I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Early-Career Researcher within the Public Health and Policy Pillar of Macquarie University Hearing. I aim to translate research evidence to develop evidence-based interventions to improve the psychosocial and physical health of adults with sensory loss. This is evidenced by my leadership on key research initiatives to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of evidence-based interventions for older adults with sensory loss to reduce loneliness and improve psychosocial and physical health – i) Movement Interaction and Nutrition for Greater Lifestyles in the Elderly (MINGLE) for older adults with vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration; ii) Walk, Talk and Listen over Zoom for older adults with hearing loss. Part of the Walk, Talk and Listen over Zoom project also involves conducting an exploratory study to understand the suitability of this intervention for older adults with hearing loss living in Thailand.

My program of research also contributes to the evidence base around sensory loss and lifestyle risk factors. This includes my ongoing analyses of the landmark sensory loss study – the Blue Mountains Eye and Hearing Study and my involvement in current population-based studies: i) Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey – surveying 5,000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians from 30 sites covering urban, rural and remote regions and ii) Hearing impairment in Adults: a Longitudinal Outcomes Study (HALOS) – collecting health and social outcomes from Australians aged ≥ 40 years who use a hearing device.