS Research Priorities Grants
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2020
Funding Finish 2022
GNo G2000444
Type Of Funding C3200 – Aust Not-for Profit
Category 3200
UON Y

Integrated approaches for domestic and family violence, mental health issues and alcohol and other drugs misuse$32,500

Funding body: The Sax Institute

Funding body The Sax Institute
Project Team Professor Deb Loxton, Professor Nicholas Goodwin, Ms Natalie Townsend, Doctor Amy Anderson, Ms Emma Byrnes, Ms Isabelle Barnes, Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin, Suzanne Lewis
Scheme Rapid Review
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2020
Funding Finish 2020
GNo G1901421
Type Of Funding C3200 – Aust Not-for Profit
Category 3200
UON Y

20191 grants / $237,651

Family, domestic and sexual violence hotspot maps and research summaries$237,651

Funding body: Department of Social Services

Funding body Department of Social Services
Project Team Professor Deb Loxton, Ms Natalie Townsend, Ms Peta Forder, Ms Isabelle Barnes
Scheme Research Grant
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2019
Funding Finish 2019
GNo G1900436
Type Of Funding C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose
Category 2100
UON Y

20181 grants / $69,065

Domestic violence among women who have a disability or women who are culturally and linguistically diverse$69,065

Funding body: Department of Social Services

Funding body Department of Social Services
Project Team Professor Deb Loxton, Ms Peta Forder, Ms Natalie Townsend, Mr Dominic Cavenagh
Scheme Research Grant
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2018
Funding Finish 2018
GNo G1800804
Type Of Funding C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose
Category 2100
UON Y
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Ms Natalie Townsend

Position

Research Executive Manager
Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing

Contact Details

Email natalie.townsend@newcastle.edu.au
Phone (02)40420685
Fax (02)40420044
Link Research Networks

Office

Room HMRI Level 4 - west wing
Building HMRI Building
Location Level 4 West, Hunter Medical Research Institue

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