Psychology
Wendy Li
- Associate Professor
- wendy.li@jcu.edu.au
Carol Choo
- Adjunct Associate Professor
- carol.choo@jcu.edu.au
Helena Radke
- Senior Lecturer, Psychology
- helena.radke@jcu.edu.au
Clint Knight
- Lecturer, Psychology
- clint.knight@jcu.edu.au
Amanda Krause
- Senior Lecturer, Psychology
- amanda.krause1@jcu.edu.au
Connar McShane
- Associate Professor
- connar.mcshane@jcu.edu.au
Daniel Miller
- Senior Lecturer, Psychology
- daniel.miller1@jcu.edu.au
Alison Sheaves
- Lecturer, Psychology
- alison.sheaves1@jcu.edu.au
Marc Chao
- Lecturer, Psychology
- marc.chao@jcu.edu.au
A pilot study into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for improving veteran mental health in North Queensland
Wendy Li
01 Apr 2021 - 30 Nov 2023
This clinical-based study aims to investigate whether MBSR is efficacious for North Queensland veterans. MBSR is a clinically standardized 8-week group intervention, with one 2.5-hour session each week and an all-day (6 hours) self-retreat session in week 6. It provides systematic training in mindfulness to improve mental health through self-regulating arousal to stress. Fifty veterans living
in Townsville will be recruited to participate in the MBSR intervention. To assess the effectiveness of MBSR, a repeated-measures design will be employed, with mental health outcomes being measured at four timepoints.
Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for improving mental health and metabolic profile among diabetes patients: A randomized clinical trial
Wendy Li
01 Sep 2024 - 30 Apr 2027
The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of MBSR for improving mental health and metabolic profile in diabetes patients living in regional and rural north Queensland using a RCT design. Our study will answer three research questions: 1) Is in-person MBSR efficacious for improving mental health and metabolic profile in diabetes patients? 2) Is online MBSR efficacious for improving mental health and metabolic profile in diabetes patients? 3) Are there mental health benefits observed after 4- and 6-week interventions?
Culturally Responsive Diabetes Prevention (CDP) Program for Children of First Nations in North Queensland –A Pilot Study (CI)
Wendy Li
01 Apr 2024 - 28 Feb 2025
The CDP program aims to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) children in Townsville. It comprises of 6 months of a weekly 2-hour physical activity alternating with a weekly 2-hr nutrition/sports education in a storytelling format to be delivered by ATSI elders. Sixty ATSI children aged 8-17 years will participate. Clinical data will be collated at onset, 3 and 6 months and a questionnaire will be administered to determine changes in clinical markers of T2D including body weight, blood pressure, knowledge and attitude of heathy diet and daily physical activity.
Predicting treatment success based on physiological and psychological markers at baseline
Wendy Li
01 Sep 2022 - 31 May 2024
this study examines whether physiological and psychological markers at baseline can predict treatment success of a stress intervention in 50 university students, 25 each from JCUA and JCUS. This project will provide the foundation for a larger study focused on predicting treatment efficacy based on individual differences at baseline, which may inform clinicians in choosing person-focused interventions to increase efficacy and reduce the burden and costs related to ineffective and delayed treatment.
Mindful Warriors Full-Day Retreat
Wendy Li
12 Oct 2024 - 12 Oct 2024
The Mindful Warriors Full-Day Retreat at the Central Plaza, James Cook University, Townsville, is an initiative during the Queensland Mental Health Week, offering veterans and their family members a day to connect with nature, reduce stress, and cultivate inner peace. Guided by a qualified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher, participants will practice mindfulness meditation away from daily distractions. This practice encourages being fully present and observing thoughts and feelings without judgment. It is a powerful tool for emotional regulation and overall well-being for veterans
and community members. The retreat includes various meditation techniques (body scan, attention-focus meditation, lying down yoga meditation, standing yoga, meditation, sit meditation, walking meditation), and a mindful BBQ and eating session.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Group Intervention for Victim-Survivors of Violence against Women in Regional and Rural North Queensland
Wendy Li
01 Sep 2023 - 30 Aug 2024
Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health problem in Australia. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023 report, 23% Australian women experienced violence by an intimate partner and 12.6% women experienced sexual harassment in the past 12 months1. Women living in regional, rural and remote areas are more likely to experience VAW compared to metropolitan women3. VAW commonly results in post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)3 that is often a comorbid condition of depression and anxiety4. Prolonged exposure, cognitive processing and cognitive behavioural therapies are the most well-studied first- and second-wave psychotherapies, that have demonstrated effectiveness for individuals with PTSD4. However, about 30-60% individuals do not respond well to these treatments5, indicating a critical need for research into alternative treatments for PTSD among victim-survivors of VAW, such as third-wave psychotherapies. As a prominent third-wave psychotherapy, MBSR has been employed as a safe and effective treatment for victim-survivors of VAW in the past decade; but is predominately USA-based4. The proposed activity is to deliver MBSR to 30 victim-survivors of VAW in Townsville and evaluate its effectiveness for this population. This study is the first in Australia to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR for this population.
Delivery of the Veterans’ Individualised Physical Education, Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reintegration (VIPER3) program
Wendy Li
26 Aug 2024 - 31 Dec 2026
The Veterans’ Individualised Physical Education, Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reintegration program (VIPER 3) will pilot a novel approach to address the challenges faced by military veterans that have transitioned to civilian life, through a combination of exercise and mindfulness interventions. Utilising a "battle buddy" system, 20 veterans will participate in a 12-week regime of tailored exercise and mindfulness sessions, designed to provide the psychosocial, health and wellness framework to support their reintegration into the community. Greater compliance, positive participant feedback, and improvements in physical and mental health and quality of life will support wider implementation of the program and future funding support.
Enhanced network of real-time tropical cyclone monitoring weather stations
Connar McShane
01 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2026
This project seeks to build a fully functional mobile weather station network for disseminating real-time, community-based, weather data during tropical cyclones. The second aspect to this program is to relate the measured wind data against community perceptions.
Project Smiling Gecko CAMBODIA - What Gaps can we impact?
Connar McShane
21 Oct 2025 - 23 Oct 2025
JCU's mission is to create a brighter future for life in the Tropics, and this project aims to increase JCU's impact on livelihoods in remote communities in SE Asia.
By working with NGO Smiling Gecko Cambodia (SGC) which supports the needy population in Cambodia, the team can contribute to their self sustaining, ecologically and economically vibrant activities that aligns with UN SDG goals 4(quality education), 12 (responsible consumption & production), 14 (life below water) and 17 (partnerships for the goals).
SGC runs a school for 500 students, a farm house resort that employs several hundred employees, grows food crops, and runs tilapia ponds at their 105-hectare site that benefits 30,000 Cambodians in surrounding villages. SGC is committed to continuing growth and seeking partnerships with universities to develop programs for the continuing education of its young community.
The team seeks to identify how we can partner with SGC to identify gaps where we can make a difference to the local population, and where we can make an impact on their operation by building capacity. We propose a 3 days/ 2 nights site study and stakeholder engagement in October 2025. The immediate output will be a blue print for our future work with SGC and other remote communities, how we participate in their continual growth and showcase as a working model for other remote communities in SE Asia. We will seek suitable future funding opportunities from international financial institutions such as the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank.
Conceptualisation and measurement of maternal-fetal bonding
Sam Teague
01 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
The purpose of this work is to build evidence relating to the (lack of) suitability of existing measures of maternal-fetal bonding for clinicians and researchers. Evidence of this nature will support our pitch for an ARC Discovery Project application to validate and test a new measure of the construct that is suitable for use in various populations (including CALD and Indigenous women).
Determining patient activity levels in chronic kidney disease
- 2009
- Blackwell Publishing
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
Using scenario-based learning to teach clinical diagnostics
- 2010
- Post Pressed
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
A four factor model predicting likelihood of foster carer retention
- 2009
- Australian Council of Social Service
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
Comparing first language processes in Chinese and Australian undergraduates
- 2013
- Cambridge Scholars Publishing
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
Comparing first language processes in Chinese and Australian undergraduates
- 2010
- Asian Psychological Association
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
Musical ability and reading ability
- 2010
- Australian Psychological Society
- Researchers:Marie Caltabiano
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01 Jan 2021
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