Dr Gemma Skaczkowski is a behavioural researcher in the Department of Rural Health at the University of South Australia. Her current work mainly examines the wellbeing of farmers and people in rural communities. This includes the evaluation of www.ifarmwell.com.au, designed by Dr Kate Gunn, to help farmers better cope with things beyond their control (such as drought). She is also involved in the co-design of www.icanactnow.com.au (a free, self-guided wellbeing resource for the general population) and in the Department of Rural Health Research Scheme, which gives health practitioners the opportunity to undertake a short-term research project under the supervision of academic staff.
Gemma completed her PhD in Psychology at... Read more
About me
Dr Gemma Skaczkowski is a behavioural researcher in the Department of Rural Health at the University of South Australia. Her current work mainly examines the wellbeing of farmers and people in rural communities. This includes the evaluation of www.ifarmwell.com.au, designed by Dr Kate Gunn, to help farmers better cope with things beyond their control (such as drought). She is also involved in the co-design of www.icanactnow.com.au (a free, self-guided wellbeing resource for the general population) and in the Department of Rural Health Research Scheme, which gives health practitioners the opportunity to undertake a short-term research project under the supervision of academic staff.
Gemma completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria in the area of tobacco control and extrinsic influences on perception. Her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral work has examined patients’ experiences of care and wellbeing, with a focus on how we can better support cancer patients and survivors from diagnosis, to treatment, survivorship, and into palliative care. This has included evaluating the effectiveness of supportive care programs and examining how patients are triaged to supportive care within a health service. Her post-doctoral work was completed at La Trobe University and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, in Melbourne.
Gemma has worked alongside not-for-profit and healthcare organisations throughout her career. She is passionate about working with consumers and healthcare professionals to ensure that her research is relevant, addresses real-world problems and produces recommendations that are acceptable in clinical practice.
About me
Suicide Prevention Australia (Member)
Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association (Member)
Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (Member)
Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (Member)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Laws University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Health Sciences University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Science (Jurisprudence) University of Adelaide
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Growing national awareness about evidence-based mental health and wellbeing resource (ifarmwell.com.au) and reinforcing positive farmer mental health story-telling campaign, James & Diana Ramsay Foundation, 01/12/2024 - 31/12/2027
Leveraging ‘Kick off ya Boots’ to create greater resilience amongst the wider Ag community, SA Research and Development Institute (SARDI), 19/09/2024 - 15/06/2025
Bridging the gap between primary care and mental health professionals: Scoping review to inform the development of an e-mental health solution. 2020 RACGP Foundation ANEDGP Research Grant, AI
Promoting an evidence-based mental health and wellbeing resource to farmers (www.ifarmwell.com.au), SA Health Suicide Prevention Grant, 2020, AI
Systematic review of the nature and impact of patient and public involvement in cancer research, Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials group (PC4) Training Award, 2019-2020, AI
Supporting people with cancer grant for "Optimising the engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse cancer patients and their families with supportive care designed to improve wellbeing", Cancer Australia, 2018-2021, AI
Helping brain cancer survivors return to “life as usual", North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service: Service improvement grants program, 2018-2019, AI
Centenary Grant, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2018, AI
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
34
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
2
3
|
| 2024 |
2
|
| 2023 |
6
4
35
|
| 2023 |
Open access
6
6
4
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
12
9
22
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
11
10
13
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
3
7
|
| 2021 |
7
6
|
| 2021 |
27
26
|
| 2021 |
2
4
|
| 2021 |
Open access
12
10
|
| 2021 |
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
7
5
|
| 2020 |
Open access
18
17
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
3
4
|
| 2019 |
6
6
5
|
| 2018 |
Open access
13
11
27
|
| 2018 |
6
5
2
|
| 2018 |
12
12
|
| 2018 |
36
35
8
|
| 2018 |
23
20
5
|
| 2018 |
18
17
1
|
| 2018 |
7
5
|
| 2018 |
6
6
1
|
| 2018 |
20
17
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
19
20
3
|
| 2016 |
60
55
15
|
| 2015 |
14
12
|
| 2013 |
11
10
|
| 2012 |
Open access
42
42
|
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Austin Health | AUSTRALIA |
| Austin Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Australian Medical Placements Health Education and Training | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Council of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Council Victoria | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Voices South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service | AUSTRALIA |
| Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Health Issues Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Hummingbird House Children's Hospice | AUSTRALIA |
| La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
| Lived Experience Australia Ltd | AUSTRALIA |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service | AUSTRALIA |
| Olivia Newton John Cancer Research and Wellness Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Perth Children's Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Peter MacCallum Cancer Center | AUSTRALIA |
| Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Pharmaceutical Society of Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4) Community Advisory Group | AUSTRALIA |
| Princess Alexandra Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Princess Margaret Hospital for Children | AUSTRALIA |
| Queensland Children's Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Children's Hospital | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Royal Hobart Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Perth Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| South Australian Health and Medical and Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Canberra | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Essex | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Western District Health Service | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Scientific Advisory Committee MemberPsycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group |
2020 |
Supporting people with cancer grant for Optimising the engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse cancer patients and their families with supportive care designed to improve wellbeing."Cancer Australia |
2020 |
Abstract ReviewerVictorian Psycho-Oncology Conference (VCCC) 2019 |
2019 |
Best Oral Presentation by an early career researcherAustralasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine Conference |
2019 |
Patient Reported Outcomes and Experiences Network Group MemberVictorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre |
2019 |
Scientific Advisory Committee MemberPsycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group |
2019 |
Service improvement grant for Helping brain cancer survivors return to life as usual."North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service |
2019 |
Supporting people with cancer grant for Optimising the engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse cancer patients and their families with supportive care designed to improve wellbeing."Cancer Australia |
2019 |
Centenary Grant awarded for two projects: Returning to work after cancer and Impact of music therapy on cancer survivors"."""Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
2018 |
MemberAustin Health Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic Steering Committee |
2018 |
Patient Reported Outcomes and Experiences Network Group MemberVictorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre |
2018 |
Scientific Advisory Committee MemberPsycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group |
2018 |
Service improvement grant for Helping brain cancer survivors return to life as usual."North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service |
2018 |
Supporting people with cancer grant for Optimising the engagement of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse cancer patients and their families with supportive care designed to improve wellbeing."Cancer Australia |
2018 |
MemberAustin Health Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic Steering Committee |
2017 |
Velma Stanley Award (addiction related essay)University of Melbourne |
2016 |
Best abstract and oral presentation by an emerging tobacco control practitionerOceania Tobacco Control Conference 2015 |
2015 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| 110453 - Self-Compassion as a Protective Factor in the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Body Image | Current |
| 111114 - Improving the access to and delivery of palliative care for rural populations | Current |
| Farmers¿ perspectives on chronic pain and chronic pain management | Current |
