Dr Kate Gunn

Dr Kate Gunn (previously Fennell) works as a Research Fellow in the Department of Rural Health at the University of South Australia. She carries out both qualitative and quantitative research in psycho-oncology, rural health and rural mental health and brings to this role experience from working as a Clinical Psychologist, as well as from growing up on a farm in an isolated rural community.

Kate's main research interests include understanding and addressing the psychosocial needs of rural people affected by cancer, rural help-seeking behaviour and the development, delivery and evaluation of web and telephone-based cancer support interventions. She is also interested in farmers' health and mental health, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the application of behaviour change theory and the use of participatory action research methods.

Kate enjoys the process of combining what research shows is likely to help people to change their behavior and improve their wellbeing, with rural people’s beliefs and preferences, so that new strategies are likely to work, be meaningful and be adopted in the real world. Her research has resulted in improved scientific understanding of the health and mental health needs of rural communities, and in the delivery of previously unavailable, consumer-driven support services. For example, Kate's PhD research led to the development of a supportive care website for rural South Australians, www.countrycancersupport.com.au. 

More recently, Kate led the development of a new YouTube channel- Rural Cancer Stories- that features the stories of country cancer patients, survivors and their carers. It is designed to provide online peer support and evidence-based advice to rural Australians who can’t access a face-to-face cancer support group, and/or who feel generic supportive care materials don’t fully recognize the unique challenges rural people face. To learn more visit www.bit.ly/ruralcancerstories 

Kate has also recently led the development of www.ifarmwell.com.au which is an online, farmer and ACT-informed intervention, designed to help Australian farmers better cope with things beyond their control (e.g. the weather).

The impact of Kate's work has been recognized through the receipt of various awards, for example the Premier's/ Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year Award (2013), the Leslie (Les) J. Fleming Churchill Fellowship to investigate sustainable methods of improving the health and well-being of rural cancer survivors (2018), a SA Tall Poppy Science Excellence Award (2017), the Rural, Regional and Remote Winnovation Award (2017), and via a commendation in the national Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher of the Year Awards (2018).

In addition to her research role, Kate continues to work one day per week as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, assisting children, adolescents and adults to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (Member)

International Psycho-Oncology Society (Early Career Member)

International Society of Behavioral Medicine (Member)

International Society of Critical Health Psychology (Member)

Australian Psychological Society (APS) (Member)

  o   APS’s Rural and Remote Psychology Interest Group      o   APS’s Psychologists in Oncology Interest Group

Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) (Non Medical Member)

  o   COSA’s Regional and Rural Oncology Interest Group

Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group (SA branch)

Australasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine (Member)

Future Health Leaders Australia

Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (Member)

National Rural Health Alliance (Friend)

Golden Key International Honour Society (Member)

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of Adelaide

• Master of Psychology (Clinical) University of Adelaide

• Honours Degree Bachelor of Psychology University of Adelaide