Biography
Mary is a casual Research Fellow with 18 years of research experience in diabetes and obesity related research. She has extensive project management, data collection, data management and statistical analysis experience from community and systems based obesity prevention interventions in children and adolescents.
Mary’s experience includes establishing and maintaining partnerships with various funding bodies, government and the local community. She also has extensive experience in the management of large and complex data sets including research design, collection, cleaning and analysis. Currently, Mary is involved in the screening, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in primary care. This research includes a range of research methodolgies to implement quality improvement in primary care and uniquely blends Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles with co-design involving patients and health professionals.
Read more on Mary's profileCareer highlights
Journal Articles
Malakellis M, Hoare E, Sanigorski A, et al. Authors' response to Letter to the Editor: ANZJPH-2017-220. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. 2018;42(2):215.
Malakellis M, Hoare E, Sanigorski A, et al. School-based systems change for obesity prevention in adolescents: outcomes of the Australian Capital Territory 'It's Your Move!'. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. 2017;41(5):490-6.
Morrissey B, Malakellis M, Whelan J, et al. Sleep duration and risk of obesity among a sample of Victorian school children. BMC public health. 2016;16:245.
Hoare E, Millar L, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, et al. Depressive symptomatology, weight status and obesogenic risk among Australian adolescents: a prospective cohort study. BMJ open. 2016;6(3):e010072.
Strugnell C, Millar L, Churchill A, et al. Healthy together Victoria and childhood obesity-a methodology for measuring changes in childhood obesity in response to a community-based, whole of system cluster randomized control trial. Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique. 2016;74:16.
Strugnell C, Turner K, Malakellis M, et al. Composition of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour participation across the school-day, influence of gender and weight status: cross-sectional analyses among disadvantaged Victorian school children. BMJ open. 2016;6(9):e011478.
Swinburn B, Malakellis M, Moodie M, et al. Large reductions in child overweight and obesity in intervention and comparison communities 3 years after a community project. Pediatric Obesity. 2014;9(6):455-62.
Snowdon W, Malakellis M, Millar L, et al. Ability of body mass index and waist circumference to identify risk factors for non-communicable disease in the Pacific Islands. Obesity research & clinical practice. 2014;8(1):e36-45.
Lacy KE, Allender SE, Kremer PJ, et al. Screen time and physical activity behaviours are associated with health-related quality of life in Australian adolescents. Quality of life research: an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation. 2012;21(6):1085-99.
Cacavas K, Mavoa H, Kremer P, Malakellis M, et al. Tongan adolescents' eating patterns: opportunities for intervention. Asia-Pacific journal of public health. 2011;23(1):24-33.
Allender S, Kremer P, de Silva-Sanigorski A, et al. Associations between activity-related behaviours and standardized BMI among Australian adolescents. Journal of science and medicine in sport. 2011;14(6):512-21.
Stagnitti K, Kenna R, Malakellis M, et al. Evaluating the feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability of an active play intervention for disadvantaged preschool children: a pilot study. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. 2011;36(3):66-72.
Fotu KF, Millar L, Mavoa H, et al. Outcome results for the Ma'alahi Youth Project, a Tongan community-based obesity prevention programme for adolescents. Obesity Reviews: an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2011;12 Suppl 2:41-50.
Kremer P, Waqa G, Vanualailai N, et al. Reducing unhealthy weight gain in Fijian adolescents: results of the Healthy Youth Healthy Communities study. Obesity Reviews: an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2011;12 Suppl 2:29-40.
Millar L, Kremer P, de Silva-Sanigorski A, et al. Reduction in overweight and obesity from a 3-year community-based intervention in Australia: the 'It's Your Move!' project. Obesity Reviews: an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2011;12 Suppl 2:20-8.
Research interests
Public Health
Health Promotion
Primary Health Care
Cardiovascular Disease
Quality Improvement
Obesity Prevention
Dietary and Physical Activity-related behaviours
Diabetes (Type 2)
Social Determinants of Health
Professional activities
Reports
Millar L, Malakellis M, Hoare E, Sanigorski A, Nichols M, Swinburn B, Allender S. Systems approach to reducing unhealthy weight in Australian adolescents: ACT ‘It’s Your Move!’ final report. 2015.
Millar L, Robertson N, Malakellis M, Nichols M, Hoare E, Swinburn B, Allender S. Systems approach to reducing unhealthy weight in Australian adolescents: ACT ‘It’s Your Move!’ baseline report. 2013.
Swinburn B, Herbert J, Virgo-Milton M, Malakellis M, Moodie M, Mavoa H, et al. Be active eat well: three-year follow-up report. 2012.
Sanigorski A, Malakellis M, Kremer P, Swinburn B. Nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents: Report 2: anthropometry: Department of Human Services (Victoria). WHO, Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, 2008.
Sanigorski A, Malakellis M, Azadi L, Kremer P, Swinburn B. Nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents: Report 3: dietary patterns: Department of Human Services (Victoria). Victorian Government. Department of Human Services, 2009.
Kremer P, Malakellis M, Sanigorski A, Swinburn B. Nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents: Report 4: physical activity patterns. Department of Human Services (Victoria), 2008.
Mathews L, Malakellis M, Kremer P, Sanigorski A, Swinburn B. Nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents: Report 5: obesogenic environments. WHO, Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, 2009.
Mathews L, Simmons A, Sanigorski A, Moodie M, Kremer P, Malakellis M, et al. It’s Your Move. WHO, Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, 2009.
Utter J, Faeamani G, Malakellis M, Vanualailai N, Kremer P, Scragg R, et al. Lifestyle and obesity in south pacific youth: baseline results from the Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) project in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Australia. 2008 0473141930.
Projects
Current Projects
Kardinia Health/Deakin University (2017-19)
Meeting national targets and indicators to reduce mortality from chronic illness in general practice
Funding: Kardinia Health/Deakin University research programme, $41,900 (2017-2018); $25,000 (2019)
Publications
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
H Beks, A Hernan, S Giles, M Malakellis, K Mc Namara, V Versace
(2021), Vol. 31, pp. 2260-2273, Qualitative Health Research, United States, C1
Evaluation of clinical quality improvement interventions: feasibility of an integrated approach
S Reddy, Kevin Mc Namara, Mary Malakellis, Tim Denton, Cathy McDonald, Jane Opie, Andrew Sanigorski, Vincent Versace
(2019), Vol. 5, pp. 1-9, Pilot and feasibility studies, London, Eng., C1
Examining the mental well-being of Australian sport coaches
F Carson, M Malakellis, J Walsh, L Main, P Kremer
(2019), Vol. 16, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Switzerland, C1
M Malakellis, E Hoare, A Sanigorski, N Crooks, S Allender, M Nichols, B Swinburn, C Chikwendu, P Kelly, S Petersen, L Millar
(2017), Vol. 41, pp. 490-496, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Australia, C1
E Hoare, L Millar, M Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, H Skouteris, M Nichols, M Malakellis, B Swinburn, S Allender
(2016), Vol. 6, BMJ Open, England, C1
Sleep duration and risk of obesity among a sample of Victorian school children
B Morrissey, M Malakellis, J Whelan, L Millar, B Swinburn, S Allender, C Strugnell
(2016), Vol. 16, BMC Public Health, England, C1
C Strugnell, L Millar, A Churchill, F Jacka, C Bell, M Malakellis, B Swinburn, S Allender
(2016), Vol. 74, Archives of Public Health, England, C1
C Strugnell, K Turner, M Malakellis, J Hayward, C Foster, L Millar, S Allender
(2016), Vol. 6, pp. e011478-, BMJ open, England, C1
W Snowdon, M Malakellis, L Millar, B Swinburn
(2014), Vol. 8, Obesity research and clinical practice, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
B Swinburn, M Malakellis, M Moodie, E Waters, L Gibbs, L Millar, J Herbert, M Virgo-Milton, H Mavoa, P Kremer, A de Silva-Sanigorski
(2013), pp. 8-8, Pediatric obesity, Chichester, England, C1
K Lacy, S Allender, P Kremer, A de Silva-Sanigorski, L Millar, M Moodie, L Mathews, M Malakellis, B Swinburn
(2012), Vol. 21, pp. 1085-1099, Quality of life research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Tongan adolescents' eating patterns : opportunities for intervention
K Cacavas, H Mavoa, P Kremer, M Malakellis, K Fotu, B Swinburn, A de Silva-sanigorski
(2011), Vol. 23, pp. 24-33, Asia Pacific journal of public health, Thousand Oaks, Calif., C1
Associations between activity-related behaviours and standardized BMI among Australian adolescents
S Allender, P Kremer, A de Silva-Sanigorski, K Lacy, L Millar, L Mathews, M Malakellis, B Swinburn
(2011), Vol. 14, pp. 512-521, Journal of science and medicine in sport, Mitchell, A.C.T., C1-1
L Millar, P Kremer, A de Silva-Sanigorski, M McCabe, H Mavoa, M Moodie, J Utter, C Bell, M Malakellis, L Mathews, G Roberts, N Robertson, B Swinburn
(2011), Vol. 12, pp. 20-28, Obesity reviews, Oxford, England, C1
The Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities project : project overview and methods
B Swinburn, L Millar, J Utter, P Kremer, M Moodie, H Mavoa, W Snowdon, M McCabe, M Malakellis, M de Courten, G Waqa, K Fotu, G Roberts, R Scragg
(2011), Vol. 12, pp. 3-11, Obesity reviews, Oxford, England, C1
K Fotu, L Millar, H Mavoa, P Kremer, M Moodie, W Snowdon, J Utter, P Vivili, J Schultz, M Malakellis, M McCabe, G Roberts, B Swinburn
(2011), Vol. 12, pp. 41-50, Obesity reviews, Oxford, England, C1
P Kremer, G Waqa, N Vanualailai, J Schultz, G Roberts, M Moodie, H Mavoa, M Malakellis, M McCabe, B Swinburn
(2011), Vol. 12, pp. 29-40, Obesity reviews, Oxford, England, C1
K Stagnitti, R Kenna, M Malakellis, B Kershaw, M Hoare, A De Silva-Sanigorski
(2011), Vol. 36, pp. 66-72, Australasian journal of early childhood, Watson, A. C. T., C1
It's your move : implementation report 5 - evaluation
L Mathews, A Simmons, A Sanigorski, A Bell, M De Courten, P Kremer, M Malakellis, B Swinburn
(2009), Geelong, Vic., A6
Nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents : report 5 : obesogenic environments
L Mathews, M Malakellis, P Kremer, A Sanigorski, B Swinburn
(2009), Melbourne, Vic., A6
A Sanigorski, M Malakellis, L Azadi, P Kremer, B Swinburn
(2009), Melbourne, Vic., A6
It's your move : implementation reports
A Simmons, A Bell, B Swinburn, L Mathews, A Sanigorski, M De Courten, P Kremer, M Malakellis
(2009), Geelong, Vic., A6
J Utter, G Faeamani, M Malakellis, N Vanualailai, P Kremer, R Scragg, B Swinburn
(2008), Auckland, N.Z., A6
A Sanigorski, M Malakellis, P Kremer, B Swinburn
(2008), Geelong, Vic., A6-1
Nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents : report 4 : physical activity patterns
P Kremer, M Malakellis, A Sanigorski, B Swinburn
(2008), Geelong, Vic., A6-1
G Nicholson, M Malakellis, F Collier, P Cameron, W Holloway, T Gough, C Gregorio-King, M Kirkland, D Myers
(2000), Vol. 99, pp. 133-140, Clinical science, London, Eng., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
No Funded Projects at Deakin found
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report