Dr Kate Gunn is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Rural Health at the University of South Australia. She carries out both qualitative and quantitative behavioral science-focused research on psycho-oncology, suicide prevention, rural health and rural mental health-related issues. Kate 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 near Streaky Bay.
Kate's main research interests include farmers' health and mental health, understanding and addressing the psychosocial needs of rural people affected by cancer, rural help-seeking behaviour and the development, delivery and evaluation of web-based psychological interventions. She... Read more
About me
Dr Kate Gunn is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Rural Health at the University of South Australia. She carries out both qualitative and quantitative behavioral science-focused research on psycho-oncology, suicide prevention, rural health and rural mental health-related issues. Kate 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 near Streaky Bay.
Kate's main research interests include farmers' health and mental health, understanding and addressing the psychosocial needs of rural people affected by cancer, rural help-seeking behaviour and the development, delivery and evaluation of web-based psychological interventions. She is also keenly interested in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the application of behaviour change theory and the use of participatory action research and co-design 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). She is currently completing the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Program, thanks to a generous scholarship from Prime Super.
About me
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)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Adelaide
Master of Psychology (Clinical) University of Adelaide
Honours Degree Bachelor of Psychology University of Adelaide
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Helping Australians to better manage stress, adapt to change and improve their mental health with a free, tailored, online, self-help tool., Masonic Charities Trust, 01/04/2020 - 31/03/2023
Strengthening wellbeing and deepening social support in a drought-affected, agricultural-dependent community with the help of ‘Wellbeing Warriors’ to promote health and wellbeing within their networks, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, 01/02/2022 - 31/01/2023
PIRSA/ifarmwell implementation research, SA Dept of Primary Industries and Regions, 30/09/2020 - 30/09/2022
Researching the rural reach of ifarmwell via promotion by trained rural financial counsellors, QANTAS Airways Limited, 08/11/2019 - 30/06/2022
Building workforce capacity in the renal specialist nursing workforce - PART TWO, The Hospital Research Foundation, 01/10/2020 - 30/04/2022
Fire-affected farmers psychological preparedness, SA Dept of Premier & Cabinet, 01/07/2021 - 01/02/2022
Building workforce capacity in specialist nursing areas. PART ONE, Rosemary Bryant Foundation, 01/06/2020 - 30/06/2021
Implementation research on the extension of the reach of ifarmwell via a social media strategy, Country SA PHN, 08/06/2020 - 31/12/2020
Helping Australian farmers to help themselves: how can rural financial counsellors and www.ifarmwell.com.au most effectively assist?, Rural Business Support, 18/02/2019 - 18/02/2020
Preparing Australian farmers for future challenges via on online, interactive, acceptance and commitment therapy based (ACT) intervention, NAB Foundation, 30/06/2016 - 30/09/2017
Online video based peer support for rural Australians affected by cancer, auDA Foundation Pty Ltd, 01/07/2016 - 30/09/2017
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
4
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
6
5
|
| 2021 |
1
1
3
|
| 2021 |
2
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
14
12
18
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
Open access
1
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
1
|
| 2021 |
1
|
| 2021 |
1
2
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2021 |
4
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
6
5
|
| 2021 |
2
2
1
|
| 2021 |
1
1
3
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2021 |
Open access
6
6
|
| 2021 |
1
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
1
|
| 2021 |
2
1
|
| 2021 |
1
1
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
14
12
18
|
| 2020 |
Open access
3
3
|
| 2020 |
8
7
3
|
| 2020 |
10
11
3
|
| 2020 |
6
7
4
|
| 2019 |
3
2
|
| 2019 |
3
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
4
6
13
|
| 2019 |
Open access
5
5
6
|
| 2019 |
Open access
3
3
4
|
| 2018 |
Open access
19
14
|
| 2018 |
7
8
3
|
| 2018 |
Open access
25
25
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
6
7
2
|
| 2018 |
Open access
8
7
12
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
11
5
|
| 2017 |
73
71
1
|
| 2017 |
8
7
|
| 2017 |
9
8
|
| 2017 |
34
34
14
|
| 2017 |
17
18
1
|
| 2016 |
18
17
3
|
| 2016 |
19
17
1
|
| 2016 |
27
28
|
| 2015 |
Open access
20
56
5
|
| 2014 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
| 2012 |
Open access
25
26
|
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| AIA Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Athabasca University | CANADA |
| Australian College of Applied Psychology | AUSTRALIA |
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| Barwon Health | AUSTRALIA |
| Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service | AUSTRALIA |
| Border Medical Oncology | AUSTRALIA |
| Calvary North Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Council of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Council Victoria | AUSTRALIA |
| Cancer Research Institute | UNITED STATES |
| CanTeen Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Charles Darwin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Chris O'Brien Lifehouse | AUSTRALIA |
| Davies & Robertson Psychology Practice | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Eastern Health | AUSTRALIA |
| Epworth HealthCare | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders Medical Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Herd of Hope Limited | AUSTRALIA |
| James Cook University | AUSTRALIA |
| La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
| Leukaemia Foundation of Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Nepean Cancer Care Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Open University of the Netherlands | NETHERLANDS |
| Pentimento Project | AUSTRALIA |
| Princess Alexandra Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Adelaide Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
| Stanford University | UNITED STATES |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Geneva | SWITZERLAND |
| University of Lausanne | SWITZERLAND |
| University of Maastricht | NETHERLANDS |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New England Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| Western Districts Health Service | AUSTRALIA |
| Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Prime Super ScholarshipAustralian Rural Leadership Foundation |
2021 |
Council MemberPremier's Council for Suicide Prevention |
2018 |
Rural, Regional and Remote AwardWinnovation Awards |
2017 |
the Leslie (Les) J. Fleming Churchill FellowshipWinston Churchill Memorial Trust |
2017 |
Young Tall Poppy Award (SA)Australian Institute of Policy and Science |
2017 |
National College of Clinical Psychology Student PrizeAustralian Psychological Society (APS) |
2014 |
South Australian College of Clinical Psychology Student PrizeAustralian Psychological Society (APS) |
2014 |
Rural Health Younger Achiever AwardRural Doctors Workforce Agency |
2013 |
South Australian Young Achiever of the Year AwardChannel 9 |
2013 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| An exploration of the potential benefits of read aloud programs to welleing of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a mixed methods study | Current |
| Growing the wellbeing of Australian farmers through an evidence-based online resource | Current |
| Investigation and analysis of the nature, extent, drivers and contributors to suicide and suicidal ideation amongst workers in the Australian construction industry. | Current |
| Cultivating farmer health: development, evaluation and application of a novel help-seeking scale for farmers | Completed |
| Development and proof-of-concept of a smartphone self-management program to support adherence to oral chemotherapy in young and adults with cancer | Completed |
| The experiences and supportive care preferences of rural living organ donors | Completed |
