Biography summary
Dr Rebecca Patrick is a teaching and research academic who is recognised for her expertise in nature, environment, and health research and scholarship. She leads multi-institution mixed methods research in climate-related mental wellbeing and health co-benefit intervention measurement and evaluation. She has specialist research experience in qualitative, participatory and co-designed study designs. She trained in health promotion, practiced in youth and community health for 10+ years and is an accomplished interdisciplinary researcher.
Research interests
Health promotion in a climate-effected world
Ecological determinants of health
Nature-based health interventions
Climate change, nature and mental health
Sustainable healthcare
Health-related education for sustainability
Affiliations
Immediate Past President, National Climate and Health Alliance
Co-lead and Member, Planetary Health Alliance (Oceania Hub)
Full Member, Institute for Health Transformation
Member, Australian Health Promotion Association
Associate Editor, Health Promotion Journal of Australia
Former Director, Medical Research Week, Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
Teaching interests
Course Director, Master of Health and Human Services Management.
Specialist teaching areas: health Promotion, Environmental Health, Health Protection, Planetary Health, Work Integrated Learning,Interdisciplinary and Transformative Learning, Health-related Education for Sustainability.
Units taught
HMC703-OD Promoting human ad planetary health (micro-credential)
HSH755 Postgraduate Health Practicuum
HSH715/915 Qualitative Health Research
HSH725 Research Literacy
HSH769 Comparative Health Systems
HSH731 - 734 Masters Minor and Major Research Projects
HSH703 Health Promotion
HSH705 Needs Assessment and Program Planning
HSH736 Community Engagement and Participation
HSH303 Public Health - Health Promotion Practicum
HSH322 Health Sciences Practicum
HSH211 Australian Healthcare System
HSH212 Professional Practice
HSH201 Program Planning and Evaluation
Knowledge areas
Health promotion, public health, climate change, sustainability, ecological determinants of health, mental health, community engagement, health-related education for sustainability.
Expertise
- Health and wellbeing
Conferences
Patrick R, 2022, Climate Change, Health and Wellbeing: National Policy, Advocacy and Education Intiatives, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Congress, Sydney.
Patrick R, 2021, Climate Change, Nature and Mental Health: Making the links for Public Health, Public Health Association Australia Congress, Sydney.
Patrick R, 2021, Climate Change, Nature and Mental Health: Evidence, policy & partners, HEAL Congress, Virtual.
Patrick R, 2021, Climate, nature and mental health, Australian Health Promotion Association - Victorian and Tasmanian Branch.
Patrick R, Langmaid G, Ride C, 2020, Climate change, nature and mental health: Making the links, Australian Health Promotion Association and Climate and Health Alliance national forum, Australia
Patrick R, Day C, Charlson F, Langmaid G et al, 2021, Climate Change and Mental Health: Expert Panel Discussion, Climate and Health Alliance, Online.
Patrick R, Thoms A, Langmaid G et al 2021, Climate Change, nature and mental health promotion: A setting for co-benefits, Enliven Victoria.
Patrick R, Davison M 2017, 'Localising the global: Toward indices that promote the New Urban Agenda and SDG's', New Urban Agenda conference, Melbourne.
Ebden M, Patrick R 2016, 'Improving Natural Environments through Environmental Volunteering', Ecohealth-OneHealth Congress, Melbourne.
Hancock T, Patrick R, 2016, 'People, Planet and Participation: The Kuching Statement on Healthy, Just and Sustainable Urban Development', Urban Thinkers Campus (Habitat III session), Kuching, Malaysia
Patrick R, 2013, ‘Urbanisation, Climate Change & Health Promotion’ sub-plenary presentation for the 21st IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, Pattaya, Thailand.
Patrick R, Capetola, T, 2012, ‘Promoting Health, Social and Environmental Justice in the context of Health Care Practice’, at the Interdisciplinary. Net Environmental Justice & Global Citizenship Conference, Oxford, England.
Patrick, R, Capetola,T & Nuttman, S, 2010 ‘Education for Health and Sustainability’, American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Patrick R, Thoms, A & Capetola, T, 2011, ‘Health Promotion and Sustainability report: creating healthy and sustainable futures launch’, Public Health Association of Australia Annual Conference, Brisbane, Australia.
Capetola, T, Patrick, R & Nuttman, S, ‘Having it all – creative, interdisciplinary teaching and learning while saving the planet’, Deakin Teaching & Learning Conference, Burwood, Australia.
Patrick R, Holland, D & Lamaro, G, ‘Engaged, Enabled and Enacting – Work Integrated Learning for Workforce Ready Graduates, Australian Health Promotion Association's Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Patrick R, Capetola, T & Nuttman, S, 2009 ‘Greening the public health /health promotion workforce: implications for the higher education sector, Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability, Sydney, Australia.
Patrick R & Moore, J, 2008, ‘Transferring learnt knowledge to practice: An example from the health promotion field,’ WACE / ACEN Asia Pacific Conference, Manly, Australia
Media appearances
ABC national and regional radio and news
RRR Radio Marinara
Financial Review
House of Wellness
3CR Community Radio
Twitter: @hnsrg_deakin @bekpatrick
Research groups
Director, Deakin Sustainable Health Network
https://www.deakin.edu.au/health/sustainable-health-network/_nocache
Co-lead, Deakin Health Nature Sustainability research group
http://www.deakin.edu.au/health-social-development/research/health-nature-and-sustainability-research-group
Awards
2022 Insitute for Health Transformation, Mid-career Research Award - Research Excellence
2015 Green Gown Award Australasia, Highly Commended for Learning, Teaching & Skills
2010 Vice Chancellors Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching & Learning
2010 Jim and Alison Leslie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching & Learning.
2010 School of Health & Social Development Research Commendation
Projects
Snapshot of Funded Projects:
Patrick R, Allender S, Forrester M, Huthinson A, Ananthapavan J, Naebe M (2022) Sustainable healthcare: Medical waste, Circular economy, Institute for Health Transformation, GLOBE and Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Australia.
Henderson-Wilson C, Patrick R, Capetola T, Snell T, Noy S, Allender S, Hayward J (2021) Keeping the future in mind: a systems dynamics approach to climate related mental wellbeing, Deakin University, Australia.
Lycett K, Huxley R, Patrick R et al (2021-), Breathe Melbourne, Department of Health, Environmental Protection Authority Victoria, Australia.
Patrick R, Garad R, Snell T, Endicott J, Meadows G (2020) Climate change and mental health; Australian temperature check, Deakin University & Monash University, Australia.
Patrick R, Capetola T, Henderson-Wilson C, Gurasini H, Wang Yi Fan (2020) Climate change, young people and mental health; Mixed method study, Deakin University, Australia.
Patrick, R, Noy, S, Wen Chin J, Capetola, T, Henderson-Wilson C, LaMontagne T (2019) Environmental workplace mental health promotion study, Deakin University Australia.
Patrick, R, Shaw, A, Lawson, J, Capetola, T, Henderson-Wilson, C, Davison M, Freeman, A (2017), Localising the Global: Rescaling the Global Happy Planet Index to a local level, Feasability study and report for Deakin University, Australia.
Noy, S, Patrick R, Ryan, I, Henderson-Wilson, C, Nuttman, S (2017), Scoping Study of Community Interventions that Promote Vegetable Consumption, Research report for Hort Innovation, Australia.
Patrick, R, Ryan, I, Capetola, T, Lawson, J, Wilson, E (2017), Health, Environment and Sustainability: Workforce Analysis: Preliminary Findings, Research study for Deakin University, Australia
Patrick, R et al (2017) National Consultation regarding a National Strategy for Climate, Health and Wellbeing, Research report for CAHA, Australia.
Ebden M, Townsend M, Patrick R, Henderson-Wilson C et al (2016) Environmental Volunteering Study and Report, Study for NSW Trust,
Patrick, R et al (2016) National Survey of Health Professionals Opinions around a National Strategy for Climate, Health and Wellbeing: Preliminary Report, Research report for CAHA, Australia.
Patrick, R, Dietrich, U and Capon,T (2015) Principles for Healthy and Sustainable Places, Research consultancy and report for UNU-IIGH, Malaysia.
Patrick, R, Noy, S and Capetola T (2011) Health Promotion and Sustainability: Towards a healthy and sustainable future, Research Report for Department of Health and Sustainability Victoria and endorsed by AHPA, PHAA, Climate & Health Alliance.
Nuttman, S, Patrick, R, Capetola, T, Noy, S and Freeman, L (2010) Education For Sustainability: A cross-faculty, interdisciplinary curriculum development initiative, Research & Project Report for Deakin University Strategic Teaching and Learning Grants.
Patrick, R, Capetola T, Nuttman S (2009) Population Health & Climate Change; Professional Development CD and workshop. Professional development program developed and implemented for Australian Health Promotion Australia (VicBranch).
Publications
O Zabihi, R Patrick, M Ahmadi, M Forrester, R Huxley, Y Wei, S Hadigheh, M Naebe
(2024), Vol. 919, Science of the Total Environment, C1
Coping with the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Green Script for Sustainable Action
H Gunasiri, R Patrick, R Garad, J Enticott, G Meadows, T Snell
(2024), Vol. 16, pp. 1-12, Sustainability, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Prevalence and determinants of mental health related to climate change in Australia
R Patrick, T Snell, H Gunasiri, R Garad, G Meadows, J Enticott
(2023), Vol. 57, pp. 710-724, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, London, Eng., C1
F Armstrong, A Wyns, P Colagiuri, R Anderson, A Hunter, K Arabena, C Russo, S Cork, S Joyner, M Howden, M Haswell, T Weeramanthri, N Chudleigh, T Capon, N Horsburgh, R Patrick, L Hanna, S Cooke, P Sainsbury, A Borda
(2023), Vol. 10, pp. 1-7, Journal of Climate Change and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Understanding and managing psychological distress due to climate change
A Seth, J Maxwell, C Dey, C Feuvre, R Patrick
(2023), Vol. 52, pp. 263-268, Australian Journal of General Practice, C1-1
The co-benefits of biodiversity citizen science for well-being and nature relatedness
A Eichholtzer, D Driscoll, R Patrick, L Galletta, J Lawson
(2023), Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, C1
E Flies, A Pryor, C Henderson-Wilson, M Turner, J Roydhouse, R Patrick, M O’Shea, K Norris, A Martin, P Marsh, L Bartlett, M Azghadi, A Neil
(2023), pp. 1-20, Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, Berlin, Germany, C1
Minding our futures: Understanding climate-related mental wellbeing using systems science
R Patrick, S Noy, C Henderson-Wilson, J Hayward, S Allender, H Gunasiri, N Bruges, T Snell, T Capetola
(2023), Vol. 84, Health and Place, C1
Exploring the co-benefits of environmental volunteering for human and planetary health promotion
R Patrick, C Henderson-Wilson, M Ebden
(2022), Vol. 33, pp. 57-67, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, London, England, C1
Minding environment, minding workers: environmental workers' mental health and wellbeing
Sue Noy, Rebecca Patrick, Teresa Capetola, Claire Henderson-Wilson, Jian Chin, Tony LaMontagne
(2022), pp. 1-10, Global Health Promotion, London, Eng., C1
Hope, Coping and Eco-Anxiety: Young People's Mental Health in a Climate-Impacted Australia
H Gunasiri, Y Wang, E Watkins, T Capetola, C Henderson-Wilson, R Patrick
(2022), Vol. 19, pp. 1-12, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Bushfires, COVID-19 and Young People's Climate Action in Australia
H Gunasiri, Y Wang, T Capetola, C Henderson-Wilson, R Patrick
(2022), Vol. 19, pp. 149-153, EcoHealth, United States, C1
Planetary health pedagogy: Preparing health promoters for 21st-century environmental challenges
T Capetola, S Noy, R Patrick
(2022), Vol. 33, pp. 17-21, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, London, Eng., C1
Planetary Health Annual Meeting 2022 Abstracts
Hasini Gunasiri, Rebecca Patrick, Tristan Snell, Rhonda Garad, Joanne Enticott, Graham Meadows, Claire Henderson-Wilson
(2022), Vol. 6, LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH, C1
Shoaling guppies evade predation but have deadlier parasites
Jason Walsman, Mary Janecka, David Clark, Rachael Kramp, Faith Rovenolt, Regina Patrick, Ryan Mohammed, Mateusz Konczal, Clayton Cressler, Jessica Stephenson
(2022), Vol. 6, pp. 945-+, NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION, C1-1
Applying the Mandala of Health in the Anthropocene
G Langmaid, R Patrick, J Kingsley, J Lawson
(2021), Vol. 32, pp. 8-21, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Australia, C1
Australia in 2030: what is our path to health for all?
K Backholer, F Baum, S Finlay, S Friel, B Giles-Corti, A Jones, R Patrick, J Shill, B Townsend, F Armstrong, P Baker, K Bowen, J Browne, C Büsst, A Butt, K Canuto, K Canuto, A Capon, K Corben, M Daube, S Goldfeld, R Grenfell, L Gunn, P Harris, K Horton, L Keane, J Lacy-Nichols, S Lo, R Lovett, M Lowe, J Martin, N Neal, A Peeters, T Pettman, A Thoms, A Thow, A Timperio, C Williams, A Wright, B Zapata-Diomedi, S Demaio
(2021), Vol. 214, pp. S5-S40, Medical journal of Australia, Chichester, Eng., C1
S Noy, T Capetola, R Patrick
(2021), Vol. 22, pp. 854-869, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, C1
Chapter 4 Health promotion in the Anthropocene: the ecological determinants of health
Rebecca Patrick, Fiona Armstrong, Anthony Capon, Kathryn Bowen, Selina Lo, Aileen Thoms
(2021), Vol. 214, pp. S22-S26, Medical Journal of Australia, Sydney, N.S.W., C1
Australians report climate change as a bigger concern than COVID-19
Rebecca Patrick, Rhonda Garad, Tristan Snell, Joanne Enticott, Graham Meadows
(2021), Vol. 3, pp. 1-7, Journal of Climate Change and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
R Patrick, C Henderson-Wilson, J Lawson, T Capetola, A Shaw, M Davison, A Freeman
(2021), Global Health Promotion, England, C1
S Nuttman, R Patrick, M Townsend, J Lawson
(2020), Vol. 31, pp. 68-76, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Australia, C1
Tools for creating a future of healthy One Planet cities in the Anthropocene
T Hancock, P Desai, R Patrick
(2020), Vol. 4, pp. 180-192, Cities & Health, London, Eng., C1
Addressing food insecurity in Australia through education for sustainability
S Nuttman, R Patrick, M Townsend
(2020), Vol. 35, pp. 1601-1611, Health Promotion International, England, C1
Health promotion and sustainability programmes in Australia: barriers and enablers to evaluation
R Patrick, J Kingsley
(2019), Vol. 26, pp. 82-92, Global health promotion, London, Eng., C1
New frontiers in community initiatives to increase vegetable consumption
S Noy, R Patrick, C Henderson-Wilson, S Nuttman, I Ryan
(2019), Vol. 30, pp. 52-61, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Australia, C1
Human wellbeing and the health of the environment: local indicators that balance the scales
R Patrick, A Shaw, A Freeman, C Henderson-Wilson, J Lawson, M Davison, T Capetola, C Lee
(2019), Vol. 146, pp. 651-667, Social indicators research, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
Health and environmental impacts of a regional Australian Men's Shed program
L Ayres, R Patrick, T Capetola
(2018), Vol. 26, pp. 65-67, Australian Journal of Rural Health, Australia, C1
Chris Buse, Jordan Oestreicher, Neville Ellis, Rebecca Patrick, Ben Brisbois, Aaron Jenkins, Kaileah McKellar, Jonathan Kingsley, Maya Gislason, Lindsay Galway, Ro McFarlane, Joanne Walker, Howard Frumkin, Margot Parkes
(2018), Vol. 72, pp. 420-425, JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, London, Eng., C1
J Oestreicher, C Buse, B Brisbois, R Patrick, A Jenkins, J Kingsley, R Távora, L Fatorelli
(2018), Vol. 9, pp. 23-44, Sustentabilidade em Debate, Brasília, Brazil, C1
S Noy, R Patrick, T Capetola, J McBurnie
(2017), Vol. 33, pp. 97-118, Australian Journal of Environmental Education, C1
Urbanisation, climate change and health equity: how can health promotion contribute?
R Patrick, S Noy, C Henderson-Wilson
(2016), Vol. 54, pp. 34-49, International journal of health promotion and education, London, Eng., C1
Exploring Australian health promotion and environmental sustainability initiatives
R Patrick, J Kingsley
(2016), Vol. 27, pp. 36-42, Health promotion journal of Australia, Clayton, Vic., C1
R Patrick, J Kingsley, T Capetola
(2016), Vol. 32, pp. 192-205, Australian journal of environmental education, Cambridge, Eng., C1
Global Principles, Regional Action: Guiding Ecohealth Practice in Oceania
R Patrick, U Dietrich
(2016), Vol. 13, pp. 808-812, EcoHealth, United States, C1
Governance for health in the Anthropocene
T Hancock, A Capon, U Dietrich, R Patrick
(2016), Vol. 21, pp. 245-262, International journal of health governance, Bingley, Eng., C1
J Kingsley, R Patrick, P Horwitz, M Parkes, A Jenkins, C Massy, C Henderson-Wilson, K Arabena
(2015), Vol. 12, pp. 12706-12722, International journal of environmental research and public health, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Promoting health, social and environmental justice in the context of health care practice
R Patrick, T Capetola
(2013), pp. 140-153, Looking within: finding an environmental justice and global citizenship lens, Oxford, England, B1-1
R Patrick, T Capetola, S Nuttman
(2012), Vol. 14, pp. 67-80, Focus on health professional education: a multi-disciplinary journal, Adelaide, SA, C1-1
Core health promotion competencies in Australia : are they compatible with climate change action?
R Patrick, J Smith
(2011), Vol. 22, pp. 28-33, Health promotion journal of Australia, Maroochydore, Qld., C1
R Patrick, T Capetola
(2011), Vol. 22, pp. 61-67, Health promotion journal of Australia, Maroochydore, Qld., C1
'Out there gain' : an education for sustainability work integrated learning case study
R Patrick, T Capetola
(2011), pp. 1-27, Australasian journal of university-community engagement, Lismore, N.S.W., C1
Health promotion and climate change : exploring the core competencies required for action
R Patrick, T Capetola, M Townsend, S Nuttman
(2011), Vol. 27, pp. 475-485, Health promotion international, Oxford, England, C1
Incorporating sustainability into community-based healthcare practice
R Patrick, T Capetola, M Townsend, L Hanna
(2011), Vol. 8, pp. 277-289, Ecohealth, New York, N. Y., C1-1
Climate change in the kitchen and on the public health agenda
T Capetola, R Patrick, S Nuttman
(2009), pp. 16-18, Health issues, Melbourne, Vic., C1
R Patrick, K Cook, H McKenzie
(2008), Vol. 42, pp. 749-767, Social policy and administration : an international journal of policy and research, Oxford, U.K., C1
Transferring learnt knowledge to practice : an example from the health promotion field
R Patrick, J Moore
(2008), WACE 2008 : Work integrated learning (WIL) : transforming futures : Proceedings of the 2008 WACE Asia Pacific Conference, Perth, Western Australia, E1
Multiple barriers to obtaining child support : experiences of women leaving violent partners
R Patrick, K Cook, A Taket
(2007), Vol. 45, pp. 21-29, Just policy : a journal of Australian social policy, Collingwood, Vic., C1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Sustainability & Health Promotion: Research Paper
Dr Rebecca Patrick, Ms Teresa Capetola
Sustainability Victoria
- 2010: $9,989
Integrated Environmental Volunteering Initiative
Mr Matthew Ebden, A/Prof Mardie Townsend, Dr Rebecca Patrick, A/Prof Claire Henderson-Wilson, Dr Lynne McLoughlin
NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage
- 2017: $52,917
- 2015: $105,834
Breathe Melbourne - A Citizen Science in Melbourne's Inner West Primary School.
Dr Kate Lycett, Prof Rachel Huxley, Dr Rebecca Patrick, Dr Yichao Wang, Prof Craig Olsson, Ms Joyce Cleary
Victorian Environment Protection Authority, Australian Government Department of Health, Department of Transport
- 2023: $20,000
- 2022: $74,950
Industry and Other Funding
Increase consumption and sales by developing community awareness and benefits of vegetables (scoping study)
Dr Rebecca Patrick, A/Prof Claire Henderson-Wilson
Horticulture Innovation Australia
- 2017: $79,500
Supervisions
Sonia Nuttman
Thesis entitled: From Paddock to Campus: Exploring the potential role of health promotion in addressing food security from an environmental sustainability perspective
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Johanna Donkers
Thesis entitled: Social Work and Climate Change: Narratives from Australian Practitioners
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development