The Victoria University Public Health Network (VUPHN) draws together colleges, institutes, departments, and individual academic staff at VU interested in advancing public health. The VUPHN was established as a forum for public health experts from a variety of fields and disciplines. Members of the network raise issues, strategise, and strengthen collaborative research, teaching, health promotion and advocacy.

The network has 47 individual members representing:

Goal of the Victoria University Public Health Network

The Victoria University Public Health Network aims to:

  • increase capacity in collaborative public health research
  • improve knowledge sharing for research and health promotion
  • build partnerships between colleges/institutes across VU in applications for research grants
  • expand the range of possibilities to translate public health research evidence into practice
  • increase capability to develop and implement multifaceted health promotion interventions among VU staff and students, and externally
  • enhance cooperation between colleges in teaching public health-related subjects
  • expand possibilities for organising public health workshops and summer/winter schools
  • strengthen advocacy for further improvements in VU’s organisational support to public health research, interventions, and teaching
  • strengthen advocacy for other interests of public health researchers, practitioners, and lecturers at VU.

Areas of expertise

The VUPHN members cover the a range of areas of expertise related to public health.

Communicable & non-communicable diseases

Area VUPHN experts
Chronic disease epidemiology Dr Jayantha Dassanayake; Professor Maximilian de Courten
Chronic disease prevention Kristina Vingrys; Professor Maximilian de Courten; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Dermal Science Frank Perri
Diabetes Dr Glen Wiesner; Kristina Vingrys; Professor Maximilian de Courten; Associate Professor Nigel Stepto
Global health Dr Jayantha Dassanayake; Professor Maximilian de Courten; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
International health Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Obesity Dr Glen Wiesner; Professor Kay Gibbons; Kristina Vingrys
Sexual health Dr Grant O'Sullivan; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts

Environmental & occupational health

Area VUPHN experts
Environmental health Irene Lemish
Occupational health Professor Elisabeth Wilson-Evered; Irene Lemish
Organisational health Professor Elisabeth Wilson-Evered

Health behaviours

Area VUPHN experts
Alcohol consumption Associate Professor Craig Fry
Behavioural epidemiology Dr Jannique van Uffelen; Dr Jason Bennie; Associate Professor Rochelle Eime
Dietetics Professor Kay Gibbons
Drug abuse Associate Professor Craig Fry
Eating disorders Dr Zali Yager
Genetics of exercise Dr Xu Sean Yan
Health through sport participation Associate Professor Caroline Symons; Dr Janet Young; Associate Professor Rochelle Eime; Professor Warren Payne
Holistic movement practices Dr Ineke Vergeer
Nutritional epidemiology Dianne Stevens; Kristina Vingrys
Physical activity epidemiology Associate Professor Caroline Symons; Dr Jannique van Uffelen; Dr Jason Bennie; Dr Jayantha Dassanayake; Dr Melinda Craike; Associate Professor Rochelle Eime; Professor Warren Payne; Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Sedentary behaviour epidemiology Dr Jannique van Uffelen; Dr Jason Bennie; Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Sleep Dr Grant O'Sullivan

Healthcare, health policy & health promotion

Area VUPHN experts
Community engagement Kristina Vingrys; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Corporate governance Professor Anona Armstrong
E-health Associate Professor Craig Fry
Health education Dr Helen Widdop Quinton; Kristina Vingrys; Dr Simon Taylor; Dr Zali Yager
Health policy Associate Professor Craig Fry; Professor Elisabeth Wilson-Evered; Associate Professor Liza Heslop; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts; Professor Rosemary Calder
Health promotion Dr Grant O'Sullivan; Irene Lemish; Dr Jayantha Dassanayake; Kristina Vingrys; Dr Liz Short; Professor Lyndal Bond; Dr Melinda Craike; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts; Professor Rosemary Calder; Professor Warren Payne
Healthcare systems Professor Elisabeth Wilson-Evered; Associate Professor Liza Heslop
Nutrition interventions Professor Kay Gibbons
Paramedicine Dr Gavin Smith
Physical education Dr Zali Yager
Positive education Dr Helen Widdop Quinton
Public health interventions Professor Lyndal Bond; Professor Maximilian de Courten; Dr Melinda Craike
Public policy Professor Anona Armstrong

Sociology & public health

Area VUPHN experts
Community belonging Dr Charlotte Fabiansson, Dr Liz Short
Community recreation Dr John Tower
Cultural diversity Professor Mary Carolan-Olah; Dr Liz Short
Gender and sports studies Associate Professor Caroline Symons
Interaction of technology with society Adjunct Professor Greg Tegart
Sexuality and health Dr Liz Short
Sexualities and sports studies Associate Professor Caroline Symons
Social capital Irene Lemish
Social determinants of health Dr Liz Short; Professor Lyndal Bond
Societal gambling Dr Charlotte Fabiansson
Sociology of youth Dr Charlotte Fabiansson

Psychology & public health

Area VUPHN experts
Behaviour change Kristina Vingrys; Dr Melinda Craike
Body image Dr Grant O'Sullivan; Dr Zali Yager
Health psychology Dr Grant O'Sullivan
Mental health David Dawson; Professor Elisabeth Wilson-Evered; Dr Ineke Vergeer; Dr Liz Short; Rebecca Millar
Perception of risk and risk behaviour Dr Charlotte Fabiansson; Professor Lyndal Bond
Psychological wellbeing David Dawson; Professor Elisabeth Wilson-Evered; Dr Ineke Vergeer; Dr Liz Short
Psychology of physical activity Dr Ineke Vergeer; Dr Janet Young; Dr Melinda Craike
Psychology of relationships Dr Warwick Hosking

Specific populations

Area VUPHN experts
Adolescent health Professor Lyndal Bond; Dr Melinda Craike; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Cancer survivors Dr Melinda Craike
Child health Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Disadvantaged and marginalised groups Dr Liz Short
Gay men’s health and wellbeing Dr Warwick Hosking
Gender minorities Dr Liz Short
Healthy ageing Dr Jannique van Uffelen
Men's health Dr Grant O'Sullivan
Migrant and refugee health Dr Jayantha Dassanayake; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Pregnancy Professor Mary Carolan-Olah
Same sex-attracted and gender diverse communities Dr Grant O'Sullivan
Technology for the aged and disabled Adjunct Professor Greg Tegart
Women's health Dr Liz Short; Associate Professor Nigel Stepto

Methods in public health research & practice

Area VUPHN experts
Applied statistics Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Assessment and development of new technology and innovation Dr Kim Sweeny
Electronic surveys and data capture systems Dr Glen Wiesner
Event management in sport and recreation Associate Professor Caroline Symons
Ethics Professor Anona Armstrong; Associate Professor Craig Fry
Evaluation Professor Anona Armstrong; Professor Lyndal Bond
Genetic methods Dr Xu Sean Yan
Foresight (future studies) Adjunct Professor Greg Tegart
Health economics Dr Kim Sweeny
Health surveillance Professor Maximilian de Courten; Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Needs assessment Professor Kay Gibbons
Management of large operational services Professor Kay Gibbons
Project coordination Dr Angela Fones; Dr Glen Wiesner
Psychometrics Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Qualitative research methods Frank Perri; Dr Ineke Vergeer; Professor Lyndal Bond; Professor Mary Carolan-Olah; Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts
Quantitative research methods Professor Lyndal Bond; Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Strategic analysis Dr Kim Sweeny
Survey design and implementation Dr Zeljko Pedisic
Translational research Professor Warren Payne

 

Our people

Members include:

VUPHN is open to everyone at VU with professional interests and involvement in public health agenda. We cordially welcome new members.

Operational group

Contact us

To join the network or for any other inquiries, please contact:

Dr Zeljko Pedisic
VUPHN coordinator
+61 3 9919 5275 | zeljko.pedisic@vu.edu.au.