ENRG: Eating disorders and Nutrition Research Group

Christie Bennett (opens in a new window)

Adjunct Research Fellow, THRI
Senior Lecturer, Dept of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University

Dr Christie Bennett is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University. She is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her work focuses on eating disorder care, education, and lived-experience-informed scholarship, with a strong commitment to ethical, compassionate, and evidence-informed practice. Christie’s research explores treatment experiences, critical and qualitative understandings of harm and healing in healthcare, and the integration of lived experience into research, education, and service design. She also has a particular interest in eating disorder education, workforce development, and more inclusive, reflexive, person-centred approaches to care.

• ResearchGate (opens in a new window)

Tracy L Burrows (opens in a new window)

Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University

Prof Tracy Burrows has > 200 peer reviewed journal publications, attracted national and international funding and supervises a range students. These students are across a number of disciplines including nutrition and dietetics, science and IT, Psychology. Her supervision and mentoring of colleagues is evidenced through burrows students winning multiple local, national and international awards. She has instigated multidisciplinary international collaborations with eminent researchers across the globe to understand the role of food addiction in the development of obesity and its treatment.

• ResearchGate (opens in a new window)

Janet Conti (opens in a new window)

Associate Professor, School of Psychology, Western Sydney University

A/Prof Janet Conti is a clinical psychologist, dietitian, and AHPRA-endorsed supervisor in the School of Psychology at Western Sydney University. Her work brings a strong practice-based lens to teaching, research, and supervision, with a particular focus on eating disorders, lived experience, and reflective practice. Janet’s research prioritises the voices of individuals and families affected by eating disorders, using qualitative and critical discursive approaches to better understand treatment experiences and support more tailored, person-centred care. She is also interested in clinical supervision and helps clinicians develop reflective, values-based professional practice. Alongside her academic role, Janet works clinically in private practice where she supports people experiencing eating disorders, trauma, and other psychological challenges using approaches including narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness-based therapies, EMDR, and cognitive processing therapy.

• ResearchGate (opens in a new window)

Catharine Fleming (opens in a new window)

Senior Lecturer in Public Health, School of Medicine, THRI

An expert in paediatric and public health nutrition, Dr Catharine Fleming’s research focuses on infant, child and adolescent feeding, food systems, and protecting lifelong health through better nutrition. She was a 2025 NSW Young Tall Poppy award winner, (opens in a new window) and has worked with UNICEF, USAID, World Vision, GAIM, and Nutrition International, helping shape global nutrition policy. Her work amplifies young people’s voices and aims to ensure every child has access to diverse, nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive. Her landmark work with UNICEF engaged over 2,000 young people across 30 countries, with findings presented at the United Nations General Assembly and directly influencing global nutrition policy. She has also partnered with World Vision to train youth leaders across South Asia and the Pacific to conduct nutrition research, with results showcased at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris.

• Google Scholar (opens in a new window)

Janet Franklin (opens in a new window)

Conjoint Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
Senior Dietitian, Research and student placement coordinator, Metabolism & Obesity Service
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District
Affiliated Clinical Associate Professor, Sydney University, FMH, Nursing & Midwifery

Clinical A/Prof Janet Franklin is a senior dietitian, research and clinical placement coordinator and supervisor at the Metabolism & Obesity Service, RPA Hospital, Sydney. She is an affiliate of the University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney and a guest Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. Janet has over 25 years of experience working in adult weight management and has a strong interest in weight and disordered eating. Her research areas include obesity, very low-energy diets, eating disorders and Prader-Willi Syndrome. One of her current research projects is investigating clinicans and lived experienced perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of seeking treatment for weight and eating disorders. Janet has been involved in 45 research papers and five book chapters and has presented at national and international conferences.

• Orcid (opens in a new window)

Melissa Hart (opens in a new window)

Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University

Dr Melissa Hart is the Hunter New England Eating Disorders Coordinator, Manager of the Hunter New England Eating Disorders Clinical Support Team, and Senior Mental Health Dietitian for Hunter New England Mental Health. With more than 20 years of clinical experience across public, private, community-based, and inpatient settings, she has dedicated her career to improving care for people with eating disorders. Melissa’s work spans clinical research, service and workforce development, supervision, consultation, training, and education. Her research interests include equity and access to health care, translating evidence into practice, and strengthening services and pathways to care. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications and completed research projects including a PhD exploring the effects of tyrosine on the brain in anorexia nervosa. Melissa is also an Associate Researcher and Conjoint Lecturer with the University of Newcastle and a Conjoint Senior Lecturer with Western Sydney University.

• ResearchGate (opens in a new window)

Kylie Matthews-Rensch (opens in a new window)

Adjunct Fellow, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment, Research and Education, Wacol, QLD
School of Public Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD
Nutrition Research Collaborative, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD

Dr Kylie Matthews-Rensch is a clinical and research dietitian who obtained her PhD in 2019. She is currently working in the Mental Health Evaluation Research stream at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. Kylie’s research focuses on the translation of research into clinical practice, particularly in the fields of refeeding syndrome and for patients with eating disorders. Her research in both fields has received national recognition and has impacted clinical practice guidelines across Australia. Kylie's current interests in eating disorder research include: refeeding syndrome, acute hospital management, hospital discharge support, and staff, patient and carer experience through treatment.

• Orcid (opens in a new window)

Kirrilly Pursey (opens in a new window)

Conjoint Lecturer, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
Lecturer, Health Sciences, University of Newcastle

Dr Kirrilly Pursey is an early career researcher and lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics within the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle. Her PhD thesis explored the neurobiological underpinnings of compulsive overeating. Her current research focuses on a range of disordered eating behaviours, particularly in children and adolescents. Kirrilly has experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative models of care within the Local Health District as well as the delivery of workforce development and training to clinicians. She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and has extensive dietetic experience across inpatient and community settings.

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Caitlin McMaster (opens in a new window)

Adjunct Fellow, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool
Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool
Illawarra Eating Disorder Service, Wollongong

Dr Caitlin McMaster is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and early career researcher with 11 years’ experience in the field of eating disorders. In 2021, she completed her PhD at the Boden Collaboration for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders at the University of Sydney with her research focussing on advancing outpatient dietetic treatment for individuals with eating disorders and the translation of dietetic-focused eating disorder research into clinical practice. Caitlin currently works as a Research Officer with the South Western Sydney Allied Health Research Collaboration and the Illawarra Eating Disorder Service in Wollongong, and previously held a postdoctoral position with the Eating Disorders In weight-related Therapies (EDIT) Collaboration at the University of Sydney.

• Scopus (opens in a new window)

Lyza Norton (opens in a new window)

Research Fellow, Western Sydney University
Honorary Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University
Paediatric Dietitian, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service and EDFA
Treehouse Nutrition Services – Director

Dr Lyza Norton has extensive clinical experience as a Paediatric Dietitian working across the acute and community sectors in the area of eating disorders, over the past two decades. She is passionate about integrating preventive interventions within the wider community and has research interests in co-design, the early years, food communication and preventive interventions. Her PhD; Promoting positive food parenting practices for disordered eating prevention: Adopting a knowledge translation approach, has resulted in an innovative intervention designed for use in child health services.

Dr Norton is a Chief Investigator and research fellow on the SHiNE project (Supporting Healthful Initiatives in Nutrition Education) at Western Sydney University and is employed as a senior paediatric dietitian with Gold Coast Health Service. Treehouse Nutrition Services is her consultancy business enabling her to collaborate with other organisations, including The Embrace Collective and Eating Disorder Families Australia (EDFA).

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Tetyana Rocks (opens in a new window)

Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
Senior Research Fellow, Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University

Dr Tetyana Rocks (opens in a new window) is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Director of the Food & Mood Academy, and Senior Research Fellow at the Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University. She leads the translation of Nutritional Psychiatry evidence into practical clinical application, supporting both clinicians and the public to implement food-based strategies for mental health. Dr Rocks developed the first free online course in Nutritional Psychiatry, reaching over 94,000 participants globally, and leads two professional development programs, including an award-winning course in Lifestyle Medicine. She was awarded the 2024 Outstanding Contribution to the Profession by Dietitians Australia and has delivered more than 170 presentations, including keynotes, workshops, and media engagements nationally and internationally. Originally from Ukraine, Dr Rocks is committed to community-focused, culturally inclusive approaches to mental health and nutrition.

ResearchGate (opens in a new window)

Student Members:

• Megan Bray
• Yive Yang
• Copeland Winten