Research in the Department of Rural Allied Health
The Department of Rural Allied Health partners with rural communities to transform regional health and human service provision.
Our academic staff make key contributions to the Holsworth Research Initiative, the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, the Living with Disability Research Centre and the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research.
Upskilling the rural health sector is also our priority. We deliver high-quality training, skills development and research support to local health professionals, supervisors, research students and partners.
Our contribution aligns with La Trobe University's research themes: Social change and equity, Healthy people, families and communities, Resilient environments and communities, and Understanding and preventing disease.
Research Areas
Our researchers work on improving pre-hospital and primary care; interdisciplinary models of care; strengthening the rural health and human service workforce; health education; improving human function and performance; reducing the risk of injury; and improving health outcomes with people living with disabilities or chronic conditions across the lifespan.
Our research is grouped into three key areas:
Our researchers use interdisciplinary and industry-engaged approaches to improve health outcomes for those living in rural communities. We aim to enhance quality of life, promote independence and reduce disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for individuals living with chronic conditions or disabilities.
Our work focuses on improving access to specialised care, providing education and support services, promoting self-management strategies and fostering inclusive environments that empower individuals to participate in the community.
Projects include increasing access to telehealth and mainstream services with individuals living with disabilities or chronic health conditions, developing strategies to support a healthy rural workforce, and improving human function and performance in sport, work and other activities.
Rural communities often face critical shortages of health and human service professionals, impacting access to quality care and, ultimately, individual and community health and wellbeing.
Our work focuses on recruitment, retention, training and workforce health. We are also working on strategies to support early career allied health professionals in rural health settings.
Our researchers explore how health research, innovative health service design and approaches, and knowledge translation can be combined to maximise healthcare outcomes for rural communities. These projects are undertaken in collaboration with health service providers.
Our work focuses on child protection, out-of-home care, and health systems and sexual violence. It also examines the relationship between people and the natural environment, such as the economic, social, cultural, recreational and environmental meaning of water for rural communities.
Graduate research
The Rural Health School is educating the next generation of health and human service providers, offering high-quality training for graduate researchers. Our programs include opportunities for masters, professional doctorate and PhD candidates to undertake impactful projects under expert guidance.
Some of our PhD candidates are working with industry organisations including government, private or not-for-profit health services in industry-sponsored PhDs. Graduate researchers benefit from robust support, with dedicated teams of at least two supervisors, progress committees and a carefully tailored milestone program.
Immersed in a vibrant research culture, our graduate researchers participate in research seminars, writing workshops, skills-based workshops, an annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and an annual Higher Degree by Research conference. Many also contribute to School teaching, preparing them for future careers in academia.
As part of La Trobe University’s Graduate Research School, our researchers join a thriving community and access skill-building opportunities through the Research Education and Development (RED) team. Workshops cover topics from preparing systematic literature reviews to data manipulation and visualisation; and initiatives like Shut Up and Write! and 3MT further enhance their research skills.
Learn more about our graduate research opportunities at La Trobe University or connect with the Rural Health School’s Director of Graduate Research, Dr Corina Modderman.
Research Centres and Initiatives
Our staff make key contributions to La Trobe University’s research centres and initiatives.
The Holsworth Research Initiative conducts translational research with an exercise and physical activity focus that reduces inequalities by improving the health and well-being for individuals and communities in regional and rural locations.
Find out more about the Centre.
The John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research leads research and innovation related to rural aged care workforce and health delivery initiatives; promotes interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration in developing, testing and implementing evidence-based healthcare delivery solutions for older people in rural areas; and serves as a rural centre for honours and postgraduate research training in rural aged care workforce and health delivery initiatives.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Living with Disability Research Centre conducts research to help improve practices, programs and policies that support the social inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities. The Centre’s research program focuses on building a robust evidence base for the disability sector, and the broader community, to address the complex and multifaceted problems facing people with cognitive disability, their families and carers.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research focuses on transforming rural health outcomes through research, collaboration and community engagement. The Centre was established in 2019 following a $3M investment from the VV Marshman Charitable Trust and has launched Australia’s first Rural Health Consumer Panel.
Find out more about the Centre.