La Trobe summer experts available for media

La Trobe University has academic experts available to talk to the media on a range of topics during the Christmas/summer period.

Please contact experts directly during this period. Some may not be available on all days. Availability is noted under their contact information.

HOW VICTORIANS WILL SPEND THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS

Dr Paul Strickland
Senior Lecturer Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, La Trobe Business School

Contact E: P.Strickland@latrobe.edu.au M: 0408 834 727

Topics include:

  • How cost-of-living pressures are changing Victorians' summer holidays, with the majority likely to take only short stays and breaks (i.e. more than 2 nights, less than 5 nights) and stay within 3 hours' drive of Melbourne
  • On average, it costs $120 to $160 per person per day for accommodation, petrol, and food and beverages; for an average family four, that's almost $650 per day
  • Why pet friendly Airbnb's, caravan parks and campsites in regional Victoria are in high demand this summer, along with free activities such as national parks and beaches
  • The huge growth in agri-businesses becoming family friendly, such as wineries and distilleries

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Ros Ben-Moshe
Adjunct lecturer, School of Public Health and Psychology, La Trobe University Melbourne
Areas of expertise: laughter, positivity, humour, resilience

Contact E: r.ben-moshe@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0413 592 030

Topics include:

  • Starting 2024 with a positive mindset, and how to achieve it
  • How effective are new year resolutions? Do we need them, and how many people actually stick to them?
  • What are the most common new year resolutions? And have they changed post-pandemic?

OLDER PEOPLE, ELDERABUSE AND LONELINESS AT CHRISTMAS

Professor Irene Blackberry
Director, Care Economy Research Institute (CERI)
John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research (Albury-Wodonga-based)

Contact E: i.blackberry@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0410 626 880

Topics include:

  • Christmas is a time to care about older people who are often alone and struggling financially
  • Navigating Christmas and caring for ageing relatives

Dr Chris Maylea
Associate Professor La Trobe Law School, Acting Director, Care Economy Research Institute (CERI)
Law in Context Research Cluster Lead

Contact E: c.maylea@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0439 463 255

Topics include:

  • Looking for signs of elder abuse at Christmas
  • Where to find help for victims of elder abuse
  • Case studies available

THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Professor Emmanuel Kuntsche
Director of the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research

Contact E: E.Kuntsche@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0477 190 655

Topics include:

  • Why is alcohol such a traditional part of Christmas and new year festivities, and should it be like this
  • Why is it so hard to change drinking habits, even if we experience the negative consequences of it
  • Why is it so hard to stick to a new year’s resolutions to drink less

Associate Professor Anne-Marie Laslett
NHMRC Emerging Leader, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research

Contact E: A.laslett@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0408 338 093

Limited availability over Christmas and New Year. Text request in the first instance

Topics include:

  • Increased alcohol and drug use over the Christmas and NY period
  • The impact of increased alcohol and drug use on the care economy, including hospitals and emergency services

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS SUMMER OF CRICKET

Dr Kane Middleton
Senior Lecturer – Exercise Science

Contact E: K.Middleton@latrobe.edu.au M: 0422 280 631

Dr Corey Perrett
Research Fellow – Sport and Exercise Science

Contact: E: C.Perrett@latrobe.edu.au M: 0422 293 787

Topics include:

  • The biomechanics of power hitting
  • The biomechanics of fast bowling, including how players return from stress fractures
  • The aerodynamics of bowling (e.g. swing)
  • Illegal bowling actions and how they are assessed

SAFETY AND MINORITY GROUPS OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON

Contact E: J.Ison@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0481 880 596

Available most days, although limited availability over the new year’s eve period

Topics include:

  • For some, Christmas is far from the season of cheer, with family violence incidents increasing over the Festive Season
  • The summer of ‘fun’ – drink spiking, sexual assault and harassment, impact on women and LGBTQ communities
  • How can you get home from the party safely? - public transport and sexual harassment

CARING FOR PETS OVER SUMMER

Dr Tiffani Howell
Senior Research Fellow, School of Psychology and Public Health

Contact E: t.howell@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0450 298 745

Topics include:

  • Got a pet for Christmas? How to care for them, and how to ensure they remain a life-long friend
  • Why do we buy gifts for our beloved pets at Christmas?

EATING WELL, THE MEANING OF FOOD IN OUR LIVES, AND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WHAT WE EAT

Professor Tony Bacic
Director, La Trobe Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF)
Professor of Plant Biology

Contact E: t.bacic@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0409 855 852

Topics include:

  • Summer food production – how climate change is affecting what we eat
  • Is climate change affecting the traditional Christmas lunch?
  • How Australia is changing the way we grow and produce food in a changing climate

Dr Matt Ruby
School of Psychology and Public Health

Contact E: m.ruby@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0490 854 736

Topics include:

  • The meaning of food in people’s lives
  • How does food embody cultural values?
  • Australian attitudes toward veganism/vegetarianism

Dr Steve Cousins
Lecturer Exercise Science (Bendigo based)

Contact E: stephen.cousins@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0450 318 190

Topics include:

  • How we can keep active, healthy and eating well over the summer period, and why it's important

Dr Kim Johnson
La Trobe Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF)

Contact E: K.Johnson@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0418 858 465

Not available 21 December - 1 January

Topics include:

  • What will we be eating in a changing climate?
  • Sustainable food production in a changing climate

USING AI TO MAKE WATER SAFER THIS SUMMER

Professor Wei Xiang
Cisco Research Chair of AI and Internet of Things (IoT) and Director of Cisco-La Trobe Centre for AI and IoT, AquaWatch Australia

Contact E: w.xiang@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0458 685 500

Availability: Generally available by email. Some restrictions to availability in January.

Topics include:

  • A new world-first weather forecast for water quality is helping farmers and water lovers navigate the summer safely

EDUCATION, BACK TO SCHOOL

Dr Stefan Schutt
Senior Lecturer in Learning Design, School of Education

Contact: M 0410 387 622, E s.schutt@latrobe.edu.au

Not available 16-21 January

Topics include:

  • The role of online and remote learning in the future classroom

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS AND REGIONAL SAFETY

Professor Bec Strating
Professor of International Relations, Director, La Trobe Asia

Contact E: B.Strating@latrobe.edu.au, M: 0400287758,

Not available 24-25 Dec, 29 Dec

Topics include:

  • International relations in Asia
  • Maritime security, Australian foreign and defence policy

AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE SEASON

For a full list of experts available to provide analysis and commentary on the Australian bushfire season, please see the separate Bushfire Expert Alert Season 2023/24.

For a full list of academic staff, search Scholars La Trobe