Sunshine Coast PhD scholar to help dieticians on nutrition for mental health

Marcoola resident Kerryn Dowding is among 27 of Australia’s top research students who will take up Smart Futures PhD scholarships at universities across the state in 2009.

Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said the Queensland Government scholarships award each postgraduate $22,500 over three years for full-time research in varied disciplines.

Kerryn, who will be studying at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, will help introduce tertiary teaching tools for entry-level students as well as established dieticians dealing with nutrition for mental health clients.

“The project will begin in July for students enrolled in QUT’s Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics,” Kerryn said.

“We will be looking at various methods which can assist dieticians to be more aware of how to help people with mental health issues.

“This project is a result of the recommendations which came out of a Federal Report into mental health in tertiary curricula for dieticians published last year.

“The report found that while 70% of Australian dieticians came across clients with depression both frequently and very frequently, around three-quarters had poor or little training in mental health.”

Mrs Dowding said the link between obesity and mental health was now a serious issue in Australia, and 22% of Queenslanders live with a mental illness.

“Recent United States data shows people with a severe mental illness are almost twice as likely to be obese. This increases their risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” she said.

“The QUT study will look at strategies to help nutrition and dietetics students work better with people with mental health issues, including running practical cooking skills classes. As well as teaching life skills, the classes also help clients form social networks.”

Ms Boyle said other projects undertaken by the 27 PhD scholarship-holders will include climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, skin cancer treatment, improving police investigative practices and the effects of aerosols on rainfall.

“Scholarships foster innovation in Queensland’s research and development sector, helping to build the foundations for a sustainable state-wide research community.

“This in turn plays a key role in our economic prosperity and social advancement,” she said.

“Brisbane universities will host eighteen of the scholarship-holders, the other ten will study at universities across the state from James Cook University in Townsville to Griffith University on the Gold Coast.


“Queensland has a reputation for building world-class R&D infrastructure and now there is a push to attract leading researchers too.

“During the past 10 years the Queensland Government has invested $3.4 billion in 36 new research institutes and more than 230 research scholarships and fellowships,” Ms Boyle said.

“The four-year $120 million Smart State Strategy, launched in 2008 and incorporating the Smart Futures scholarships, will boost science and industry’s capacity to solve problems through research, innovation and key partnerships across public and private sectors.

“The 28 scholarship-holders are to be congratulated on their success, given the calibre of applications received, and I look forward to the outcome of their research.”

12 February, 2009

Media contact: Marcus Taylor 3225 1005/0419 025 326 or Zoe Russell 3224 2007/0437 436 914
2009


Queensland University of Technology: Astra Dadzis 3138 2361


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