Faculty of Health 7

Doctor of Philosophy

Bainomugisa, Charlotte Kisakye

Thesis Title

The Role of Genetics and Epigenetics in Post-Traumatic Stress and Migraine Disorders

Supervisors

• Professor Divya Deepak Mehta (Principal Supervisor)
• Distinguished Professor Lynette Griffiths (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Dale Nyholt (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis provides novel insight into the pathophysiology of psychiatric and pain comorbidities through application of a series of statistical approaches to genomic data. The project identifies novel genes and biological mechanisms shared between post-traumatic stress and migraine disorders and suggests a non-causal relationship. The biomarkers identified provide a basis for further research into the improvement of current medications, personalised clinical management and drug repurposing for both disorders. Understanding the shared etiology of these complex traits is a step further to improving the quality of life of affected individuals and reducing the burden of illness on the health systems.

Gan, Ting

Thesis Title

Environmental Factors and Liver Cancer: Spatiotemporal Analyses

Supervisors

• Professor Wenbiao Hu (Principal Supervisor)
• Adjunct Professor Hilary Bambrick (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis explores the spatial and temporal distribution of liver cancer and its association with environmental factors in China and Australia. Utilising fine-scale datasets and advanced modelling approaches, it identifies distinct geographic disparities and reveals that long-term increases in temperature, fine particulate matter (i.e. PM1), and extreme weather events are associated with heightened liver cancer risk, particularly among vulnerable populations. The study provides the first comprehensive evidence of environmental influences on liver cancer and emphasizes the importance of targeted mitigation, adaptation, and future research strategies in advancing the field of environmental oncology.

Perry, Maree Ann

Thesis Title

Blood: Understanding Thoughts, Feelings, and Beliefs Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples Have About Blood, Blood Donation, and Blood Transfusions

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Debbie Duthie (Principal Supervisor)
• Professor Katherine White (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis explored Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples' beliefs about blood, blood donation, and blood transfusion through qualitative yarning sessions with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander participants and health practitioners. Thematic analysis identified the connections that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples have to blood, including connections to family, culture, kinship and Country. Additionally, health practitioners' understanding of ‘Cultural Safety’ in health care settings was explored. Results indicated that, despite being familiar with the term ‘Cultural Awareness’, a gap exists in their knowledge as to the principles underpinning Cultural Safety.

Rahmillah, Fety

Thesis Title

Investigating the Human-Machine Interaction Approach to Reduce Phone Use and Maladaptive Mobile Phone Use

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Amina Tariq (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Sherri-Anne Kaye (Associate Supervisor)
• Mr Mark King (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Oscar Oviedo Trespalacios (External Supervisor)

Citation

Problematic phone use is a growing global concern. This thesis demonstrates how greyscale can help reduce phone use and maladaptive mobile phone use (MMPU) in everyday life and on the road. Through a systematic review, content analysis of app functionality, sentiment analysis of user reviews, and an experimental study, the research found that greyscale reduced screen time, social media use, MMPU, and specific risky behaviours while driving and walking. The thesis highlights the association between MMPU and road safety, offering evidence for a simple Human-Machine Interaction strategy. Findings may inform future app design and behavioural interventions for improving digital wellbeing.

Saraswati, Lintang Dian

Thesis Title

Strengthening Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus Programme in Indonesia

Supervisors

• Professor Michelle Gatton (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Jerico Pardosi (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Kaeleen Dingle (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Bagoes Widjanarko (External Supervisor)

Citation

This research examined how screening for tuberculosis among people with diabetes can be strengthened in Indonesia. Prior research has demonstrated that integrating tuberculosis and diabetes services at healthcare facilities improves early detection rates for tuberculosis, supporting elimination targets. Using mixed methods approaches, this study analysed national tuberculosis data, health worker perspectives, and patient experiences to identify barriers and opportunities for improved integrated care. Results highlight the need for clearer screening guidelines, stronger health information systems, and better financial coverage. The findings provide practical recommendations for policymakers in Indonesia and other high-burden countries.

Sharma, Pakhi

Thesis Title

Preferences for Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Care for Children

Supervisors

• Adjunct Associate Professor Muhandiramalage Kularatna (Principal Supervisor)
• Professor Steven McPhail (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Bridget Abell (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Sameera Jayan Senanayake (Associate Supervisor)
• Ms Karen Eagleson (External Supervisor)

Citation

Availability and accessibility of sustainable neurodevelopmental follow-up care is essential for children at risk of or diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder to minimise adverse impacts on children, families, and society. This research explored how Australian families prefer neurodevelopmental care to be designed and delivered for their children with neurodevelopmental concerns. Through four studies, including a systematic review and two discrete choice experiments, the thesis found families value accessible local clinics, educational resources, better care coordination, and face-to-face screening. These insights can inform health policy and service design, ensuring neurodevelopmental care is effective, equitable, and centred around family needs.

Si, Xiaohan

Thesis Title

Weather Variability, Socio-Environmental Factors and Seasonal Influenza Transmission in Mainland China: Spatiotemporal Analyses

Supervisors

• Professor Wenbiao Hu (Principal Supervisor)
• Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis investigates the impact of weather variability and air pollution on seasonal influenza dynamics across China’s diverse climate zones. Using advanced Bayesian spatiotemporal models, it disentangles the individual and combined effects of meteorological conditions and air quality factors, while accounting for socio-economic influences. The research offers critical insights for the development of early warning systems, supports climate-adaptive public health surveillance, and demonstrates how integrated modelling of multiple data sources can enhance epidemic preparedness and inform targeted intervention strategies.

Stephensen, Laura

Thesis Title

Characteristics and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome

Supervisors

• Professor Michelle Gatton (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Raymond Mahoney (Associate Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Jaimi Greenslade (Associate Supervisor)
• Adjunct Professor Louise Cullen (External Supervisor)

Citation

This research program examined the clinical characteristics, symptomatology, predictive cardiac risk-factors, costs of health assessment, and safety of diagnostic pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who present to an emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome, otherwise known as possible heart attacks. Whilst this research demonstrated the safety of current assessment strategies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were more likely to present with atypical symptoms and had high burdens of traditional cardiac risk-factors.  Exploration of assessment strategies that include early and opportunistic objective cardiac testing for underlying coronary artery disease should be prioritised.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Human Services

• CUMMINGS, Belinda Jayne
• GATFIELD, Jia Paige
• RENTOUL, Anna Grace
• RIDDELL, Ella Rose
• RUSHFORD, Amy Isabel

Bachelor of Human Services – with Distinction

• ALGARNY, Noha Salem M

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

• ARUNDEL, Lauren Marie
• BRAMLEY, Caitlin Doreen
• BUCKLEY, Tatjana Jasmine
• CONWAY, Zane Matthew
• ESTIMO, Mary Ann
• FERGUSON, Jessica Ashlee
• FREEMAN, Savannah Sara
• HACKSHALL, Lachlan Thomas
• HARE, Elaine Capricho
• JACOB, Gemma Lee
• JANKOWSKI, Jacinta Brooke
• KUMAR, Selwyn Rajneel
• LEES, Nicola
• LUU, Vivia Jane
• MCDONALD, Xander Robert Alan
• NAVARRO, Carlos Dela Peña
• NESS, Elliott Stephen
• PHAM, Ha Le
• PITMAN, Lydia
• SCOTT, Emilly Susan
• TEOH, Megan Elizabeth
• WANN, Renee Teresa
• WANN, Sophie Kate

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science – with Distinction

• BEAL, Lachlan Michael
• CHEUNG, Ching In
• CHOWDHARY, Maryam Sidrah
• CROSS, Caitlin Ella
• FERNANDEZ, April Ann Lappay
• FORD, Mason Earl
• KAJEWSKI, Kristen Louise
• KIMURA, Aika
• LAVERICK, Jackson Dean
• LAWES, Bethany Grace
• MOORE, Cassandra Anne
• POTTER, Riley James
• ROSE, Laura Jane
• SPINA, Liana Domenica Maria
• TYE, Kelly Heather
• WAGHORN, Zoe Marie
• WANG, Kexin

Bachelor of Podiatry

• BAKER, Oliver Jon
• CAPRA, Tyler
• CHA, Seeun
• CRISTALDI, Zach Samuel
• CROWE, Wesley John
• DANG, Vivian Mai Vo
• FARRELL, Hannah Josephine
• HACKNEY, Luke Ryan
• HO, Un Teng
• HUSSAIN, Yusef
• KAROLIA, Zainab
• KING, Lauren Pamela
• KINGI, Alexandra
• KOMURO, Tsubasa
• KOOSHAN, Zeinab
• NUR, Hibaaq Mohamed
• POPOVIC, Emily Jane
• PRESTON, Emily
• QIAO, Lin
• TANG, Qi Xian

Bachelor of Podiatry – with Distinction

• DALEY, Cleo
• LEACH, Elizaveta
• MANERO, Nicolas Leonard

Bachelor of Public Health

• AKTER, Rozina
• BEYENE, Ariam Tumazghi
• DEVES, Lani Anne
• ISMAIL, Rayya
• LANGFORD, Benjamin Joseph
• MORALES, Lillian Virginia
• PARLE, Lindsey Grace
• TRUONG, Dao Ngoc Minh Dao Ngoc

Bachelor of Public Health – with Distinction

• ALLPASS, Annabelle Gail
• KELLAND, Nerida Grace
• MACPHERSON, Cassandra Keely
• TOLPUTT, Beth
• WEIR, Erin Kate

Bachelor of Social Work

• ANDERSON, Mia Destinee Rose
• AWABDY, Jocelyn Katherine
• BENNETT, Georgia Jane
• BUCHAN, Mark Eric Webb
• CASTLEY, Lara Grace
• CASTRO, Natalia Emma-Marie
• COLLETT, Sally-Anne
• GARCIA ASCENCIO, Ana Belen
• GIFFORD, Patrick Aloysius
• GODWIN, Danika Ebony
• JURU, Nicole Tatenda
• KAUR, Avneet
• KURIAN, Julia Sijo
• LYNHAM, April Jessica
• NGUYEN, Ngoc Linh
• OCHAN, Lamaro Gum
• ROSHANBIN, Yasmin Peta
• VERDASCO, Laura Jane
• WAIA, Rhea Bubuam Thithoevil D
• WRATT, Michaela

Bachelor of Social Work – with Distinction

• BONYTHON, Camden Anais
• BREWER, Aneta Marie Salonica
• BROWNING, Emma Jane
• BUDGE, Mitchell Hamish
• CAREY, Gabrielle Katherine Julia
• FERIZOVIC, Nadia
• GANNON, Bronte Nicole
• GIBSON, Angus Rex
• GOODWIN, Morgan
• HATLEY-COUPER, Roan Mira Carlyle
• HAWKINS, Emily Elizabeth
• HOLDEN, Brooke Louise
• HORTON, Tanya Nichole
• IONGI, Ellyanah Jane
• KOGELS, Amber-Lee
• KREMER, Jordan Paul
• MARTIN, Brianna Louise
• MAYES, Trent
• PAGE, Noah John Lee
• PHELAN, Gracelyn Beth
• REDSELL, Alex Renae
• SCHROEDER, Kennedy Yates
• SIMMONDS, Jeremy Levi Jacob
• WEBSTER, Duncan Lawrence
• WILLIAMES, Tara Janet
• WINTER, Rochelle Emma

Bachelor of Human Services/Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management)

• CARTER, Madeleine

Bachelor of Human Services – with Distinction/Bachelor of Public Health – with Distinction

• SHELLY, Basia Rayya

Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours) – Second Class Honours – Division B

• AKTER, Ruksana
• KLINGSCH, Elysia

Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours) – Second Class Honours – Division A

• BRIGHTON, Kalei Paige
• CHIA, Xin Wei

Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours) – First Class Honours

• SALANITRI, Mia Claire Joan
• TROY, Alexandra Faye

Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) – First Class Honours

• CAHILL, Niamh Louiza
• LEHMANN, Moira Scarlett

Postgraduate

Graduate Certificate in Diagnostic Genomics

• PALMER, Gemma Kathryn

Graduate Certificate in Podiatric Therapeutics

• ALZAMELY, Hawra
• ORFORD, Mia Elyse
• SANJARI, Elaheh
• TAYLOR, Joshua Amos

Graduate Diploma in Diagnostic Genomics

• NGUYEN, Huu Matthew

Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health

• ALWAKIL, Maro
• AUSTIN, Emily
• CLARKE, Jessica Eloise
• FISHER, Aisling Blair
• HEYMANN, Daniel Norman
• KIM, Seonkyeong
• PEEVER, Patrick Stuart
• ROY CHOUDHURY, Vanshita
• TADROUS, Michael

Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health – with Distinction

• CHARGE, Aimee Janette

Graduate Diploma in Public Health

• JEREMY, Gemma
• RATNAYAKE, Manasi Kawya

Graduate Diploma in Public Health (Disaster and Emergency Response) – with Distinction

• IKEDA, Yoko

Master of Diagnostic Genomics

• CASTELLANOS, Arlyne Rosanna
• EVANS, Dylan Thomas
• FAULKNER, Jessica
• JACKSON, Emma Louise
• KUSS, Gresham Leighton
• LANGTON, Meg Lauren
• VEENSTRA, Indiana
• WALLIS, Lauren Emily

Master of Diagnostic Genomics – with Distinction

• CHIANG, Hsu-Ting
• INGOLD, Michael
• JEYARAMAN, Kanakamani
• MORTENSEN, Nicholas Charles
• MOUNT, Kyla Marie
• NOTARA, Claire
• SARRI, Mia Ellena
• TIAN, Hua

Master of Public Health

• C VAISHNAVI,
• DZINAVATONGA, Samantha Monalisah
• KAKUN, Anna Kelitha
• KAMMARI, Kavya
• LHAMO, Wangchuk
• PEM, Dechen
• SHARMA, Aanchal
• TAMANG, Sonam Yangden
• TENKAYALA, Rachana
• THOMAS, Grashma Rose
• VILLAFLOR, Khauleen
• WANGCHUK, Karma
• WANGCHUK, Rinzin
• WANGDI, Tshering
• YU, Qingchen
• YUDEN, Jamyang

Master of Public Health (Disaster and Emergency Response)

• KANNAN, Devi Lavanya
• PAREKH, Krishna Pareshbhai

Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Research Methods)

• FORREST, Kathleen Allison

Master of Public Health (Health Promotion)

• ALATAWI, Khulud Dhaher S
• BABALOLA, Yvonne Kayode
• CHEUNG, Wai Yee Otto
• DEKI, Kunzang
• KAUSER, Shafiuddin
• MATHURIA, Pooja Vishnukant
• PATEL, Sneha Pranaykumar
• REYNON, Monique Ivy Terada
• SINGH, Simran Jitendrakumar
• TRAN, Nguyen Hong Ngoc
• YAU, Pui Ho

Master of Public Health – with Distinction

• KORGANOW, Jessica Louise

Master of Public Health (Health Promotion) – with Distinction

• CASEY, Lauren Ashlynn
• LANGLEY, Rhedyn Jean Patullo
• OKWUKA OKEKE, Kimberly Chidinma
• WRIGHT, Emma Corinne

Master of Social Work – Qualifying

• ARYAL, Kritisha
• BI, Yinghang
• BIDDLE, Lucy
• CHAWLA, Bhoomi
• CHEN, Ying
• CHULLIKKATTU, Sanjay
• DETHALIYA, Bhavyaraj Mukeshbhai
• DOAN, Thi Ngoc Anh
• DONG, Qing
• DONG, Yuan
• DUBUC, Maria Antonieta
• ELDO PAULOSE, Ashish
• FRANCIS, Riya
• GAUTAM ADHIKARI, Asmita
• GEORGE, Anjali Regi
• GRACIA CAMARGO, Michelle
• HENSLEY, Brooke
• HILLS, Siahne
• HWANG, Ji Young
• JANG, Yookyeong
• JAYASOORIYA ARACHCHILLAGE, Nisali Limalka Jayasooriya
• JIN, Yuchen
• JOHNY, Hridya Ross
• JOMON, Anna Grace
• JOSEPH, Paul Laku
• KIM, Jisun
• KODIKULATH, Vishnu Babu
• LI, Yi
• LIN, Mi
• LUCIANO, Robin Jerico
• LUI, Lee Yee
• MACIEL BEZERRA MIRANDA, Raissa
• MARGUS, Rebecca
• MATHAI, Ansu
• MBURU, Annette Wanja
• MOYO, Tanyaradzwa Patience
• MUGAMBI, Precious Karimi
• MUTAMBA, Pauline
• NAIR, Varsha Majulal
• NGUYEN, Chloe
• NWABUEZE, Onyinyechi Avemaria
• RAJU, Aleena
• RAMESH, Nandhitha
• RANI, Sheetal
• RUWENDE, Innocent Wellington
• SABU, Danial
• SARI, Veronica
• SHAN, Qingqing
• SHEN, Meiye
• SHUKRI, Seif Nawrz Addeen
• SIMRANJEET KAUR,
• SINGH, Manjinder Pal
• STA INES, Maria Bella Villarama
• SUSAN THOMAS, Agnus
• THOMAS, Arvin
• TIAN, Churong
• VASSALLO, Alan
• WANG, Siqi
• YANG, Yuhan
• YAU, Luk Fan
• YE, Zhi
• ZANARDO, Luca Danilo
• ZHAI, Zhen
• ZHANG, Hang
• ZHANG, Ming
• ZHENG, Kaiyuan
• ZHENG, Zhuonan
• ZHOU, Mengling
• ZHU, Hongri

Master of Social Work – Qualifying – with Distinction

• ARTHUR, Jessica
• BOWERMAN, Anneka
• CAO, Ianes
• CHETTRI, Barsha
• DEVOS, Natasha Maree
• DREW, Samuel James
• GAUR, Deepika
• GRAHAM, Karen Leanne
• HAN, Tingjia
• HAY, Christie Jean
• HERRERA SANDOVAL, Maria Paula
• HO, Nguyen Thao Dung
• HOU, Yuwen
• KELLY, Lauren Syned
• KONG, Un Kei
• LANG, Katherine Therese Mai Ling
• LAWLER, Megan
• LAWSON, Heather Anne
• MA, Ka Ho
• MENTIPLAY, Harley
• ROBERT, Alphonsa
• ROSSELL, Daniel Thomas
• SANABRIA HERNANDEZ, Erika Juliana
• SANJEEV, Lakshmipriya
• SHARMA, Deepika
• SIAHPOSH JADIDI, Ariyan
• SLASBERG, Sophie Kate
• WANASINGHE, Hasanthi
• WILSON, Christie