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Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre

Established in 2013, the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre seeks to foster multidisciplinary research relating to lifestyle, health and wellbeing. The Centre brings together academics from Avondale University as well as collaborating researchers from other Australian and International institutions. The mission of the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre is to enhance health and wellbeing through high-impact research and community engagement.

Our Research Themes

The mission of the Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre is to enhance health and wellbeing through high-impact research and community engagement. Dedicated to scholarly endeavours that make a difference in real-world contexts, the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre focuses on four key areas of research:

Infection Prevention & Control

Healthcare-associated infections—infections resulting from a person receiving healthcare—are relatively common, but a large proportion can be prevented. World-first studies led by Professor Brett Mitchell and his team of researchers have demonstrated the impact of these infections within healthcare centres and emphasised the need for more conscientious practices.

Prof Mitchell co-hosts a podcast called Infection Control Matters with colleagues Martin Keirnan and Phillip Russo, in which they discuss the latest scientific publications in the area, often joined by the lead researchers on the paper who provide further insights into the research.

Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Health

Lifestyle Interventions for Mental Health and Wellbeing
High levels of mental ill health are being reported worldwide. Researchers from the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre are active in the development and dissemination of lifestyle-based interventions and initiatives, such as The Lift Project, to address this growing concern. In particular, researchers from the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre have a special interest in implementation research, studying how lifestyle programs can be used for optimal impact in various settings including educational, workplace, healthcare and community.

Nicotine and Smoking Cessation

Facilitated by passionate smoking cessation advocate Renee Bittoun and the LMHRC’s Master of Lifestyle Medicine Course Coordinator Dr Mel Renfrew, the Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre began offering Nicotine Addiction Smoking & Vaping Cessation short-courses and Vaping Cessation master classes in 2023 to raise awareness and provide professional development training. With around 57 attendees in 2023, this number jumped to just over 100 in 2024.

Health and Humanities

Lead by Associate Professor Carolyn Rickett, this research area explores the intersection of health, spirituality, and the written word, with a special focus on bibliotherapy. Publications include:

Annual Report

The latest Annual Report documenting the activities of this Centre can be viewed on the Strategy and Performance page.

Governance

The Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre is governed by the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre Board.
Terms of Reference →

Contact

Director
Professor Darren Morton
Lake Macquarie Campus, Avondale University
Telephone: +61 2 4980 2161
Email: [email protected]
Find Research Services →Giving to LMHRC →

Our People

Our Board

Prof Darren Morton
LMHRC Director
A/Prof Carolyn Rickett
Prof Brett Mitchell
Dr Peter Beamish
A/Prof Joanne Lewis
Prof Tracie Mafile'o
Dr Melanie Renfrew
Dr Jason Morton
Pamela Townend
Dr Linda Cloete

Key Researchers

Georgia Matterson
Dr Kate Browne
Dr Philip Russo
Renee Bittoun
Simon Matthews
Martin Kiernan
Peta Tehan
A/Prof Ross Grant
Dr Jade Berg
Dr Bevan Craig

Key Partnerships

Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre researchers partner and collaborate with several organisations and other academic institutions. Some of these include:

Australian Partners

Lake Macquarie City Council
Lismore City Council
Ballina City Council
Tweed Valley City Council
Byron Bay City Council
Richmond Valley Council
Lift Lifestyle Medicine
Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine
Barker College
Monash University
University of Newcastle
Hunter Medical Research Institute
Central Coast Local Health District (NSW)
Cabrini Health
MEZRIT
Queensland University of Technology
Alfred Health
GAMA Healthcare
Hunter, New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network
Adventist Development and Relief Agency
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Sydney Adventist Hospital
Australian College of Nursing
Sigma Nursing
Clinical Excellence Commission (NSW)

International Partners

American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Global Lifestyle Medicine Alliance
Andrews University
La Sierra University
Finger Lakes School District (USA)
Duke NUS

Research Codes

The outputs & publications of the LMHRC can be reported under the following codes:
PLEASE NOTE that the lists below only comprise codes which are relevant to and closely aligned with the themes of this Research Centre:

Fields of Research 

320701 Medical Bacteriology
320702 Medical infection agents (incl. prions)
321005 Public Health Nutrition
420101 Arts therapy
420109 Rehabilitation
4202 Epidemiology
4203 Health services and systems
420316 Palliative care
420501 Acute Care
420605 Preventive Health Care
440902 Counselling, wellbeing and community services
4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
4516 Pacific Peoples health and wellbeing
4701 Communication and media studies

Fields of Education

601 Medical Studies
603 Nursing
613 Public Health
699 Other Health
1007 Communications and Media Studies
1099 Other Creative Arts
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