Communicating Health

About us

Communicating Health brings together academics from, social marketing, consumer psychology, and nutrition to create best practice guidelines for nutrition professions to help them communicate with young adults.

This is a joint project of Monash University, RMIT University, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Cancer Council Victoria, Nutrition Australia, VicHealth, Prof Moria Dean, David Menzies & Janette Kendall Consulting.

Investigators

  • Tracy McCaffrey

    Senior Lecturer of Nutrition at Monash University

    Lecturer in Nutrition Science and avid science communicator Tracy is passionate about ensuring messages about nutrition are clear and specifically targeted to their audience.

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  • Helen Truby

    Professor & Chair in Human Nutrition at University of Queensland

    Helen is a researcher, dietitian and educator. She is interested in communication and engagement with the public about food and health.

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  • Mike Reid

    Professor at RMIT University


    Mike is a professor in RMIT’s School of Economics, Finance & Marketing and works in product innovation and is interested in how social marketing can drive behavioural change.

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  • Linda Brennan

    Professor of Media and Communications at RMIT University

    Linda has expertise in social marketing and media and works with government, not for profit and educational institutes. She is interested in the influence of marketing communications.

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  • Claire Palermo

    Associate Professor of Nutrition at Monash University

    An Associate Professor and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Claire brings a passion for educating health officials and research experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to the Communicating Health project.

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  • Megan Lim

    Deputy Program Director, Behaviours and Health Risks at Burnet Institute

    Public health researcher Megan is new to nutrition but has significant experience examining how new communications technologies influence young people's behaviour around sex, alcohol and mental health.

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  • Catherine Lombard (dec)

    We wish to acknowledge the contribution of Associate Professor Catherine Lombard (dec) for the planning and conceptualisation of the Communicating Health project. Catherine was a researcher and Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) with experience in public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, preventive health, randomised controlled trials, and translation. Cate's research focused on the prevention of obesity, including young women, pregnant women and in rural communities.

Research Team

  • Shinyi Chin

    PhD Candidate & Research Assistant at RMIT University

    Shinyi has research and teaching expertise in advertising, marketing communication and branding. She is interested in digital health and narratology.

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  • Annika Molenaar

    Research Assistant at Monash University

    Annika is a Nutrition Scientist with experience in research and an interest in health promotion and the delivery of appropriate and engaging messages about nutrition and health.

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  • Troy Walker

    Research Officer at Monash University

    Proud Yorta Yorta man Troy is a Practising Chiropractor currently completing a Master's degree in Human Nutrition. He is passionate about using his skills and knowledge to give back to his local and broader Aboriginal community.

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  • Eva Jenkins

    PhD Candidate & Research Assistant at Monash University

    Eva is a public-health researcher who is passionate about sustainability, health, and nutrition. Her research thus far has compared the messaging of nutrition professionals and social media influencers to assess how they effectively engage the public.

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  • David Micallef

    PhD Candidate & Research Assistant at RMIT University

    David is a marketing, communications and public relations professional with experience working on social impact and health-based campaigns for government. He is interested in how to positively influence young people’s health behaviours through social marketing.

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  • Anouk Sherman

    Research Assistant at RMIT University & Monash University

    Anouk is a practicing Clinical Nutritionist with experience in research and writing with a keen interest in health promotion and in nutritional, mental and environmental impacts on health.

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  • Associate Professor Jasmina Ilicic

    Associate Professor of Marketing at Monash University

    Jasmina is an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Monash Business School. Her research interests focus on the influence of celebrities/influencers/spokespeople on marketing communication effectiveness.

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  • Lukas Parker

    Associate Professor Media and Communications at RMIT University

    Lukas has expertise in social marketing and advertising and works with government and non-government organisations. Lukas is interested in the use of emerging technologies in marketing communication.

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  • Wei Yee Saw

    Honours student at Monash University

    Wei Yee is a novice Nutrition Science researcher and student with a strong interest in public health nutrition and behavioural science. Her current research involves exploring the psychosocial factors that may influence dietary behaviours in young adults.

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  • Katia Ostapets

    PhD Candidate at RMIT University

    Katia has research expertise in marketing and communication. She is passionate about using social media and influencer marketing to improve health communication.

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  • Amy Barklamb

    Research Assistant at Monash University

    Amy is a Nutrition Scientist who has a passion for evidence-based nutritional advice, especially when presented on social media.

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  • Kim Rounsefell

    PhD Candidate & Accredited Practising Dietitian

    Kim has experience working in Eating Disorder Recovery and has both a research and professional interest in supporting positive body image.

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  • Natalia Alessi

    Designer & PhD candidate at RMIT University

    Natalia Alessi is a designer and PhD candidate in the School of Media and Communications, at RMIT University. Her research project explores place and identities. She works as a Service Designer at the Experience Design Centre at RMIT University, where she leads projects using human centric design approaches. Her practice focuses on data visualisation, visual thinking, and visual storytelling.

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