The Macquarie University Lifespan Health
and Wellbeing Research Centre
Newsletter  

In this edition, we are excited to share more achievements from our Centre members, along with updates from recent research and community events.

You will find news of successful grant outcomes, highlights from recent symposiums and public talks, and research news and updates including how the fear of public speaking can be conquered, how to recognise when you are ready for retirement, and ways to support social participation for older Australians living with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia.

We are also calling for participants to get involved in upcoming studies - a valuable opportunity to shape the future of mental health research.

As always, thank you for your continued support. We hope you enjoy exploring the impact and innovation happening across the Centre.

Research news and key updates

$35 million in federal funding to improve care over the next decade

Members of the Lifespan Health & Wellbeing Research Centre, Professor Sheila Degotardi and Professor Sandie Wong, are part of a successful national consortium awarded $35 million in federal funding to improve early childhood care over the next decade.

This significant investment will support research focused on the wellbeing of early childhood educators - a key factor in their capacity to deliver high-quality education and care. By developing and evaluating interventions that support educators' mental health, the project aims to create lasting benefits for children, families, and the wider community. Read more in The Lighthouse​​​​​​.

Professor Sheila Degotardi and Professor Sandie Wong

Associate Professor Carly Johnco and Dr Ella Oar have led two projects to receive a combined $1,933,935 in Australian Government funding for studies to improve treatment for anxiety in children.

Their projects have been funded over two years under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) 2023 Childhood Mental Health Research Scheme.

A/Prof Carly Johnco receives $979,838 for her project, ‘Making it stick: Using memory rehearsal to improve exposure therapy outcomes for childhood anxiety disorders’. Outcomes for child anxiety treatment are suboptimal. Exposure therapy is the key technique to reduce anxiety, and involves facing the feared situation to learn that it is safe (i.e., safety learning). However safety learning can be forgotten, and fears come back. This clinical trial will assess whether rehearsal of safety learning after exposure therapy enhances outcomes and prevents relapse. Results will advance understanding of treatment mechanisms and optimise child anxiety treatment.

A/Prof Carly Johnco leads the team of Chief Investigators, including Lifespan members Distinguished Prof Ron Rapee, Dr Madelyne Bisby and A/Prof Heather Francis, along with Prof Michelle Craske, Dr Gemma Sicouri, A/Prof Petra Graham. Collaborating partner organisations include Wayahead - Mental Health Association NSW, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney North Health Network and The Talbot Centre.

Dr Ella Oar receives $954,097 for her project, ‘Advancing Childhood Anxiety Treatment with Intensive Exposure Therapy’. Traditional psychological treatments for anxiety disorders in children are time consuming and costly (e.g., up to 10 once weekly sessions). But for phobias, a single session treatment has been found to work. We want to build on this idea and create a two-session treatment for a range of anxiety disorders and compare this to traditional treatment. Our goal is to develop a more accessible and affordable treatment option for anxious young Australians, helping bridge the gap in mental health care.

Dr Ella Oar leads the team of Chief Investigators, including Lifespan members Dr Lauren McLellan, Prof Viviana Wuthrich, A/Prof Jonas Fooken, Prof Michael Jones, and A/Prof Miri Forbes, along with Prof Thomas Ollendick, Prof Bronwyn Graham, Dr Kristy Benoit Allen and Dr Cassie Lavell. Collaborating partner organisations include the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Australian Psychological Society (APS), Sydney North Health Network, Northern Sydney Local Health District and Wayahead - Mental Health Association NSW.

Learn more about the projects in The Lighthouse. 

Associate Professor Carly Johnco and Dr Ella Oar

Protecting Our Elders: When Decision-Making Rights Are at Risk

June 15th marked Elder Abuse Awareness Day – a crucial reminder that protecting older Australians' fundamental right to make their own decisions is essential to preventing abuse.

Elder abuse often hides in plain sight, particularly when it involves undermining an older person's capacity to make decisions about their own life. This abuse can take two concerning forms: denying decision-making rights through inaccurate capacity assessments, or exploiting older people by coercing decisions they don't truly have the capacity to make.

In this blog post, experts from the Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre, explain the importance of accurate assessment and support for decision-making. 

A/Prof Heather Francis, Prof Lise Barry, Dr D. Vincent Oxenham, Dr Travis Wearne

Australian Dementia Research Forum 2025 and Lifetime Achievement Award for Professor Ralph Martens

Prof Ralph Martens hosted the Australian Dementia Research Forum 2025 in Perth. It's been a huge success with a mix of scientists, clinicians and pharma companies as well as dementia advocates.

He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award - he shared this honour with his students, postdocs, collaborators and many supporters.

Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage

This Conversation article was co-authored by Lifespan members Kay Bussey, Naomi Sweller and Rebecca Andrews, and previous Lifespan member Penny van Bergen. 

The team's new study surveyed Australian parents to understand their reasons for sending children to school early or on time, or holding them back. Read the full article. 

Fear of public speaking can be conquered

New research led by Associate Professor Carly Johnco, with Professor Melissa Norberg, Professor Viviana Wuthrich and Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee shows that with the right strategies, even the most anxious speakers can learn to manage their fear and speak with confidence.

Read more about this story in The Lighthouse. Hear from A/Prof Carly Johnco on 2SER's The Thursday Daily Show, 2SER interview with Thomas Koutis and ABC Radio Sydney.

Associate Professor Carly Johnco

Using sleep to enhance exposure treatment for anxious children: A pilot study

New research from members Dr Ella Oar and Distinguished Professor Ron Rapee explored whether sleep could enhance the effects of exposure therapy for anxious children. In a small pilot study, 18 children aged 7 - 12 received a single session of exposure therapy and were then randomly assigned to either sleep or a day of wakefulness. Both groups showed improvements in anxiety symptoms one week later. The study did not find significant added benefits for the group who slept. Researchers noted several practical and methodological challenges in testing sleep effects in children and highlighted the need for larger studies to further explore how sleep might support emotional learning in young people.

The study is published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Children deserve the same legal protection from violence as adults

Queensland's criminal code is under review. Dr Fran Doyle has joined with experts and over 30 child protection organisations to call for a ban on physical punishment in the home. See the full joint submission here. 

A psychologist on how to know you’re ready for retirement

Professor Joanne Earl's research on retirement planning was profiled in an article she authored in the Australian Financial Review. Prof Earl has spent the past 17 years researching the psychology of retirement and provides nine things to ponder as you plan for the next stage. Read the article. 

Want to know what the science says about death and working longer? Read a second article written by Prof Earl, looking at what science tells us about health, retirement and death. 

Professor Joanne Earl

From isolation to inclusion: Increasing access to social participation for older Australians with mild cognitive impairment/early dementia and their supporters

In 2023, Dr Diana Matovic received a grant under the AAGRT RM Gibson Program, funded through AAG's partnership with Dementia Australia Research Foundation (DARF).

The grant funds supported the testing of an intervention designed to improve the social participation and wellbeing of people living with dementia through the adaption of insights gained from a survey and focus groups involving people with mild cognitive impairment /early-stage dementia and their carers/supporters. This was followed by a pilot to test the intervention over three months to assess its impact on social participation and wellbeing.

Read more about this innovative and impactful project, its findings and outcomes.

Access the People living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia booklet here.

Access the Carers of people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) booklet here.

PhD Scholarship Opportunity (Domestic)

A PhD scholarship opportunity is available with the COMBAT-AD team within the Macquarie Medical School. This project aims to examine the impact of sleep on the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. As such, measures of sleep, sleep-related neuropeptides and other biochemical measures will be examined to further investigate the mechanisms in which sleep may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

Find out more information and apply.

Congratulations 🎉

• Prof Mike Jones’ research on the psychological components of gastrointestinal disorders has been named the 2024 clinical research paper of the year in the journal Neurogastroenterology & Motility.

• A/Prof Miri Forbes has been successful in being awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) - Investigator Grant - Emerging Leadership 2 category, to continue her work on: 'Redefining Psychopathology: Empirical phenotypes offer a pathway to discovery'.

• Dr Andreea Heriseanu, Dr Diana Matovic and Dr Amelia Scott for being successful with their Early Career Research Enabling Scheme applications.

• Dr Gabi Picard has been awarded the 2024 Australian Psychological Society (APS) Elsie Harwood Award. 

• Dr Jessica Belcher on completion of the Clinical Psychology Registrar program. 

• Centre Innovation Grant Success: Congratulations to Prof Dick Stevenson for leading a project titled “Caregiver experiences with feeding difficulties in dementia” with collaborators A/Prof Heather Francis, Dr Diana Matovic, Prof Viv Wuthrich, Prof Simon Willcock, Dr Andreea Heriseanu, Prof Melissa Norberg, Dr Vince Oxenham, and Dr Alice Powell.

• Early Childhood Education research at Macquarie University is ranked #1 in Australia (The Australian) and #19 in the world (EduRank) - congratulations to our Early Childhood Education colleagues in the Centre.
• Faculty of Arts Research Engagement Award 2024 – Prof Sheila Degotardi, A/Prof Jun Gu, Prof Yuanyuan Gu, Prof Rebecca Mitchell, Prof Kompal Sinha.
• Dr Diana Matovic for receiving the School of Psychological Sciences Publication Award from the MQ ECR Network, EnCouRage.
• Prof Ralph Martins on his role as the new Global Ambassador for the Dementia India Alliance and his new picture book for children to help them understand dementia, “Dancing with Emotions”.

Community engagement

Lifespan Health & Wellbeing Research Centre headline Macquarie University parkrun in collaboration with North Ryde Rotary Club and Macquarie University Sport

Thank you to the 601 runners who attended the Macquarie University parkrun on April 12 in our collaborative event with the North Ryde Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Macquarie Park and Macquarie University Sport to raise money for mental health research! You dressed up, donated funds, and had fun while improving your physical and mental health.

Thank you to our volunteers who sold tutus and capes, applied hair spray, collected donations, swept the course, rang bells and informed the public about the products and services in our Emotional Health Clinic.

We look forward to seeing you on the course again next year!

A small donation can make a huge difference
With your help, we can develop and provide programs for change, promoting healthier and happier families, people and communities. Find out ways to support our work.

Open Seniors Week for COTA NSW

Minister for Ageing NSW, the Honorable Jodie Harrison kicked off Seniors week for COTA NSW followed by Centre member Professor Joanne Earl with a keynote presentation and panel facilitation on insights from research, the benefits of a purposeful approach, and effective strategies and resources for planning or reassessing your retirement.

Learn more about the event and watch the recording.

Anne Riches AM, Professor Joanne Earl, the Hon. Jodie Harrison MP and Om Dhungel 

Event highlights

Personalising psychological interventions for children and young people using modular approaches

In February, we welcomed Dr Sophie Bennett, a clinical academic psychologist specialising in child and adolescent mental health at King's College London, to discuss "personalising psychological interventions for children and young people using modular approaches". Her current research and clinical work focuses on a range of topics associated with integrated and low intensity mental health interventions, including work on modular interventions, in long term physical health conditions in children and young people, in eating disorders, and persistent physical symptoms.

Dr Sophie Bennett

Nonverbal synchrony in social anxiety disorder

Prof Idan M Aderka, Professor at the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel, and Director of the Social Anxiety and Treatment Processes Laboratory, discussed "Nonverbal synchrony in social anxiety disorder".

His talk described a program of research on interpersonal relationships in social anxiety disorder (SAD) with the aim of understanding the processes that interfere with the development of authentic, intimate, and meaningful social connections. Central to this program of research is the examination of nonverbal synchrony. Nonverbal synchrony reflects the way individuals’ movement synchronizes during interactions and serves as a form of adaptive communication. The talk described the innovative measurement of nonverbal synchrony using computer-based video analysis of human interactions, as well as a series of studies that investigate the role of nonverbal synchrony in SAD, potential implications for the diagnosis of SAD, and directions for treatment.

Prof Idan M Aderka

Low-Intensity Interventions in Mental Health: Development, Challenges and Opportunities

Roz Shafran, Emeritus Professor of Translational Psychology at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health explored the core principles of low-intensity interventions and their implementation in a UK context. Drawing on examples from paediatric care and eating disorders for young people, the talk focused on the development of such interventions, while also highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities in integrating them into broader mental health services. 

Prof Viviana Wuthrich, Prof Roz Shafran & Distinguished Prof Ron Rapee

World Autism Acceptance Month: Fostering a Culture of Understanding, Inclusion, and Belonging

In April, to mark World Autism Acceptance Month, the Centre spotlighted research that promotes inclusion, understanding, and belonging for Autistic people. Dr Anna Kelly, Lead Clinical Psychologist at the Emotional Health Clinic, shared how the Cool Kids anxiety program has been adapted for Autistic children, supporting both young people and their families. Associate Professor Iliana Magiati (UWA) explored the shift from autism awareness to acceptance, presenting research on camouflaging, burnout and late diagnosis. Dr Emily Hughes, ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) fellow in the Department of Philosophy, discussed the complex relationship between loneliness and Autism, and the importance of Autistic lived experience in shaping support. Dr Diana Tan, Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF) in the Macquarie School of Education, presented insights from her research on autism stigma in higher education and its impact on wellbeing, with strategies to foster a sense of belonging.

Health Economics, Measurement of Preferences, and AI-informed Mental Healthcare

We were honoured to host a symposium on 'Health Economics, Measurement of Preferences, and AI-informed Mental Healthcare' with Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE).

The Symposium commenced with a presentation from A/Prof Jonas Fooken on the strong collaborative research potential of health economics with other disciplines. Dr Anam Bilgrami showcased recent advancements in linked administrative data for mental healthcare research, including overviews of two MUCHE projects using these newly linked data. A/Prof Yuanyuan Gu described discrete choice experiments (DCEs) as a method to understand choices and preferences, with Prof Sheila Degotardi highlighting policy-relevant insights from an award-winning collaborative DCE project with Yuanyuan on early childhood educator job preferences. A/Prof Alexis Whitton from the Black Dog Institute presented fascinating research directions on AI-informed mental healthcare, including highlighting recent collaborative work with MUCHE.

Webinars

Have you seen our webinars on study stress and child anxiety? Check out the recordings below. 

Catch up on other webinars, including older workers and retirement planning, the impacts of sleep on mental health, and social connections in older adulthood on our website. 

Help your teen cope with Year 11 and 12 study stress

As preparation for Year 11 & 12 exams ramps up, stress levels can rise - not just for students, but for parents too.

In this webinar, Dr Jessica Belcher explores why students feel stressed, how stress can show up, and when it might be a cause for concern. She also shares practical, research-backed tips to help parents support their teens through the final years of high school.

Watch the webinar here and learn how to help your teen manage exam stress with confidence.

Cool Little Kids Anxiety Program

The Cool Little Kids program is an early intervention program targeted at caregivers of three to six year old children who exhibit excessive shyness, separation anxiety and lack of confidence.

This webinar covers the signs of anxiety in pre-schoolers and how best to equip yourself with both knowledge and practical skills for how to help children manage and overcome anxiety. Watch the webinar here and learn more about the program. 

Call for research participants

Eating & Drinking in Dementia study

We are inviting past (last year) and current carers of adults with dementia to participate in a 30-minute online survey. The study is investigating two things. First, the eating and drinking problems that some people living with dementia can have. Second, how their carers cope with these problems. 

Our longer-term aim is help other carers better cope with these issues by developing carer resources for evaluation in a future study. 

If you decide to participate, you will be asked (1) some demographic questions about yourself and the person you care or cared for; (2) some questions about the body weight of the person you care or cared for; (3) some questions about the eating and drinking habits of the person you care or cared for; and (4) how you manage or managed any difficult behaviours.

Complete the online survey here. 

The study is run by Richard Stevenson, Heather Francis, Viviana Wuthrich, Diana Matovic, Simon Willcock, Andreea Heriseanu, Melissa Norberg, Vince Oxenham, and Alice Powell.

Please contact Prof. Dick Stevenson on dick.stevenson@mq.edu.au if you would like more information.

Are you living with chronic disease?

You are invited to take part in this research project if you have lived experience with chronic illness. This study aims to understand the relationship between chronic illness, social isolation, and loneliness. You will be asked to complete a short online screening survey to work out if you are eligible. If you proceed, you will be asked to participate in a 30-45 minute online survey.

To be eligible to participate, you must:

• Be 60 years and over;
• Be diagnosed with at least one of the nine common physical chronic diseases (i.e., arthritis, asthma, diabetes, back pain, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease);
• Be able to read and write English (to the level of the daily newspaper);
• Reside in Australia;
• Not have a cognitive impairment (e.g., due to dementia or brain injury) or significant psychiatric comorbidity (e.g. psychosis, delirium).

Complete the Participant Information and Consent form here.

Do you provide informal care for someone living with dementia?

Help us understand your experiences providing informal care. We are interested in learning about the kinds of support you need.

To be eligible to participate, you must be able to:

• Be an informal carer (for at least 6 months) for a person with dementia.
• Present carers are eligible, as well as people who have provided care in the last 12 months
• Be able to read and write English Reside in Australia

Please follow the link to navigate to the Participant Information and Consent Form to read more about the study. If you consent to participate, you will then be directed to the main survey. After survey completion, you will be redirected to the prize draw entry. Alternatively, if you are interested in learning more about this study or signing up, please contact the research team by email olderadults.research@mq.edu.au.

Is your child often worried, nervous or scared?

Does your teenager struggle with reading?

We are investigating social support and emotional wellbeing in high school students with reading difficulties (e.g., dyslexia). The study would involve your teenager completing an online survey and brief reading assessment. They will be reimbursed $20 for their time.

Do you know a teenager who can help us? Read more here.

Can music help with endometriosis symptoms?

Music has been found to help people better manage chronic pain conditions. A research team from Macquarie University, led by Prof Kerry Sherman, are exploring whether music may have similar benefits for people with endometriosis. This study investigates whether a daily music program can help ease some symptoms for people with endometriosis.

This survey will first check if you meet the eligibility criteria to participate in our study.

Differences in Children's Honest Responding

We are looking for volunteers to participate in a study aiming to understand developmental and behavioural differences in honest responding in autistic and neurotypical children. Participation will involve parents completing a consent form and brief online questionnaire, and a one-hour face-to-face session at Macquarie University where their child will complete a psychometric assessment and guessing game. Each participant will receive an e-Giftcard to the value of $30. Learn more about this study. 

Older Adult Research Database

We are looking for older adults who are interested in registering in our Older Adult Research Database. This database will list the contact information of participants interested in receiving information about research participation opportunities that we have at Macquarie University. The research database is aimed at research associated with understanding mental health and wellbeing in adults aged over 60 years. Join the database.

We want to hear from you

Are you interested in playing a key role in shaping research? We are seeking individuals who are enthusiastic, engaged, and genuinely interested in influencing research and promoting consumer interests.

Our Consumer Engagement Network is a vital community of consumers who help inform and guide our research initiatives. As a member, you will provide valuable insights, feedback, and perspectives that contribute to the success and relevance of our research projects.

Find out more about the Consumer Network including our research aims and what is involved here. Register your interest in joining this important group by completing this form.

Emotional Health Clinic update 

The Emotional Health Clinic offers face-to-face and online options for accessing our evidence-based treatment programs for children, teens and their caregivers across the Lifespan.
 

Tailored individual therapy
Psychologists at the Emotional Health Clinic work with clients of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults and older adults. 

Visit our website for more information about our treatments, fees and rebates. 

Cool Kids Anxiety Programs 
The Cool Kids Program is a world renowned cognitive-behavioural skills-based program that teaches children, teenagers and their caregivers how to better manage anxiety. 

The original Cool Kids Program aims to provide children and caregivers with skills and strategies to help them better manage anxiety.

• Cool Kids is designed for children aged 7 to 12 years old (primary school)
• Chilled is designed for teenagers aged 12 to 17 (high school).

Cool Kids is available face-to-face via our North Ryde clinic as well as a network of trained and accredited providers around the world. It is also available direct to your home via our online treatment platform.

For more information: 
Download the Cool Kids flyer (for face-to-face treatment in our North Ryde Clinic)
Download the Cool Kids Online flyer (for online treatment available to families across Australia)
Download the Chilled Out Online flyer (for online treatment available to teenagers across Australia)

Cool Kids Autism Group Sessions

Does your child experience anxiety and need extra support? Our Cool Kids Autism group sessions are designed specifically for young people on the autism spectrum who experience anxiety.

Upcoming group sessions
- Grades 3–5: Starting 18th August
- Grades 6–8: Starting 19th August
Time: 4:30–6:30pm (once a week for 10 sessions over approx. 15 weeks)

Contact us: (02) 9850 8711 or email ehc.admin@mq.edu.au

Learn more via our website. 

Discover more about our services and programs. Alternatively, please contact the Emotional Health Clinic on +61 (2) 9850 8711 or email ehc.admin@mq.edu.au with any queries.

A small donation can make a huge difference

The Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre seeks to maximise emotional, social and cognitive health and wellbeing for all Australians regardless of age, background, or psychosocial advantage.

We want to help people live their best life by producing high quality research, engaging in community outreach, and providing mental health training and treatment services via our online and face-to-face clinic. With your help (large or small), we can develop and provide programs for change, promoting healthier and happier families, people and communities.