Biography summary
Dr Laura Alston is a National Health Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and World Heart Federation Emerging Leader. Dr Alston is also an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Director of Research at Colac Area Health.
Dr Alston's research focusses on investigating rural health disparities in Australia and globally, and the role of dietary intake in these differences. Dr Alston is the recipient of two competitive fellowships and is an investigator on more than $14 million in research funding.
Career highlights
Accredited Practising Dietitian (2010-current)
Graduate Women's Victoria Research award (2018)
Western Alliance Associate Research Fellowship (2019-2020)
World Heart Federation Emerging Leader Fellow (2019)
National Heart Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2020)
National Heart Foundation Collaboration and Exchange Award (2021)
Research interests
Rural Health, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diet, Food Environments, Prevention, Health Services Research
Affiliations
The Global Obesity Centre, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University
Colac Area Health Research Unit, Colac, Victoria
Honorary Researcher, Ballarat Health Services
Knowledge areas
Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutritional Epidemiology, Rural Health, Cardiovascular Disease, Prevention, Health Disparities
Professional activities
Dietitian's Australia mentor for provisional Accredited Practising Dietitians (2013-current)
Co-chair of NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (RE-FRESH) Early and Mid-Career committee (2020)
Department of Health and Human Services Allied Health Research Framework scheme mentor (2019)
Research Mentor Western Alliance Academic Health Science centre’s Supporting Translation of Research in Rural and Regional areas (STaRR program)
Media appearances
Dr Alston's research as featured on ABC Rural radio stations, WIN News, the Herald Sun, Geelong Advertiser and the Colac Herald
Awards
PhD research award, Graduate Women Victoria
World Heart Federation Emerging Leader, 2019
Western Alliance Associate Research Fellowship 2019-2021
Publications
Jane Jacobs, Claudia Strugnell, Denise Becker, Jill Whelan, Josh Hayward, Melanie Nichols, Andrew Brown, Victoria Brown, Steven Allender, Colin Bell, Andrew Sanigorski, Liliana Orellana, Laura Alston
(2023), pp. 1-19, Public Health Nutrition, England, C1
Digital behaviour change interventions to increase vegetable intake in adults: a systematic review
K Livingstone, J Rawstorn, S Partridge, S Godrich, S McNaughton, G Hendrie, L Blekkenhorst, R Maddison, Y Zhang, S Barnett, J Mathers, M Packard, L Alston
(2023), Vol. 20, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, C1
C Quilliam, A Wong Shee, D Corboy, K Glenister, O King, K Mc Namara, L Alston, D Aras, A Beauchamp, C McKinstry
(2023), Vol. 23, pp. 1-12, BMC medical education, London, Eng., C1
S Wood, L Alston, H Beks, K Mc Namara, N Coffee, R Clark, A Wong Shee, V Versace
(2023), Vol. 23, pp. 1-19, BMC health services research, Berlin, Germany, C1
CO-creation and evaluation of food environments to Advance Community Health (COACH)
J Whelan, J Brimblecombe, M Christian, C Vargas, M Ferguson, E McMahon, A Lee, C Bell, T Boelsen-Robinson, M Blake, M Lewis, L Alston, S Allender
(2023), Vol. 2, pp. 1-12, AJPM Focus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
L Alston, M Nichols, S Allender, V Versace, L Brown, T Schumacher, G Howard, J Shikany, K Bolton, K Livingstone, C Zorbas, S Judd
(2023), Vol. 13, pp. e069475-, BMJ open, England, C1
Olivia King, Alison Buccheri, Anton Isaacs, Jaclyn Bishop, Laura Alston, Vincent Versace, Anna Wong Shee, Nick Sourlos, Didir Imran, Jane Jacobs, Fiona Murphy, Melissa Kennelly, Michael Field
(2023), Vol. 2023, pp. 1-12, Health and Social Care in the Community, London, Eng., C1
A Hill, M Blake, L Alston, M Nichols, C Bell, P Fraser, H Le, C Strugnell, S Allender, K Bolton
(2023), pp. 1-30, Public Health Nutrition, England, C1
S Wood, L Alston, H Beks, K Mc Namara, N Coffee, R Clark, A Wong Shee, V Versace
(2023), Vol. 83, pp. 1-12, Health and Place, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
C Needham, N Wheaton, A Shee, K McNamara, M Malakellis, M Murray, L Alston, A Peeters, A Ugalde, C Huggins, S Yoong, S Allender
(2023), Vol. 18, PLoS ONE, C1
A scoping review of the impact of Food Policy Groups on local food systems in high-income countries
S Godrich, J Doe, S Goodwin, L Alston, K Kent
(2023), pp. 1-24, Nutrition Research Reviews, Cambridge, Eng., C1
BMI and the Food Retail Environment in Melbourne, Australia: Associations and Temporal Trends
C Needham, C Strugnell, S Allender, L Alston, L Orellana
(2023), Vol. 15, pp. 1-13, Nutrients, Basel, Switzerland, C1
L Alston, M Green, M Nichols, S Partridge, A Buccheri, K Bolton, V Versace, M Field, A Launder, A Lily, S Allender, L Orellana
(2022), Vol. 14, pp. 1-9, Nutrients, Basel, Switzerland, C1
A Gupta, L Alston, C Needham, E Robinson, J Marshall, T Boelsen-Robinson, M Blake, C Huggins, A Peeters
(2022), Vol. 14, pp. 1-18, Nutrients, Basel, Switzerland, C1
H Beks, S Walsh, L Alston, M Jones, T Smith, D Maybery, K Sutton, V Versace
(2022), Vol. 19, pp. 1-16, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, Switzerland, C1
What shapes research and research capacity building in rural health services? Context matters
A Wong Shee, C Quilliam, D Corboy, K Glenister, C McKinstry, A Beauchamp, L Alston, D Maybery, D Aras, K Mc Namara
(2022), pp. 1-12, Australian Journal of Rural Health, London, England, C1
T Schumacher, L Alston, L Wakely, R Latter, K Squires, S Heaney, L Brown
(2022), Vol. 19, pp. 1-14, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, Switzerland, C1
H Beks, O King, R Clapham, L Alston, K Glenister, C McKinstry, C Quilliam, I Wellwood, C Williams, A Shee
(2022), Vol. 24, pp. 1-18, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Toronto, Ont., C1
K Kent, L Alston, S Murray, B Honeychurch, D Visentin
(2022), Vol. 19, pp. 1-29, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, Switzerland, C1
The Magnitude of NCD Risk Factors in Ethiopia: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Evidence
F Tesfay, K Backholer, C Zorbas, S Bowe, L Alston, C Bennett
(2022), Vol. 19, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Switzerland, C1
L Alston, R Raeside, S Jia, S Partridge
(2022), Vol. 79, pp. 438-446, Nutrition and Dietetics, Richmond, Vic., C1
A Hill, L Alston, C Needham, A Peeters, A Lamontagne, M Nichols
(2022), Vol. 37, Health Promotion International, England, C1
P Nagorcka-Smith, K Bolton, J Dam, M Nichols, L Alston, M Johnstone, S Allender
(2022), Vol. 22, BMC Public Health, England, C1
J Browne, D Becker, L Orellana, J Ryan, T Walker, J Whelan, L Alston, M Egan, B Johnson, A Rossignoli, N Crooks, A Brown, K Bolton, P Fraser, H Le, C Bell, J Hayward, A Sanigorski, K Backholer, S Allender, C Strugnell
(2022), pp. 1-9, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Chichester, Eng., C1
F Tesfay, C Zorbas, L Alston, K Backholer, S Bowe, C Bennett
(2022), Vol. 10, Frontiers in Public Health, Switzerland, C1
Limited dietary interventions in rural Australian communities: a systematic review
L Alston, S Partridge
(2021), Vol. 78, pp. 57-68, Nutrition and dietetics, Chichester, Eng., C1
L Alston, V Versace, E Brown, M Nichols, J Whelan, K Bolton, G Sacks, C Needham, L Orellana, S Allender
(2021), Vol. 45, pp. 65-70, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Australia, C1
J Whelan, A Brown, L Coller, C Strugnell, S Allender, L Alston, J Hayward, J Brimblecombe, C Bell
(2021), Vol. 13, pp. 1-11, Nutrients, Switzerland, C1
Didir Imran, Karen Rog, John Gallichio, Laura Alston
(2021), Vol. 21, pp. 1-9, BMC health services research, London, Eng., C1
N Crooks, L Alston, M Nichols, K Bolton, S Allender, P Fraser, H Le, J Bliss, C Rennie, L Orellana, C Strugnell
(2021), Vol. 18, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, England, C1
C Hill, R Clapham, A Buccheri, M Field, A Wong Shee, L Alston
(2021), pp. 1-10, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, London, Eng., C1
L Alston, J Jacobs, S Allender, M Nichols
(2020), Vol. 23, pp. 339-347, Public Health Nutrition, England, C1
Measurement methods used to assess the school food environment: A systematic review
S O’halloran, G Eksteen, M Gebremariam, L Alston
(2020), Vol. 17, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Switzerland, C1
L Alston, L Bourke, M Nichols, S Allender
(2020), Vol. 44, pp. 527-534, Australian health review, Clayton, Vic., C1
L Alston, M Green, V Versace, K Bolton, K Widdicombe, A Buccheri, D Imran, S Allender, L Orellana, M Nichols
(2020), Vol. 17, pp. 1-11, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Switzerland, C1
Characterizing dietary intakes in rural australian adults: A systematic literature review
L Alston, T Walker, K Kent
(2020), Vol. 12, pp. 1-21, Nutrients, Basel, Switzerland, C1
S Osborne, L Alston, K Bolton, J Whelan, E Reeve, A Wong Shee, J Browne, T Walker, V Versace, S Allender, M Nichols, K Backholer, N Goodwin, S Lewis, H Dalton, G Prael, M Curtin, R Brooks, S Verdon, J Crockett, G Hodgins, S Walsh, D Lyle, S Thompson, L Browne, S Knight, S Pit, M Jones, M Gillam, M Leach, D Gonzalez-Chica, K Muyambi, T Eshetie, K Tran, E May, G Lieschke, V Parker, A Smith, C Hayes, A Dunlop, H Rajappa, R White, P Oakley, S Holliday
(2020), Vol. 213, pp. S3-S32.e1, Medical Journal of Australia, Australia, C1
Laura Alston, Kristy Bolton, Jill Whelan, Erica Reeve, Anna Shee, Jennifer Browne, Troy Walker, Vincent Versace, Steven Allender, Melanie Nichols, Kathryn Backholer
(2020), Vol. 213, pp. S5-+, MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, C1
Jane Jacobs, Laura Alston, Cindy Needham, Kathryn Backholer, Claudia Strugnell, Steven Allender, Melanie Nichols
(2019), Vol. 20, pp. 686-700, Obesity reviews, Chichester, Eng., C1
L Alston, M Nichols, S Allender
(2019), Vol. 14, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
L Alston, N Crooks, C Strugnell, L Orellana, S Allender, C Rennie, M Nichols
(2019), Vol. 16, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Switzerland, C1
J Jacobs, K Peterson, S Allender, L Alston, M Nichols
(2018), Vol. 42, pp. 467-473, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Australia, C1
Rural Inequalities in the Australian Burden of Ischaemic Heart Disease: A Systematic Review
L Alston, S Allender, K Peterson, J Jacobs, M Nichols
(2017), Vol. 26, pp. 122-133, Heart Lung and Circulation, Australia, C1
J Herbert, K Peterson, L Alston, S Allender, M Nichols
(2017), Vol. 11, pp. 414-425, Obesity research & clinical practice, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
L Alston, K Peterson, J Jacobs, S Allender, M Nichols
(2017), Vol. 7, BMJ Open, England, C1
K Peterson, J Jacobs, S Allender, L Alston, M Nichols
(2016), Vol. 16, BMC Public Health, England, C1
L Alston, K Peterson, J Jacobs, S Allender, M Nichols
(2016), Vol. 16, BMC Public Health, England, C1
Critical design features for establishing a childhood obesity monitoring program in Australia
K Lacy, M Nichols, A De Silva, S Allender, B Swinburn, E Leslie, L Jones, P Kremer
(2015), Vol. 21, pp. 369-372, Australian journal of primary health, Melbourne, Vic, C1
Solid versus liquid-satiety study in well-adjusted lap-band patients
Laura Alston, Kay Jones, Chris Hensman, Ruth Bertuch, Toni McGee, John Dixon
(2013), Vol. 23, pp. 1266-1272, Obesity surgery, New York, N.Y., C1-1
The appropriateness of opt-out consent for monitoring childhood obesity in Australia
K Lacy, P Kremer, A de Silva-Sanigorski, S Allender, E Leslie, L Jones, S Fornaro, B Swinburn
(2012), Vol. 7, Pediatric obesity, Oxford, England, C1
Government food service policies and guidelines do not create healthy school canteens
A de Silva-Sanigorski, T Breheny, L Jones, K Lacy, P Kremer, L Carpenter, K Bolton, L Prosser, L Gibbs, E Waters, B Swinburn
(2011), Vol. 35, pp. 117-121, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, Richmond, Vic., C1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases for future rural dwelling Australians
Dr Laura Alston, Prof Steven Allender, Prof Vincent Versace
NHF Fellowship - Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - National Heart Foundation of Australia
- 2022: $15,000
- 2021: $60,960
- 2020: $45,000
Delivering enhanced healthcare at home for older people in rural Australia
Prof Anna Peeters, Prof Vincent Versace, Mr Craig Wilding, Prof Wendy Chapman, Prof Terry Haines, Dr Anna Wong Shee, A/Prof Joanne Porter, Prof Warren Payne, Dr Louise Greenstock, Prof Steven Allender, Dr Laura Alston, A/Prof Anna Borda, A/Prof Anna Ugalde, Dr Olivia King, Mrs Fiona Mitchell, Mrs Hannah Beks, Ms Sue Williams, Prof Adam Elshaug, Prof Martin Hensher, Dr Joannne Enticott, A/Prof Michele Callisaya, Prof Bodil Rasmussen, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara
MRFF (DISER) Rapid Applied Research Translation
- 2023: $1,235,064
- 2022: $1,223,738
Veg4Me - A personalised digital health solution for improving vegetable intake and cardiovascular health in young adults living in rural and disadvantaged communities
Dr Katherine Livingstone, Dr Jonathan Rawstorn, Dr Laura Alston, Dr Stephanie Partridge
NHF Vanguard Grant - National Heart Foundation of Australia
- 2023: $72,984
The effect of a gut-focused dietary smartphone app for pregnant women on infant mental health-related outcomes: Beyond Bugs and Bumps RCT
Dr Samantha Dawson, Dr Laura Alston, Mrs Claire Young, Dr Poshmaal Dhar, Dr Amy Loughman, Dr Luba Sominsky, Dr Nikolaj Travica
MRFF (NHMRC) - MMM Mental Health Research Grant
- 2023: $930,501
Other Public Sector Funding
Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training and Research program 2018 - 2025
Prof Vincent Versace, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara, Dr Anna Wong Shee, Dr Laura Alston, Prof Neil Coffee, Mrs Hannah Beks, Dr Andrea Hernan
Australian Government Department of Health
- 2023: $1,610,816
- 2022: $1,382,858
- 2021: $1,035,927
- 2020: $2,375,172
Group Model Building: a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to reduce potentially avoidable visits to the Emergency Department.
Dr Anna Wong Shee, Prof Vincent Versace, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara, Prof Steven Allender, Dr Laura Alston
Ballarat Health Services
- 2023: $30,000
- 2021: $18,036
Colac Area Health and Deakin Rural Health Research Partnership.
Prof Vincent Versace, Dr Laura Alston, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara
Colac Area Health
- 2023: $32,783
Industry and Other Funding
Preventing chronic diseases in rural populations for future generations: The role of rural health services in guiding community efforts to improve the food environment.
Dr Laura Alston, Prof Steven Allender, Prof Vincent Versace, Dr Melanie Nichols, Dr Kristy Bolton
Western Alliance
- 2023: $20,595
- 2020: $20,595
- 2019: $41,359
A review of evidence on interventions to improve the availability and promotion of healthy food in rural communities.
Dr Laura Alston, Prof Kathryn Backholer, Prof Vincent Versace, Prof Steven Allender, Dr Melanie Nichols, Dr Jill Whelan, Dr Erica Reeve, Dr Anna Wong Shee
Australasian Medical Publishing Co Proprietary Ltd
- 2020: $10,000
Victorian Healthcare Recovery Initiative (VHRI) Workforce Impact: Lessons learnt from COVID-19 and the impact on rural and regional health system workforce.
Prof Alison Hutchinson, Dr Simon Albrecht, Dr Anna Wong Shee, Dr Laura Alston
Western Alliance
- 2022: $25,000
- 2021: $25,000
Ride Score Safe Routes to School.
Prof Neil Coffee, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara, Prof Vincent Versace, Dr Laura Alston, Miss Nikita Wheaton
Australian Cycling Environmental & Health Foundation Ltd
- 2023: $37,209
Dasman Diabetes Institute Geohealth Lab and Deakin University Collaboration.
Prof Vincent Versace, Prof Neil Coffee, A/Prof Kevin Mc Namara, Dr Tesfaye Feyissa, Dr Anna Wong Shee, Dr Laura Alston, Mr Ralf-Dieter Schroers, Mrs Hannah Beks, Prof Adrienne O'Neil, Hon Prof James Dunbar
Dasman Diabetes Institute
- 2023: $930,690
Other Funding Sources
Rapidly advancing the availability and quality of dietary data collected in rural Australia
Dr Laura Alston
Heart Foundation Collaboration and Exchange Award (Conferences)
- 2022: $5,000
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report