Dr Alex Metse obtained a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) and PhD (Clinical Psychology) from the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Alex is an established early-career academic and clinical psychologist who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of vulnerable populations by reducing physical health inequities, improving mental health, and promoting healthy ageing. A key focus of her clinical and research work is on the role of health behaviours such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and suboptimal sleep in the interplay between physical and psychological health, and the need and health benefits of routinely addressing such behaviours. Other interests include the role and benefits of novel technologies to support delivery of mental and physical health interventions.
Alex has a particular interest in the pivotal role of sleep in promoting health and preventing chronic disease. In her clinical work, she has specialised in the treatment of clinical sleep disorders. This has informed the program of research she leads, which seeks to 1) improve the effectiveness and acceptability of treatments for suboptimal sleep and sleep disorders, 2) highlight the extent to which suboptimal sleep is an issue within the Australian population, as well as its key determinants, and 3) spotlight the need for routine preventative intervention in primary and tertiary health care settings. Much of her research is undertaken in collaboration with relevant industry partners, which ensures relevancy and that it addresses meaningful questions and supports timely translation of findings into policy and practice. Alex’s work is a driving force highlighting the need for improved treatments to address suboptimal sleep and for sleep to be a public health priority, shaping a healthier future for all. In recognition of her work, she has been invited as a leading expert to contribute to the development of various large-scale behavioural interventions and public policy briefs, including the recently published policy evidence brief entitled: Improving population sleep health to reduce preventable illness and injury, a report by the Mitchell Institute and Sleep Health Foundation.
Alex’s work has been published by prestigious top-tier journals and she has been invited to present on her program of research at various national conferences and events, including at TEDxBrisbane (TEDx talk can be accessed here. Alex remains at the forefront of evolving research in her field and is an editor for Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
In her teaching, Alex consistently implements authentic, evidenced based and cutting-edge teaching strategies which engender the development of professional competencies and skills needed to address identified gaps in the current workforce. For example, the need for more psychologists skilled in the treatment of sleep disorders in Australia. Alex’s leadership in teaching has been recognised and she is an awarded Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. She also supervises several HDR and Honours students and, as a Board-approved supervisor, provides clinical supervision to provisionally registered psychologists.
In Alex’s clinical practice, in addition to treating sleep disorders, she has experience supporting clients of all ages with a broad range of psychological difficulties, with assessment, formulation and treatment informed by the following approaches: CBT, DBT, ACT, Schema Therapy and Family Systems Therapy.
Professional Memberships
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (Psychologist with General Registration and Clinical Endorsement)
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Australasian Sleep Association
- Australian Health Promotion Association
- Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association
- Australian Psychological Society
- Australasian Society of Behavioural Health and Medicine
- Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
- Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour Change, University of Newcastle, Australia
Awards/Fellowships
- 2016: University of Newcastle RHD Completion Scholarship
- 2015: University of Newcastle School of Psychology Excellence Award in the Area of Mentoring Fourth Year Students
- 2012: Australian Post Graduate Award
- 2011: Australian Psychological Society Prize
- 2011: University of Newcastle Basic Science Prize in Psychology
- 2011: University of Newcastle Science and Information Technology Faculty Medal
- 2011: University of Newcastle Deputy Vice Chancellors Honours Scholarship
- 2011: University of Newcastle Faculty of Science and Information Technology Honours Scholarship
- 2010: University of Newcastle Science and Information Technology Commendations List
- 2009: University of Newcastle Faculty of Science and Information Technology Summer Scholarship
Professional Social Media
Research Grants
|
Grant/Project name |
Investigators |
Funding body & A$ value |
Year(s) |
|
The OPTIONS study for parents of babies: Offering ParenTs Intervention OptioNs for baby's Sleep |
Metse, AP |
UniSC SPARK $9,298 |
2024 |
| Development of a co-created, theory-based digital behaviour change intervention to improve cardiovascular risk profiles in young adults |
Gallo L, Metse AP, Wadsworth D, Jona C, Askew C |
UniSC Launch Pilot Grant Scheme $29,970 |
2023 |
|
Incorporating sleep in an investigation of screen time and Lead institution: University of Newcastle. |
Axelsson E, Horne R, Banks S, Horst J, Metse AP, Roche L |
The Waterloo Foundation $123,551 |
2023 |
|
Cardiovascular disease risk in young adults: informing a co- |
Gallo L, Wright H, Wadsworth D, Metse AP, Jona C, Scott J, |
UniSC School of Health Collaborative Research Grant $10,000 |
2023 |
|
Building capacity for innovative cross-disciplinary approaches |
Scott J, Metse AP, Goos M, Schaumberg M, Thomas G, Askew C, |
UniSC GROW Grant Scheme $49,907 |
2022 |
|
Integrating evidence-based behaviour change techniques |
Metse AP, Scott J, Schaumberg M, Wright H, Summers M |
UniSC Launch Partnership Grant Scheme $28,568 |
2022 |
|
Sleeping, sitting, and moving: Associations between 24-hour |
Schaumberg M, Metse AP, Dean M. |
UniSC Launch Pilot Grant Scheme $27,258 |
2022 |
|
Research Seeding Funds Award |
Metse AP |
The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre (TAPPC) $5,000 |
2021 |
|
Publication Grant |
Metse AP |
University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour $4,000 |
2020 |
|
Criminal Property Confiscation Grants Program |
Lewis A, Metse AP, Almeida R, O'Donovan A |
Department of Justice $200,000 |
2019-2020 |
|
Conference Scholarship |
Metse AP |
Murdoch University $2,300 |
2019 |
|
Project Grant |
Metse AP |
University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour $5,000 |
2017 |
|
Travel Grant |
Metse AP |
Hunter Cancer Research Alliance $2,000 |
2016 |
Research areas
- Health psychology
- Health risk behaviours
- Health disparities
- Clinical psychology
- Sleep
- Public health
Teaching areas
- Psychological Disorders
- Applied Psychology
- Health Psychology
Research Publications
-
Metse AP, Eastwood P, Ree M, Lopresti A, Scott JJ, Bowman JA. (2023). Sleep Health of Young Adults in Western Australia and Associations with Physical and Mental Health: A Population-Level Cross-Sectional Study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100070.
-
Russell D, Reynolds A, Appleton S, Adams R, Correia H, Bowman J, Gill T, Metse AP. (2023). Use of insomnia treatments and discussions about sleep with health professionals for Australian adults with mental health conditions. Nature and Science of Sleep. DOI: 10.2147/NSS.S412468
-
Lopresti A, Smith S, Metse AP, Drummond P. (2022). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of an Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) extract (HolixerTM) on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stress. Frontiers in Nutrition. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.965130
-
Metse AP, Fehily C, Mc-Harg T, Wynne O, Lawn S, Wiggers J, Bowman JA. (2021). Self-reported suboptimal sleep and receipt of sleep assessment and treatment among persons with and without a mental health condition in Australia: a cross sectional study. BMC Public Health, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10504-6
-
Metse AP, Bowman JA. (2020). Prevalence of self-reported suboptimal sleep in Australia and receipt of sleep care: results from the 2017 National Social Survey, Sleep Health, 6(1), 100-109. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2019.08.010.
-
Metse AP, Wiggers J, Wye P, Wolfenden L, Freund M, Clancy R,….Bowman J. (2017) Efficacy of a universal smoking cessation intervention initiated in inpatient psychiatry and continued post-discharge: a randomised controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51(4):366-381.
Alex's research work is on the role of health behaviours such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and suboptimal sleep in the interplay between physical and psychological health, and the need and health benefits of routinely addressing such behaviours. Other interests include the role and benefits of novel technologies to support delivery of mental and physical health interventions. Alex has a particular interest in the pivotal role of sleep in promoting health and preventing chronic disease.
In the news
The truth about sleep quality: Why sleep satisfaction counts
20 AugHow you perceive the quality of your sleep might be just as crucial for your physical and mental health as the number of hours you spend sleeping.
1 in 4 young Australians aren’t satisfied with their sleep
19 Jul 2023New research published today sheds light on the sleep health of young Australians, and how it relates to their physical and mental health, with 60 percent saying their sleep hours are irregular.