Mental Health and relationships
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In the Mental Health and Relationships team, we acknowledge that child chronic illness has a profound effect on each family member individually, as well as the family unit as a whole. We endeavour to improve quality of life, family health and wellbeing, and reduce distress when a child has a chronic illness. The Mental Health and Relationships team partners with community organisations such as the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Canteen, Camp Quality, and Redkite to ensure that our research has real-world benefits for children with chronic illness and their families.
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We have multiple active studies which focus on supporting young people with cancer and their families, as well as the health professionals who care for them. Specifically, the Mental Health and Relationships team is currently investigating the impact of parental cancer on children (Parental Cancer Study), developing a new advance care planning tool for young people (Voicing my CHOiCES™ Study), and creating a new peer-support intervention for young people after brain cancer treatment (Beyond Brain Cancer Study). We have also recently developed a video resource to assist healthcare professionals in communicating with children and families affected by hard-to-treat cancers (Delta-Clinician Study). We are currently conducting a meta-review of the literature surrounding psychosocial care for adolescents and young adults with cancer to update the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia's guidelines of care (COSA Guidelines Study). We are also investigating the best way to measure the impact of the Captain Starlight program in hospital settings with caregivers and healthcare professionals of children who have engaged with Starlight Captains (Starlight Measures Evaluation Study).
Research team
Dr Lauren Kelada
Post-Doctoral Fellow 
Dr Selena Russo
Post-Doctoral Fellow 
Courtney Bell
Research Assistant |
Dr Holly Evans
Team Leader & Post-Doctoral Fellow 
Dr Brittany Mcill
Post-Doctoral Fellow & Clinical Psychologist 
Dr Rachel Houweling
Post-Doctoral Fellow 
Jessica Buster
PhD Candidate |
Dr Claire Treadgold
Adjunct Assoc. Professor 
Dr Suzanne Nevin
Post-Doctoral Fellow 
Amber-Marie Firriolo
Research Assistant 
Rhea Felton
PhD Candidate |
Research studies
Our study with Starlight aims to determine the best surveys and methods to evaluate the Captain Starlight programs for children and their caregivers during their hospital stay.
Our Beyond Brain Cancer study explores what life is like after treatment for brain cancer to help us create a new peer-support intervention for young people after brain cancer treatment.
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The Parental Cancer Study aims to understand and support young children who have a parent diagnosed with cancer
Our COSA AYA study aimed to update guidelines for the psychosocial care for AYAs with cancer, that were originally published in 2012.
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The Delta-Clinician study aims to identify healthcare professionals' key challenges and skills when communicating with families about hard-to-treat cancers, and their perceptions of communication-related training.
This study is focused on evaluating our newly developed Australian Version of the Voicing My CHOiCES™ tool.
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