Session 8C: Wellbeing
Tracks
Track 3
| Friday, April 24, 2026 |
| 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM |
Speaker
Dr Louise van Herwerden
Assistant Professor
Bond University
Evaluating youth food literacy development through a cooking program utilising photovoice methodology
12:30 PM - 12:45 PMBiography
Louise van Herwerden, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and public health nutritionist specialising in youth nutrition and participatory research. Her work explores food literacy development in secondary schools. She leads national initiatives to enhance holistic care with youth, through innovative methodologies, including photovoice and community-based cooking programs.
Miss Vicky Xu
Research Associate
University Of Sydney
Lessons learned from co-designing mental health resources with LGBTQ+ youth from CARM backgrounds in Southwestern Sydney
12:45 PM - 1:00 PMBiography
Dr Horas Wong is a Registered Nurse and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, with a transdisciplinary background in nursing, public health, anthropology, and health social sciences. He has clinical, teaching, and research experience in Hong Kong and Australia and co-chairs the University of Sydney Pride Network.
Miss Mariah Issa
Research Assistant
The University Of Sydney
User acceptance testing of the daily health coach (DHC) program for young Australian women
1:00 PM - 1:15 PMBiography
Mariah Issa is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Research Assistant at the University of Sydney with a focus on public health nutrition. Her work explores how digital modalities can be leveraged to improve health outcomes among young people.
Miss Aislinn Lenehan
1
University Of Sydney
Decoding and digitising evidence-based nutrition information for young people in Australia
1:15 PM - 1:30 PMBiography
Aislinn Lenehan is a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics student at the University of Sydney and is passionate about improving adolescent nutrition. She aims to inspire health professionals and stakeholders to adopt innovative communication strategies that resonate with young Australian.
Dr Stephanie Cahill
Research Associate
University Of Manchester
Measuring predictors and prevalence of Benevolent Childhood Experiences in English adolescents: Evidence from the #BeeWell study
1:20 PM - 1:25 PMBiography
Dr Stephanie Cahill is a Quantitative Research Associate with #BeeWell at the University of Manchester. Her work explores child and adolescent wellbeing and resilience using longitudinal data. She completed her PhD in Biosocial Science at Manchester, examining predictors and trajectories of resilience to childhood adversity.
Mr Finlay Robinson
Research Officer
University Of Canberra
Co-Presenting: The Utilisation of Story Writing to Collect Qualitative Data About Wellbeing from Adolescents
1:20 PM - 1:25 PMBiography
Finlay Robinson is a student at the Australian National University studying a Bachelors of Psychology (Honours). He has been working on the Schoolyard Greenprint project in the University of Canberra Health Research Institute since the start of 2025. Within the Greenprint he leads the Greenprint Youth Voices.
Ms Hannah Richardson
Student
The University Of Canberra, Health Research Institute
Co-Presenting: The Utilisation of Story Writing to Collect Qualitative Data About Wellbeing from Adolescents
1:20 PM - 1:25 PMBiography
Dr Cristyn Davies
Senior Research Fellow
University of Sydney
Safe and Affirmed: Evaluating Capacity to Support LGBTIQA+ Young People in Mental Health Services in New South Wales
1:25 PM - 1:40 PMBiography
Dr Cristyn Davies is a Senior Research Fellow in the Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health at the University of Sydney Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School. Cristyn has expertise in vaccination for young people, gender, sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, and knowledge translation and implementation science.
