KATE GUNN
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Her research has resulted in improved scientific understanding of the health and mental health needs of rural communities, and in the delivery of previously unavailable, consumer-driven support services. For example, Kate's PhD research led to the development of a supportive care website for rural South Australians, www.countrycancersupport.com.au. In 2013 she was named the South Australian Young Achiever of the Year for this work.
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More recently, Kate led the development of a new YouTube channel- Rural Cancer Stories- that features the stories of country cancer patients, survivors and their carers. It is designed to provide online peer support and evidence-based advice to rural Australians who can’t access a face-to-face cancer support group, and/or who feel generic supportive care materials don’t fully recognize the unique challenges rural people face. To learn more visit www.bit.ly/ruralcancerstories
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Kate has also recently led the development of www.ifarmwell.com.au which is an online, farmer and ACT-informed intervention, designed to help Australian farmers better cope with things beyond their control (e.g. the weather).
In addition to her research role, Kate continues to work one day per week as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, assisting children, adolescents and adults with a broad range of mental health issues.
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Dr Kate Gunn (previously Fennell) works as a Research Fellow in the University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute. She carries out both qualitative and quantitative research in psycho-oncology, rural health and rural mental health and brings to this role experience from working as a Clinical Psychologist, as well as from growing up on a farm in an isolated rural community.
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Kate's main research interests include understanding and addressing the psychosocial needs of rural people affected by cancer, rural help-seeking behaviour and the development, delivery and evaluation of web and telephone-based cancer support interventions. She is also interested in farmers' health and mental health, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the application of behaviour change theory and the use of participatory action research methods.Kate enjoys the process of combining what research shows is likely to help people to change their behavior and improve their wellbeing, with rural people’s beliefs and preferences, so that new strategies are likely to work, be meaningful and be adopted in the real world.
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