Dr Kathina Ali is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and a registered Clinical Psychologist. She co-leads to Be Well Lab, a collaborative team of researchers and clinicians from the University of the Sunshine Coast and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
The Be Well Lab, in partnership with SAHMRI’s Be Well Co, a commercial spinout company allowing for large-scale reach and impact, develops innovative and scientifically validated tools to help people understand, monitor and build mental health and wellbeing. In 2022, the Be Well Lab was recognised as the Innovator of the Year finalist for the 2022 SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards.
Prior to joining the University of the Sunshine Coast, Kathina worked at Flinders University, the Australian National University – where she completed a PhD (Clinical Psychology) – the University of Minho (Portugal), and the University of Heidelberg (Germany).
Kathina has extensive clinical experience and a passion to make a meaningful change in the life of people. For over 10 years, she has worked clinically in the area of eating disorders, most recently at a private practice providing treatment services to individuals experiencing eating disorders. She is also a certified Master Trainer for the Be Well Plan, a mental health and wellbeing intervention which helps individuals to build strong levels of mental health through evidence-based activities.
Professional membership
- Australian Psychological Society (APS)
- APS College of Clinical Psychologists
- Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Centre (AEDRTC)
- National Network Advisory Group
- Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)
- National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC)
- Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR)
Awards and fellowships
- 2022 Teaching Excellence Award, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
- 2022 Innovation in Learning and Teaching Team Award, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
- 2022 Finalist SA Science Excellence and Innovation Award (Innovation Team of the Year: Be Well Lab), South Australian Department for Industry, Innovation and Science (Innovator of the Year)
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2021 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers, Flinders University
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2021 Award for Excellent PhD Thesis in Psychology (APS); and ePsychology Interest Group Student Research Prize (APS), nominated ANU Candidate
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2021 Virtual ANZAED Autumn Workshop Series Early Career Scholarship
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2020 One of 10 selected 3 Minute Thesis Finalists (ANU)
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2018 Young Investigator Travel Scholarship, Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)
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2017 Travel Grant-in-Aid Award, Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) Conference, Canberra
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2017 Selected ANU candidate, Global Young Scientist Summit (GYSS), Singapore
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2016 Best 3 Minute Thesis Presentation, Research School of Population Health Student Conference, ANU
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2015 Grace Groom Memorial Scholarship, Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU
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2014 Best Student Poster Presentation, Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) Conference, Adelaide
Kathina has a specific research and clinical interest in eating disorders. She is passionate about breaking down barriers towards help-seeking, and to improve knowledge about eating disorders. In her research she has developed and evaluated innovative, digital interventions (e.g., internet, podcast) to facilitate help-seeking and prevent eating disorders.
She is also interested in investigating and improving the mental health and wellbeing of other vulnerable groups and the general public. Kathina has attracted national and international grant funding to support her research and has published widely in high impact journals.
Research grants
|
Grant/project name |
Investigators |
Funding body and AUD$ value |
|
The Mental Health Literacy Project |
Iasiello, M., Van Agteren, J., Ali, K., Newburry, M., Fassnacht, D. B. |
Mental Health Council of Tasmania ($150,000) |
|
Validation of Disaster Relief Australia’s Program to Support Veterans and First Responders to Grow Beyond Their Service |
Bougesis, A., Miller, R., van Agteren, J., Iasiello, M., Ali, K., Fassnacht, D. B. |
Movember ($294,983) |
|
Evaluating an online intervention for individuals on the waitlist for eating disorder treatment: a pilot study |
Ali, K |
Flinders University Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers ($10,000) |
|
Supporting parents with children who have obsessive-compulsive disorder |
Fassnacht, D. B, Ali. K. & Kyrios, M. |
Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation ($22,500) |
|
Evaluation of the Transitioning Members Case Management Program |
Kyrios, M., Katsikitis, M. Wadham, B., Fassnacht, D. B., van Agteren, J., Ali, K., Iasiello, M. |
Department of Veteran Affairs ($99,869) |
|
Understanding and improving the mental health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic |
Fassnacht, D. B., Ali. K., Ward, P. & Kyrios, M. |
Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation /Flinders University Órama Institute ($30,000) |
|
Effectiveness of a wellbeing intervention for frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomised controlled study |
Fassnacht, D. B., Ali, K., Van Agteren, J., Iasiello, M., Furber, G., Chew, D. & Kyrios, M. |
Flinders University (COVID-19 grant, $20,000) |
|
Refining the measurement and diagnostic criteria of pathological buying |
Kyrios, M., Müller, A., Fassnacht, D. B., Trotzke, P., Ali, K., Laskowski, N. & Maclean. B. |
Universities Australia (Australia-Germany joint research cooperation scheme, $25,000) |
|
Development of an online/mobile intervention to facilitate treatment seeking for eating disorders |
Fassnacht, D. B., Kyrios, M. & Ali, K. |
Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research / John James Foundation ($20,000) |
|
Harnessing technology to reduce the burden of eating disorders |
Griffiths, K., Bauer, S., Ali, K., Farrer, L., Fassnacht, D. B. & Moessner, M. |
Universities Australia (Australia-Germany joint research cooperation scheme, $25,000) |
Research areas
- eating disorders
- mental health
- wellbeing
- digital interventions
Teaching areas
- PSY754 Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology
- PSY750 Ethical Professional Practice of Psychology
Program coordinator
Dr Kathina Ali is a clinical psychologist with passion to make a meaningful change with her research and her clinical work. She has expertise in investigating mental health and wellbeing and eating disorders specifically. She has developed and evaluated interventions to improve mental health and prevent mental illness.
In the news
Mind over matter: UniSC experts for Qld Mental Health Week
2 OctHow are UniSC researchers working to alleviate the mental health issues affecting Australians in 2024? With Queensland Mental Health Week from 5-13 October, experts are available for interviews on a range of topics.