Project name: Empowering Pacific adolescents to use digital technology for their health.
Our experts
Our collaborators
- University of New Caledonia (Associate Professor Olivier Galy)
- University of Auckland, Liggins Institute (Dr Jacquie Bay)
- University of Melbourne (Dr Viliamu Iese)
- National University in Vanuatu (Professor Pascal Michon)
- Pacific Community (https://www.spc.int/)
- Ministry of Education (Vanuatu), Mr Pierre Metsan
- Secondary schools
- Alira Health
Summary of project
Our research aims to empower adolescents in Australia and in the Pacific Islands to effectively use digital technologies for their health and wellbeing.
The rise of digital technologies, social media, and artificial intelligence provides opportunities to develop and deliver new interventions promoting healthy lifestyles. We are specifically interested in diets and physical activity behaviours. These are particularly relevant in the context of the obesity epidemic happening in the region. Ensuring the formation of healthy behaviours in adolescents is essential for their adult behaviours and non-communicable disease prevention. Our work also explores how digital health literacy can unlock the potential of digital technology and online health information for this population.
This research, using collaborative participation and co-design with adolescents fills the lack of research involving Pacific Island adolescents in obesity and non-communicable disease prevention.
We work in partnership with schools and communities to better understand challenges faced by young people when it comes to sustaining health lifestyles. We use research participation approaches to explore challenges and potential solutions.
Funding
2024-2026
RERIPA European Scheme for Pacific countries. Climate change and the futures of Coastal communities: transformation of society, livelihoods and lifestyle in the South Pacific. AU$580,000.
2022-2024
Addressing health and climate challenges in Australia and the Pacific region through partnerships with schools and co-design with young people. USYD SDGs grant AU$149,000.
2022-2025
Pacific Fund. Understanding lifestyle behaviours in the Pacific using human-centred artificial intelligence from activity sensors and nutrition digital tools. AU$92,000.
2020-2025
European H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019. Project lead: University of New Caledonia – Australia scientific lead: C Caillaud. Project 873185 — FALAH: Family Farming, Lifestyle and Health in the Pacific. AU$2,000,000