Event information
Online
About this project
The financial landscape for university students has become increasingly complex as the global economy undergoes seismic shifts. With rising tuition fees, living expenses, and the added pressures of economic instability, students face unprecedented financial burdens. These challenges are not only affecting their academic performance but also their overall well-being. This project investigated the financial vulnerability of Australian and New Zealand university students, through an audit of national and institutional financial supports available, as well as an exploration of the perspectives and experiences of university staff and students. Drawing on data from 41 institutional support programs, over 900 students and university staff, this webinar will share implications for the higher education sector, at a policy, institutional and individual level to support students in achieving their study and career aspirations, whilst also maintaining their financial and overall wellbeing.
About the research team
CI Dr Anne-Therese McMahon MND PhD
Hononary Senior Fellow, University of Wollongong
Orcid ID 0000-0001-9657-6001
Dr Anne-Therese McMahon is a Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Wollongong whose research focuses on investigating approaches to enable socially just and equitable food security that support both human and planetary health outcomes. Dr McMahon is an innovative dietitian educator/researcher who draws upon qualitative methodologies including ethnography, discourse analysis and co-design methodologies to explore and reveal food cultural practices and beliefs that underpin food choice/behaviours and ultimately health outcomes. Dr McMahon’s current research focus on student equity issues has been driven by her extensive experience dealing with vulnerable students in her student academic management role 2020-2025. Her experience working with vulnerable populations including older malnourished Australians and Indigenous Australians in respectful reciprocal research has underpinned her current research approach with student groups. She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with 30 years’ experience and has a developing track record in qualitative health research with over 70 publications in scientific journals.
Dr Joanna Russell MPH (Nutrition), PhD
Honorary Fellow, University of Wollongong
Orcid ID 0000-0002-0223-9256
Dr. Joanna Russell is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Wollongong. She is a public health nutritionist with a research focus on food security, primarily in in older adults as well as research into the sustainability of food environments. In her most recent role as Head of Students in the School of Social Sciences, she provided support and academic advice to vulnerable students to assist them through their degree pathway. She has a wide range of public health teaching experience both skills and knowledge-based subjects, particularly relating to research methods and food and society.
Professor Yasmine Probst
Associate Dean, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Wollongong
Orcid ID 0000-0002-1971-173X
Yasmine Probst is a professor with the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences and Associate Dean (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) for the faculty of Science Medicine and Health at the University of Wollongong. She holds dual Masters degrees in Dietetics and Health Informatics and is recognised as an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute for Digital Health. Yasmine holds a current Senior Research fellowship with multiple sclerosis (MS) Australia. As a person living with MS, her research focuses on nutrition management for people living with MS and she is a keen advocate for people living with diversity considerations.
Dr Gabrielle O’Flynn
Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, School of Education, University of Wollongong
Orcid: 0000-0002-4356-2332
Gabrielle O’Flynn is a researcher in Health and Physical Education (HPE) within the School of Education, ASSH, at The University of Wollongong. She specialises in qualitative, critical health research with a focus on social justice, gender, body norms, social class, and environmental health. In her recent research, in collaboration with Dr. Anthony McKnight and Aboriginal communities, Gabrielle’s work adopts a strengths-based, two-way knowledge approach that centres Country as a knowledge holder. Through this approach, her research challenges dominant Western ideologies in health and health education and contributes to socially just, community-driven approaches to health and wellbeing.
Associate Professor Kelly Lambert
Academic Program Director Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Wollongong
Orcid ID 0000-0001-5935-7328
Kelly is an Associate Professor, Fellow of Dietitians Australia and Academic Program Director for Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. She is passionate about advocating for students completing mandatory unpaid professional placements and has recently undertaking extensive research in this space. Kelly’s other research interests and values are supporting people with kidney disease to live better lives, improving patient education by health professionals and educating future dietitians.
Dr Katherine Kent
Senior Lecturer Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Wollongong
ORCID ID 0000-0002-5330-7044
Katherine is a public health nutritionist with expertise in measuring household food security. Katherine is passionate about investigating the impact of social determinants issues like food insecurity on diet and health related outcomes in various priority populations across Australia, including in student and young adult populations and other vulnerable groups. Related to university students, Katherine’s collaborative research documenting high levels of food security and dietary challenges of university students has helped to inform the Healthy, Sustainable, and Equitable Food Strategic Plan implemented at the University of Tasmania (2023-2028).
Professor Karen Charlton
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong
Orcid: 0000-0002-8044-444X
Karen is a Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Wollongong. She is a registered public health nutritionist and a Fellow of Dietitians Australia. Karen has a 4-year Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council for a project to develop a more equitable, healthy and sustainable food system in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region. One aspect of that project is how to improve food security in vulnerable populations and how urban agriculture can be supported to meet the needs of local residents. She has a passion to teach university students about sustainable food systems. Karen’s other major research interest is to identify the effect of bioactive compounds found in some purple, blue and red fruits and vegetables on memory and cognition in older people. Karen has published over 250 scientific articles and has worked with colleagues in Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, Fiji, Italy, UK and USA.
Dr. Kylie Austin
Director, Student Life, Edith Cowan University
Kylie has over sixteen years’ experience in the higher education sector in leadership and student experience focused roles. Kylie holds qualifications in Education, Mental Health in Education Settings and research qualifications in collaborative partnerships, equity and student success in higher education settings. Kylie is also the current President of Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia and is engaged in a number of national research projects and collaborative networks focused on the student experience. In addition to this, Kylie has led large teams and is passionate about supporting teams to establish person-centred and collaborative cultures.
