Our Projects

Planetary Health

Healthy Places, Healthy Futures is a transdisciplinary research coalition advancing adolescent-led solutions to chronic disease prevention across the Asia–Pacific. Despite representing over one billion people in Asia Pacific, adolescents remain critically underfunded in prevention research and are disproportionately affected by ecological disruption, food insecurity, heat stress, and unequal access to health-enabling environments.

​

Using planetary health as a unifying framework, the coalition centres young people as partners in systems-level research and action, connecting environmental conditions with long-term health outcomes through place-based, participatory approaches.

​

HPHF - led by Surabhi Dogra, A/Prof Stephanie Partridge, A/Prof Aaron Jenkins & funded via Charles Perkins Centre at The University of Sydney

Digital Health Innovation

This project aims to test whether a 6-month text message program is effective for improving the physical and mental health of 390 young people (12-18 years old) across Australia in a clinical trial. The text message topics and content were co-designed with young people, then backed with evidence-based information, and made interactive by linking young people with services to improve their health across 6 key areas: nutrition, physical activity, mental health, body image, the media and climate and planetary health. We are currently analysing the results of this project… stay tuned!

​

Health4Me - led by Dr Rebecca Raeside & funded via MRFF Primary Care Grant (#2006315)

Food Environments

Urban design has a significant impact on the health of communities, particularly through the types of food environments it fosters. This project explored the food environments surrounding several key transport hubs in New South Wales undergoing redevelopment. Using mapping tools and a food outlet classification system, we identified trends in the availability and types of food options near these sites. The findings highlight the need to more effectively integrate health considerations into planning and development processes to support healthier, more equitable communities. The findings were presented at the Australasian Housing Researchers Conference (AHRC) 2025, and the manuscript is under review. 

Food environments

Online food delivery services are rapidly changing how people access food, often making energy-dense, less healthy options more available and visible. This project explores how digital platforms are shaping food environments across Australia. We developed the DIGIFOOD dashboard, a new tool designed to track and visualise the types and locations of food outlets available both online and locally. This tool has the potential to support future planning and policy decisions aimed at improving food environments and promoting healthier choices across communities.

​

​DIGIFOOD Dashboard- Led by Dr Sisi Jia & funded via National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (#106646)

Youth Engagement

YES! was a mixed-methods project involving 520 Australian adolescents (aged 13–18) that explored their perspectives on participating in non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention activities. Mental health emerged as their top health concern, and there was a strong interest in taking part in initiatives that promote youth health and well-being. However, young people also identified key barriers, including limited opportunities and the need for more authentic, flexible ways to get involved. Two members of our HAPYUS group led the write-up of a set of youth-informed recommendations as part of this work. The outcomes from YES! are currently under peer review in BMC Public Health.

Digital Health Innovation

This project aims to test whether a 6-month text message program is effective for preventing obesity among 150 young people (13-18 years old) who were above a healthy weight in a clinical trial. The text message content was then co-designed with young people, seeking their input to refine and improve content across 4 key areas: nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing, sleep, and general behaviours. We are currently analysing the results of this project… stay tuned!

​

Textbites - Funded via NSW Cardiovascular Early Career Grant

Digital Health Innovation, Food Environments, and Youth Engagement

HAPYUS (pronounced 'happy us') is a yearly youth advisory group that partners with our team to shape our research based on lived experience and evidence. Members support all three of our research areas by sharing their insights and co-designing solutions that reflect what matters most to their generation.

Digital Health Innovation​

This project aims to develop and test the Health4MePLUS mobile app. The app will be co-created with Australian adolescents to promote heart-protective behaviours like mental wellbeing, regular physical activity and eating a balanced diet. This project aims to drive real world impact, ensuring Australian adolescents have access to equitable and effective tools to prevent development of heart disease.

​

Health4Me PLUS - led by Dr Rebecca Raeside & funded via National Heart Foundation of Australia Vanguard Grant #110610

Digital Health Innovation

This project uses innovative data collection methods to evaluate health and wellbeing content - nutrition, physical activity, mental health and body image - on social media, and its potential impacts to young people’s health and wellbeing.

​

Everyday Influences - led by Dr Rebecca Raeside & funded via Charles Perkins Centre EMCR Seed Funding Grant)

Youth Engagement

We have developed a free, online course for young people to build research and advocacy skills, co-designed with youth and grounded in evidence and best practice in engagement.

 

The Health Hive is a vibrant digital platform and community that empowers young people to take an active role in research about their health and wellbeing. The course is now live and open to young people across Australia and internationally.

 

Health Hive is funded via an MRFF Consumer-Led Grant (APP2023165).

​

👉 Access the free course here

Digital Health Innovation, Food Environments, Youth Engagement

This project aims to identify adolescents’ key priorities and areas for action in preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Australia, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Using a mixed-methods, community-based participatory approach, we will combine cross-sectional surveys and focus groups to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights. We will capture adolescents' lived experiences and perspectives on the key priorities and target areas for NCD prevention strategies.

Youth Engagement

More young people are contributing to research, but there’s little guidance on how to include them as co-authors. Together, our team of researchers and youth collaborators is writing a perspective piece on how to do this ethically and meaningfully. We share real challenges, lessons learned, and practical solutions. The article is currently under review… stay tuned!

Digital Health Innovation

This project aims to employ a Participatory Systems Mapping approach to develop a systems map of priority areas for the implementation of digital mental health promotion initiatives for adolescents. ​

​

Mind the Gap - led by Dr Rebecca Raeside & Funded via Brain and Mind Centre Engagement Collaborative Grant