Research Projects

Researchers in the School of Health conduct world class research across a broad range of health topics with expertise across quantitative, qualitative and mix method approaches. We aim to develop and support a research culture that enhances collaboration with key stakeholders and results in strategic outputs. We welcome enquiries about our active research projects and potential students wanting to work with us.

First responders’ mental health in rural Australia

Exposure to traumatic and/or violent events can have a profound effect on the mental health of first responders. Mental health issues for first responders are significant, complex, and multifaceted. For first responders in rural areas, the mental health impacts of cumulative exposure to trauma and violence in their work on their mental health may be exacerbated by geographical distance from major services, prolonged wait times to access services, and reduced resources to respond to traumatic, complex, and violent situations. While there is a growing body of literature reporting on the mental health and safety of first responders, little is available examining that of rural and remote first responders particularly in the Australian context. There is urgency to understand the specific needs and requirements of first responders working in rural areas and improve resource allocation. To address this gap, with a focus on rural Australia, this project aims to 1) identify key issues for first responder mental health, 2) explore strategies or resilience skills that help first responders overcome mental health issues, and 3) develop guidelines that can be used by health clinicians and health care services to deliver mental health care to first responders in rural areas of Australia.

Lead Investigator: Professor Rikki Jones

Co-Investigators: Prof Kim Usher (UNE), Dr Kylie Rice (UNE), Dr Andrew Arena (Black Dog Institute), Dr Lisa Clegg (Charles Sturt University), Clare Sutton (Charles Sturt University), Dr Aimee Gayed (Black Dog Institute), A/Prof Jame Ranse (Griffith University), Professor Debra Jackson (University of Sydney), A/Prof Larissa Bamberry (Charles Sturt University).

Funding body: Medical Research Future Fund- Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative (2024-2026)

Outcomes:

Jones, R., Jackson, D., Ranse, J., Arena, A., Clegg, L., Sutton, C., Gayed, A., Rice, K., & Usher, K. (2024). A Scoping Review of Trauma, Mental Health and First Responders in Australia. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13397 link here

Jones, R., Jackson, D., & Usher, K. (2024). First responder mental health, traumatic events and rural and remote experience. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80(2), 835–837. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15856 link here

Sexual assault, mental health, and women in rural Australia

Sexual violence is an insidious social phenomenon that can have profound consequences for individuals, families and communities. Burden of sexual violence is extensive for victims/survivors, and for communities and services, with the predicted annual cost of SV estimated to be in the billions. Some rural and remote areas in Australia have significantly higher rates of SV than urban area. Hence the aims of this research project are to 1) explore the experience of survivors in rural Australia, 2) understand what empowers perpetration in rural Australian communities, and 3) explore shame and stigma and the unique mental health needs for survivors and their families living in rural communities.

Lead Investigator: Professor Rikki Jones

Co-Investigators: Dr Louise Morley (UNE), Prof Kim Usher, Dr Kylie Rice (UNE), Prof Debra Jackson (University of Sydney), Dr Peter Smith (UNE), A/Prof Jennifer Smith, Dr Erica Russ (Southern Cross University), Prof Dixie Statham (Federation University), Ryan Davies (UNE), Dr Jasleen Chhabra (Federation University), Dr Chye Toole-Anstey (University of Wollongong), Dr Alaankar Sharma (University of Wollongong).

Funding body:

Outcomes:

Jones, R., Usher, K., Rice, K., Morley, L., & Durkin, J. (2024). The shame of sexual violence towards women in rural areas. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 33(3), 728–734. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13269 link here

Aboriginal peoples Sovereignty and empowerment over health and wellbeing pre, during and beyond COVID-19

Aboriginal peoples Sovereignty and empowerment over health and wellbeing pre, during and beyond COVID-19 Safety

DV Alert Training evaluation

Evaluation of the online service delivery for the DV-Alert program, due to COVID-19.

Enhancing social and emotional wellbeing healing through arts-based storytelling for Aboriginal communities of Northern Inland NSW.

Patient SafetyThe Bushfire Impact is a collaborative arts-based health promotion research project that aims to develop and evaluate the impact of an innovative arts-based storytelling mental health promotion intervention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by the 2019-20 Australian bushfires. The research team will engage with Aboriginal communities to build coping and resilience strategies to manage distress that may have arisen during or after the bushfires.

Evaluation of Hospital to Recovery Program – Mid Coast Lifeline

Evaluation of the Hospital to recovery program for people with suicide attempting behaviours. Participant and facilitation reflections.

Evaluation of the Lifeline Eclipse Support Group (2016-ongoing)

A longitudinal mixed method evaluation of the Lifeline Eclipse group, a non-clinical psychoeducational group for people who have previously attempted suicide.

Safety Research projects cover a broad range of issues including safe practice across a range of contexts, public health priorities including health promotion, Indigenous health, health workforce capacity building including supporting clinical supervision and building clinical capacity, and interprofessional education and simulation. Evaluation protocol available:

Evaluation of the Lifeline Eclipse Support Group - Online Extension

  • Funding body: NSW Ministry of Health

Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Australians’ preventive health behaviours: A mixed methods study. NSW COVID-19 Round one grant.

The aim of the study is to measure and explore the current preventive behaviours and their barriers and enablers in Indigenous Australians residing in NSW from attending primary health care services. A sequential mixed methods study will be conducted in two phases:

Phase 1: database study of NSW Health linked data of preventive health indicators
Phase 2: qualitative study using a yarning storytelling approach.

Indigenous Young People’s Resilience and Wellbeing

Some Aboriginal youth in situations of adversity are prone to substance misuse, violence, injury, and negative health outcomes from risky behaviour which has significant impact; yet others are not. This mixed methods cohort study will resolve conceptual and definitional ambiguities around the concepts of resilience and wellbeing as they manifest in Aboriginal youth.

  • Lead Investigator: This project is a collaboration between Murdoch University and UNE and is funded by an ARC grant.
  • Co-Investigators: Marriot, R., Professor Kim Usher (UNE)., Jackson, D., Reid, C., Walker, R., Shepard, C., Hopkins, K., Heritage, B. & Strutt, C.
  • Funding body: Australian Research Council

KPMG Suicide Prevention National Trial evaluation.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the suicide prevention trial and strategies to evaluate ways to reduce suicide.

  • Lead Investigator: KPMG
  • Co-Investigators: Dr Sarah Wayland (UNE), Lucia Navarello (UoM)
  • Funding body: Commonwealth Department of Health

StandBy Response Service NSW Post Suicide Support (2020-2022)

Provision of an evidence-based after suicide support across NSW, including ongoing evaluation and quality improvement.

  • Lead Investigator: StandBy Response Service,
  • Co-Investigators: Jesuit Social Services, Roses in the Ocean & Professor Myfanwy Maple (UNE)
  • Funding body: NSW Ministry of Health

The use of eHealth in older people with chronic conditions within Hunter New England prior to and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Patient The overall aim of this project is to explore the usage of eHealth within the Hunter New England region of NSW and determine the access and availability prior to and during COVID-19. A mixed methods approach will be used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data in order to address the research aim and objectives.