Health Services Research Team

Belinda is a Senior Research Assistant in the Health Services Research Team at the Wesley Research Institute. Belinda has dual Bachelor Degrees in Social Sciences (Development) and Arts (Public Policy and International Relations) and a Masters in Public Health. Belinda has a strong public health policy and research background. Belinda has worked on State and Federal Government’s strategic initiatives stemming from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in both the Aged Care and Disability sectors. She has also worked on research strategies that have focused on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities’ access   to and capacity building within health care systems. Belinda aims to use her experience and knowledge of both public health research, and policy design and implementation to ensure that policies are informed by evidence and that research addresses real-world challenges and informs decision-making.

Caroline is a Senior Research Fellow in the Health Services Research Team. Caroline is a qualitative researcher with a PhD in Public Health and Social Work. Her PhD focused on the micro-processes involved in implementing Dementia Friendly Community principles locally in Queensland. She has over 10 years’ experience in community services and community development programs, specialising in co-design, person centered dementia and aged care. Caroline’s current research interests include phenomenology (lived experience), participatory research methods and implementation science. She is passionate about supporting the wellbeing and autonomy of people living with dementia and their families to maintain and support their quality of life and independence. 

Elizabeth is a PhD-qualified Health Economist using her economic evaluation and implementation science expertise to find better ways to fund, organise and deliver health services. As leader of the health services research program, she guides a broad range of mixed-methods research and leads team strategy, budgeting and partnerships. Elizabeth has skills and experience in health policy and planning, ensuring the research she leads is useful and relevant for health consumers, clinicians and the health system. Elizabeth’s research and consultancy partnerships have created positive change for health services across Australian and internationally.  

Olivia is a Senior Research Fellow within the Health Services Research Team and is a mixed-methods implementation scientist with a PhD in Public Health, and more than 20 years’ experience in public and private healthcare delivery, training, project management and research. Olivia’s primary research focus is on designing, implementing and evaluating models of health care to improve healthcare delivery which results in better outcomes for patients and clients, staff, and healthcare organisations. She has led research in a range of roles including as a researcher and center manager at Queensland University of Technology, , a mental health researcher and occupational therapist within health services.  

ORCiD 0000-0003-1112-5370 | Google Scholar Profile

Wendell is a research design and statistics specialist with a PhD in Psychology. He has broad multidisciplinary research experience and holds qualifications in both psychology and engineering. His PhD described a new model of depression aetiology. Other work includes large randomised controlled trials of Apps addressing a range of mental health concerns in young people, and a book chapter describing standardised methods for evaluating e-Health apps. Wendell has ongoing national and international collaborations. His additional passion is research that offers pragmatic psycho-social responses to high prevalence public health challenges. 

Keeley is a Mental Health Care Navigator with Isaac Navicare, a mental health information and referral service for the Isaac region run by the Wesley Research Institute. Keeley has a background in Allied health administration and is currently undertaking her Bachelor of Nursing through James Cook University.

Kelly is a Mental Health Care Navigator with Isaac Navicare, a mental health information and referral service for the Isaac region run by Wesley Research Institute and QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation. Kelly has a Bachelor of Applied Science, Honours in Life Science, and a Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition. Her previous research, spanning fourteen years, focused on various types of cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, and community development research. She also developed and taught numerous science, health, and nutrition units at Central Queensland University. Kelly has a passion for health and mental health research and education and ensuring that each individual has access to the best information, treatment, support and improved health & wellbeing.