Spotlight on EMCR Awardees 2021/2022
In 2021/22, WHRTN awarded 36 EMCRs grants for flexible and diverse needs, and to strengthen and boost career development. Read about the projects from awardees A/Prof Georgia Halkett, Dr Erandi Hewawasam, Dr Julieanne Commbes, Dr Heena Akbar.
32 ECR women have been awarded funding in 2023.
A/Prof Georgia Halkett
Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University
Developing online communication skills training for radiation therapists to assist them in preparing patients diagnosed with breast cancer for radiation therapy.
“The award helped me to re-establish and further develop my program of research focusing on improving radiotherapy education and support for women diagnosed with breast cancer. During the award I was able to increase the visibility of my research and build my networks with clinical radiation therapists. Additionally, through this work I have been invited to present our work nationally and internationally.
As a result of this award, I was also able to rebuild my research capacity, collaborations and publications. Furthermore, I am now applying for future grants related to this work and exploring ways to translate it into practice. ”
RT-ePrepare: Development of online communication skills training for radiation therapists.
It is recommended that 83% of women diagnosed with breast cancer (a chronic disease) should receive radiotherapy. However, up to 50% of women experience anxiety and distress before treatment. Inadequate communication and information provision increase patient anxiety and may lead to people declining treatment. We have developed an RT-Prepare Intervention consisting of face-to-face patient education delivered by radiation therapists before treatment which reduced anxiety and provided other benefits to women with breast cancer.
Building on this work, this project proposed to develop online communication skills training for radiation therapists nationally and pilot RT-ePrepare in different locations. Providing this training has the potential to reduce anxiety of women diagnosed with breast cancer receiving radiation therapy across Australia.
Dr Erandi Hewawasam
Early Career Researcher, SA Health and Medical Research Institute
Changing how Australians with kidney disease navigate pathways to successful pregnancy and achieve their parenthood goals
“The WHRTN EMCR award has been invaluable for the progression of my research projects and career development. Without this award, I would not have been able to expand consumer engagement and provide support to consumers involved in our research project. This award enabled me to attend several international and national conferences and share my research findings to a global audience helping me boost my research impact. I have also been able to accelerate my publication record and translate these research findings into a toolkit of resources for patients and clinicians to assist in navigating pregnancy with kidney disease. I am truly grateful for WHRTN for this funding.“
Parenthood for Australians living with kidney disease.
Parenthood is a high-priority goal for young people with kidney disease. Journey to parenthood is a significant challenge as these people face enormous disruptions and restrictions on life participation from disease effects and treatment burden. Women may miss out on motherhood due to fears of risks to both the mother and baby, and medically complex pregnancies that require appropriate planning and care. There is an evidence deficit that significantly limits our ability to improve care or develop interventions. With my research, I aim to change how Australians with kidney disease navigate pathways to successful pregnancy and achieve their parenthood goals.
Dr Junlieann Coombs
Senior Research Fellow for Guunu-maana (Heal), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program, The George Institute for Global Health
Developing culturally appropriate resources to help Aboriginal families navigate hospital admission of their child.
“Receiving an Early- to Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Award was an important achievement with numerous benefits. Firstly, this prestigious recognition acknowledged my exceptional contributions to my field of research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and furthering my professional reputation. Receiving this award has helped my career advancement, opened up new opportunities for collaborations and networking.”
Culturally appropriate resources to help Aboriginal families navigate hospital admission of their child
Aboriginal children experience higher rates of chronic conditions, injuries and hospitalisation than other Australian children. There is a significant lack of information on experiences of Aboriginal children and their families admitted to hospital, and no culturally appropriate resources for families to navigate the complex journey from admission to aftercare.
This funding supports a seed project to assist in developing urgently needed, culturally appropriate resources to help Aboriginal families navigate this journey. Guided by Aboriginal families and health workers, resources will cover the healing process, provide practical information from the perspective of Aboriginal families, include information about coping with isolation and facilitate a more efficient transition into other connected services.
Dr Heena Akbar
School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
To implement and evaluate the feasibility of Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP)
“The support through this EMCR Award has been humbling, invaluable and certainly has provided me the opportunity to pilot trial the Pasifika Diabetes Wellness program with my community allowing me to forge further long term partnerships with communities and organisations and bring about significant change to where diabetes is prevalent and a major health burden. I have been able to build my academic early career track record through this award which has allowed me to present at international and national conferences, publish several works undertaken with this research and apply this research in my teaching practice and HDR supervision, recognised by two T &L awards and Associate Fellowship in Higher Education Academy (Indigenous)..”
Type 2 diabetes is a costly, rapidly growing, and largely preventable disease. Encouraging healthier lifestyles in Māori and Pasifika women with type 2 diabetes could potentially improve the health and well-being of women, prevent complications and reduce health expenditure. This project has a well-established long-term meaningful collaboration between the Pasifika communities in Queensland and through the award has forged partnerships to implement and evaluate the feasibility of Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP).
