Staff, Students, and Projects
The PAHL group undertakes research at various stages of the bench-to-bedside spectrum, with the mechanistic (‘bench’) work being used to provide foundational ideas and testing of ‘bedside’ programs and evaluations. In relation to our study of mechanisms, we study psychological factors that make us happy, healthy, and productive - things like our responses to stress, what it is that makes exercise enjoyable (vs tedious), the ways exercise and stress influence our wellbeing and diet, our ability to experience 'flow', how our habits develop and how they help or hinder us, how people view stress, why we make the food and drink choices we make, the best ways to communicate with and motivate each other, and the things that make us resilient in the face of challenges.
In this theme, we also work on identifying the health challenges that exist in the home, workplace, school, and community at large, and we begin to look for possible solutions. We put those solutions into practice, and test their effectiveness, in our health promotion (‘bedside’) theme. That is, in our health promotion theme, we undertake research with the aim to directly improve an aspect of people's lives. We play a role in implementing and evaluating programs and trials designed to help people lose weight, make healthier dietary choices, feel better about themselves, increase their own and others physical activity levels, reduce their risk of disease, be more resilient, receive better health treatment, deal better with stress at home and work, and lead a healthier lifestyle in general.
See our latest publication - Persuasion and Communication in Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity, Edited by Ben Jackson, James Dimmock, Josh Compton
2022 PAHL Research Staff
James Dimmock
Professor, James Cook University; Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia
James is co-chair of the PAHL group. He is based at the Townsville campus of James Cook University.
Ben Jackson
Associate Professor, University of Western Australia; Associate Professor, Telethon Kids Institute; Adjunct Professor, James Cook University
Ben is co-chair of the PAHL group. He is based in Perth, where is shares his time between the University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute
Tim Budden
Associate Lecturer, University of Western Australia
Tim undertook his PhD in PAHL and is now a key part of the group as a staff member. He is based at the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Brian Law
Lecturer, James Cook University
Brian completed his PhD in the PAHL group, and is now a PAHL staff member based at the Townsville campus of James Cook University.
Amanda Krause
Lecturer, James Cook University
Amanda undertakes research on the influence of music on health and wellbeing. She is an academic staff member based at the Townsville campus of James Cook University.
Les Podlog
Associate Professor, University of Utah
Les completed his PhD at the University of Western Australia and is now an Associate Professor at the University of Utah, USA.
Amanda Rebar
Associate Professor, Central Queensland University
After completing her PhD at Penn State University, USA, Amanda moved to (and remains working for) Central Queensland University in Australia.
Sam Teague
Lecturer, James Cook University
Sam undertook her undergraduate degree at James Cook University before heading to Victoria for a PhD and post-doc. She has now returned to James Cook University.
Madelyn Pardon
Lecturer, James Cook University
Madelyn undertook her degrees at James Cook University, and is now a member of academic staff at the same institution. Her research spans environmental psychology and health psychology.
2022 PAHL Research Students
PAHL's research mission is supported by a tremendous group of research students. We have fantastic team of Honours, Masters, and PhD students, some of whom are shown below.
Ivan Jeftic
PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia
Ivan’s research focuses on the Stride program, which the PAHL team has developed in conjunction with the Thriving program (UWA).
Jessica Muller
PhD Student, James Cook University
Jessica is a PhD student at James Cook University. She is developing a strong track record of research in mental health and Indigenous health, and assists with various PAHL-related programs and evaluations.
Cameron Norsworthy
PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia
Cameron’s research involves a comprehensive scoping review to map flow-related scientific research across a range of disciplines, with a specific emphasis on examining conceptual consistencies and inconsistencies.
Elizabeth Saunders
PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia
Liz’s current research is focused on how motivation may impact children with a clinical level of childhood obesity, and the role this may play in both short- and long-term weight loss.
Taylor-Jane Sharouni
PhD Student, James Cook University
Taylor-Jane's research focuses on the 'Proud Warrior' program - a mentorship and life skills program offered by the Australian Defence Force for youth in North Queensland.
Aaron Simpson
PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia
Aaron’s research focuses on the influence of community sport participation on positive youth development.
Sandy Rea
PhD Student, James Cook University
Sandy's PhD is focused on high-profile individuals' identity reconstruction and growth following traumatic experiences.
Junjie Goh
Honours candidate, University of Western Australia
Junjie's research is focused on individuals' transition processes from intervention-based, supervised exercise programs and into self-directed exercise.
Sarah Paduano
PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia
Sarah's research is focused on the role of sport as a medium to assist military veterans in their transition into civilian life.
Jasleen Chhabra
PhD student, JCU
Jasleen is investigating risk factors associated with paternal perinatal mental ill-health, and is particularly interested in the influence of masculine role stress as a risk factor.
Luke Tomlin
PhD student, University of Western Australia
Luke's PhD is focused on PAHL's 'Growth and Resilience in Teachers' (GRiT) program. Luke's work will help to evaluate and refine the program to better support teachers' wellness.
Kaila Putter
PhD student, James Cook University
Kaila's PhD is focused on PAHL's Bamboo program. Her work will help to evaluate and refine the program with the aim of improving perinatal mental health.
Neil Munro
Graduate Diploma student, James Cook University
Neil's 4th year thesis is focused on the effects of workplace gratitude expressions on job engagement and performance.
Garrett Huston
Honours student, James Cook University
Garrett's research is focused on the optimisation of gratitude interventions to improve wellbeing and mental health.