Ellie Lawrence-Wood

Ellie Lawrence-Wood

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Lawrence-Wood completed her Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours) in 2005 and her Doctor of Philosophy (psychology) in 2011, both at Flinders University. Following 8 years as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at the University of Adelaide, specialising in research into the effects of traumatic stress, she is now an Adjunct Fellow in the Discipline of Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide, and a Research Fellow at Phoenix Australia Centre of Posttraumatic Mental Health. In addition to her research interests, Dr Lawrence-Wood is the current Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee, and a Director on the Board of Management, for the Operation Flinders Foundation, a South Australian based charitable organisation that runs a world leading wilderness adventure program for young people at risk. In these roles she is responsible for the development and oversight of clinical aspects of this program, contributes to the development and delivery of staff and volunteer training, and is involved directly in organisation management.

Dr Lawrence-Wood has had substantial involvement in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Prospective Study, a large-scale project focusing on the impacts of deployment to the MEAO on the health of ADF personnel, and was the most recent Study Manager for this project. She was the project lead for the follow-up to this study: The Impact of Combat Study (Transition & Wellbeing Research Programme). She was also responsible for the Mothers in the MEAO project, a follow-up to the Military Health outcomes program (MilHOP) Health Studies, aimed at understanding the specific health and psychosocial wellbeing impacts of deployment, for Australian mothers who have deployed to the MEAO. This research forms part of a broader area of research interest regarding the health and wellbeing of women and families in the military and other services.

Dr Lawrence-Wood has varied research experience within a number of different areas, including the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at The University of Adelaide (Impacts of military service on health and wellbeing of ADF personnel; Effects of trauma exposure, and development of PTSD), the School of Psychology at Flinders University (Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging; Social psychology of justice), Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit (chronic condition self-management; allied health curriculum), externally in her role as Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee for the Operation Flinders Foundation, and through writing collaborations with various colleagues (psychological outcomes for staff; outcomes of health behaviours; psychological and social health among female military personnel). Her research interests are similarly broad, though is particularly interested in the role of the social context in terms of how people think and behave, and the nexus between mental and physical health.

I am a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at The University of Adelaide and the Study Manager for the Impact of Combat Study (Transition & Wellbeing Research Programme). I am particularly interested in the role of social context in terms of how people think and behave, and the nexus between mental and physical health. I have a strong interest in the physical and immunological impacts of deployment and combat exposure, and have developed collaborations in this area within The University of Adelaide, as well as other institutions locally, nationally and internationally.



 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Research Fellow University of Melbourne
    2020 - ongoing Adjunct Fellow University of Adelaide
    2013 - 2014 Research Associate Flinders University, Adelaide
    2011 - 2019 Senior Research Fellow The University of Adelaide
    2008 - 2008 Interviewer Flinders University, Adelaide
    2006 - 2007 Research Assistant Flinders University, Adelaide
    2005 - 2011 Research Assistant Flinders University, Adelaide

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2006 - 2011 Flinders University, Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine)
    2002 - 2005 Flinders University, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours)

Military Repatriation and Compensation Commission Applied Research Program 2013/2014

Project: Mothers in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO:  The health impacts of maternal deployment to an area of operations.

Neuhaus, S.J., Lawrence-Wood, E., Hodson, S. Crompvoets, S., McFarlane, A. $162,122

The Repat Foundation Research Grant 2013/2014

Project:  Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO).

Van Hooff M., Lawrence-Wood E., Searle A. $25,000

The Repat Foundation Research Grant 2014/2015

Project: A detailed investigation of psychological disorder and symptoms among contemporary female Australian Defence Force members

Lawrence-Wood, E., Van Hooff, M., Searle, A., Neuhaus, S.J., McFarlane, A., Hodson, S. $25,000

Teaching and Administration

Flinders University

February 2011- Oct 2011              

Co-Supervisor, Psychology Honours Project

K. Pointon: “Genuine self-forgiveness as a possible mechanism in an intervention aimed at youth at risk of anti-social behaviour”

June 2006 – July 2011                     

Topic Administrator and Tutor, Preparation for Teaching Secondary psychology

* Introduction to psychology

* Introduction to research design

* Introduction to statistical methods

July - December 2007, 2008, 2009

Tutor, Psychology of Emotions

* The aetiology of emotions

* Personality and social explanations for behaviour

* Theory and research in personality and social psychology

I have written and presented lectures, graded essays, and formulated exam questions for this topic.

July - December  2009

Tutor, Learning and Cognition

* Writing research reports on psychology

* The link between the brain and behaviour

* Theory and research in cognitive and physiological psychology

I also have experience grading tutorial reports for this topic.

Jan – June 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Tutor, Personality and Social Psychology

* The development of personality

* Personality and social explanations for behaviour

* Theory and research in personality and social psychology

I also have experience grading essays and exams for this topic. 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 Co-Supervisor Longitudinal Examination of Lethal and New-Lethal Suicidal Behaviour in Serving and Ex-Serving Australian Defence Force Personnel Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Nicole Louise Sadler

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Evaluation of Clinician Versus Peer-Counsellor Delivered Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) Program for Australian Defence Force Members, Veterans and First Responder Personnel Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Jonathan Paul Lane
    2019 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The impacts of deployment related exposures on respiratory health of Australian Defence Force members Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Mrs Honey Ighani
    2017 - 2024 Co-Supervisor The Effect of Cumulative Trauma on Female First Responders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Helen Mary Frazer
    2014 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Hyperarousal: the Critical Determinant of Post-Trauma Sequelae Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jason Blunt
    2014 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Identifying Risk and Resilience in High Risk Groups: Can inflammatory markers predict mental health outcomes? Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Neanne Edwina Bennett

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2013 - ongoing Director Operation Flinders Foundation - Australia

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2014 - ongoing Chair Operation Flinders Foundation Clinical Advisory Committee - Australia
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