Public Health and Health Services


Overview of the Research Area

Our Public Health and Health Science team uses quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research approaches to: identify health concerns and needs, understand causes of adverse health outcomes, health inequalities, barriers and facilitators of behaviours; identify solutions for challenges in health management to inform local, state and national policy and practice, develop interventions that we then evaluate in trials to prevent or mitigate health conditions. The team works locally to target the health issues faced by the Western Sydney community, particularly in minority and vulnerable people, as well as working nationally and internationally to ensure our research is translated widely with global policy and practice impact.

Health Sciences

The Health Science Program is home to a group of expert and emerging health scientists in the areas of public health, health promotion, recreation therapy, health service systems and health professional practice. Areas of specialist research interest include the social determinants of health and wellbeing, gender, ethnic and sexual health inequities, non-health sector interventions for health and wellness, promotion towards more physical activity, recreation, nutritious diets from infancy through to older age and diabetes prevention. There is also interest in health profession education and support, and the capabilities for competent, ethical and evidence-based professional practice in health.

The group has strengths in a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including the use of Geographic Information Systems and 'big data' such as The Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study. Our close links with our local communities, local health districts, primary health networks, local councils, urban planners and non-governmental organisations enable our research to impact on policy and practice in Western Sydney, nationally and overseas

Researchers

To find out more about a researcher, click on their name to be redirected to their staff profile.

Researchers

Dr Amit Arora, Snr Lecturer (Public Health)
Research Expertise and Interests: Maternal and Child Health, Early Childhood, Disadvantaged Populations; Oral Health, Cohort studies, Health Equity; Health Literacy, Socio-economic inequality, chronic diseases, global health, health promotion
Email: a.arora@westernsydney.edu.au

Assoc Prof Elise Baker, Associate Professor (Allied Health)
Research Expertise and Interests: Research translation and implementation; intervention research; outcome measurement; clinicians' conduct of evidence-based practice; models of service delivery; communication development and disorders in children; speech sound disorders; cultural and linguistic diversity.
Email:e.baker@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Tinashe Dune, Senior Lecturer (Interprofessional Health Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Community Mental Health; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations; Minority Populations; Health Sociology; Indigenous Health; Interprofessional Education (IPE) in Health; Migrant Health; Public Health; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellbeing; Social Determinants of Health
Email:t.dune@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Genevieve Dwyer, Snr Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Physical Activity in children (with and without disability); Disability in children and optimising participation in their communities; Preterm survivors and motor outcomes; Preterm infants and interventions; Childhood obesity; Health service delivery in paediatric physiotherapy (including telehealth)
Email:g.dwyer@westernsydney.edu.au

Paul Fahey, Snr Lecturer (Biostatistics)
Research Expertise and Interests: Statistical analysis; statistical consulting; routine data collections; obesity decision tools
Email:p.fahey@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Catharine Fleming, Lecturer (Public Health)
Research Expertise and Interests: Paediatric nutrition; infant feeding; young child nutrition; public health nutrition; adolescence nutrition
Email:c.fleming@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Nerida Klupp, Snr Lecturer (Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: student mental health; animal assisted therapy; evidence-based healthcare; inter-professional learning and teaching
Email:N.Klupp@westernsydney.edu.au

Prof Gregory Kolt, Dean (School of Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: Health promotion; lifestyle behaviour change; physical activity; public health; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
Email:g.kolt@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr David Lim, Snr Lecturer (Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: Health and community services; primary health care; health care administration
Email:d.lim@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Freya MacMillan, Snr Lecturer (Interprofessional Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: Diabetes prevention; health promotion; community-engaged research; mixed methods; physical activity; behaviour change
Email:f.macmillan@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Arianne Reis, Snr Lecturer (Lesisure and Recreation Studies)
Research Expertise and Interests: Therapeutic Recreation; Leisure, Sport and Physical Activity for Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups (e.g. refugees, migrants, low income communities, people in prison, etc.); Mental Health and Wellbeing; Public Spaces and Leisure; University Students' Learning
Email:a.reis@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Clarice Tang, Snr Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Knowledge translation into clinical practice, physiotherapy, chronic cardiovascular disease management, chronic respiratory disease, culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Email:c.tang@westernsydney.edu.au