Catherine Chittleborough

Associate Professor Catherine Chittleborough

Associate Prof/Reader

School of Public Health

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


Catherine Chittleborough is an epidemiologist in BetterStart Health and Development Research, and Deputy Head, School of Public Health. She returned to the University of Adelaide in 2011 following a decade with SA Health and a two-year postdoctoral position at the University of Bristol. Prior to that Cathy was an epidemiologist with SA Health for a decade, where her work focused on population health surveillance and chronic disease epidemiology. Her current research focuses on how we can reduce inequalities in, and improve overall population levels of, child health and development, and also whether we can identify children who are likely to have poor development, for better targeting of family support programs. She has an interest in applying causal epidemiological techniques to these questions and making use of population data from longitudinal cohorts and data linkage studies. She also teaches undergraduate public health and epidemiology.

Catherine Chittleborough is an epidemiologist in BetterStart Health and Development Research, and Deputy Head, School of Public Health. She returned to the University of Adelaide in 2011 following a decade with SA Health and a two-year postdoctoral position at the University of Bristol. Prior to that Cathy was an epidemiologist with SA Health for a decade, where her work focused on population health surveillance and chronic disease epidemiology. Her current research focuses on how we can reduce inequalities in, and improve overall population levels of, child health and development, and also whether we can identify children who are likely to have poor development, for better targeting of family support programs. She has an interest in applying causal epidemiological techniques to these questions and making use of population data from longitudinal cohorts and data linkage studies. She also teaches undergraduate public health and epidemiology.

BetterStart Health and Development Research Student Projects

For information on available projects please view the Honours and Higher Degree by Research Opportunities booklet.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide
    2015 - 2021 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2013 - 2014 Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2011 - 2012 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide
    2009 - 2011 Research Associate University of Bristol
    1998 - 2009 Epidemiologist SA Health
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2020 Award School of Public Health - 2020 Excellence in Leadership Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2019 Award School of Public Health - 2018 Undergraduate Teacher of the Year University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Teaching Award School of Public Health Award - 2017 Undergraduate Teacher of the Year University of Adelaide Australia -
    2017 Recognition Finalist | SA Science Excellence Award | Excellence in Research Collaboration | BetterStart Research Group Department for Industry and Skills Australia -
    2016 Teaching Award School of Public Health Award - 2016 Undergraduate Teacher of the Year University of Adelaide Australia -
    2015 Teaching Award School of Public Health Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching University of Adelaide Australia -
    2014 Research Award School of Population Health Mid-Career Researcher Best Publication University of Adelaide Australia -
    2012 Invitation Health Sciences Graduation Ceremony Address University of Adelaide Australia -
    2011 Invitation Invited plenary speaker UK National Child Health Conference & Exhibition United Kingdom -
    2008 Research Award Kerry Kirke Student Award Public Health Association of Australia, South Australian Branch Australia -
    2007 Invitation Invited plenary speaker Australian Institute of Environmental Health 29th State Conference Australia -
    1998 Scholarship Student Vacation Scholarship Anti-Cancer Foundation of South Australia Australia -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2012 - 2013 University of Adelaide Australia Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education)
    2003 - 2009 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    1999 - 2000 University of Adelaide Australia Graduate Diploma in Public Health
    1993 - 1997 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)
  • Research Interests

Competitive Research Funding

International Competitive Schemes

Date Project/No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2011-2015 Active For Life Year 5: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a primary school-based intervention to increase levels of physical activity, decrease sedentary behaviour and improve diet. 09/3005/04 Lawlor D, Kipping R, Jago R, Peters T, Campbell R, Noble S, Chittleborough C, Mytton J. UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research Programme GBP 1,464,457

National Competitive Schemes

Date Project/No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2016-2020 EMPOWER: Health Systems, Adversity and Child Well Being. 1099422 Lynch J, Sawyer M, Mol B, Roberts C, Dekker G, Stocks N, Schurer S, Gurrin L, Dwyer N, Bowering K. (AIs: Jeffs D, Dandie L, Frank O, Mittinty M, Law C, Cobb-Clark D, Smithers L, Chittleborough C) NHMRC AUD 2,497,572
2013-2016 Child health and development: a South Australian data linkage study. 1056888 Lynch J, Chittleborough C, Smithers L, Sawyer M, Brinkman S, Mittinty M, Sawyer A, Bowering K. NHMRC AUD 453,131
2006 Ensuring equitable access to the South Australian Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Recall Register for Vietnamese women Chittleborough C, Phillips P, Hague W, Willson T, Cirocco P, Baldock K, Taylor A. Australian Diabetes Society – Servier Laboratories AUD 4,872
2005 Modelling reduction of coronary heart disease risk among people with diabetes Phillips P, Taylor A, Chittleborough C, Baldock K, Grant J. Australian Diabetes Society – Servier Laboratories AUD 16,952
2000 Educational needs of people with newly diagnosed and established diabetes Phillips P, Wilson D, Cheek J, Taylor A, Chittleborough C. Diabetes Australia Research Trust AUD 22,900

State Competitive and Intramural Schemes

Date Project/No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2021-2022 Developing capacity to investigate the role of poverty in child maltreatment Pilkington R, Chittleborough C, Malvaso C, Lynch J Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Strategic Research Support Scheme AUD 88,565
2021 Family violence menu of evidence  Chittleborough C, Gialamas A, Grant J, Pilkington R, Lynch J Family Safety Victoria AUD 78,483
2019-2021 Menu

Build for Children

and Families
Lynch J, Pilkington R, Chittleborough C, Gialamas A,

Smithers L, Grant J, Haag D.
Victorian

Department of

Health and Human

Services
AUD 488,000
2020-2021 Young parents and child protection: the intergenerational story Chittleborough C, Pilkington R, Montgomerie A, Grant J, Beall J, Lynch J. Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation AUD 96,571

2019-2020

Thriving in adversity: disadvantaged children performing well in school Chittleborough C, Schuch H, Pilkington R, Mittinty M, Lynch J. Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation AUD 72,164
2017-2018 Child maltreatment and school outcomes Pilkington R, Lynch J, Chittleborough C, Mittinty M, Guthridge S, Petersen J. Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation AUD 69,574
2016-2019 The Early Childhood Data Project, a Government-Academic partnership Lynch J, Pilkington R, Gialamas A, Chittleborough C. The South Australian Department for the Premier and Cabinet AUD 998,989
2007–2009 Assessment of the Determinants and Epidemiology of Psychological Distress (ADEPD) Study Chittleborough C, Winefield H, Taylor A, Gill T, Spoehr J, Baum F, Hiller J, McDermott R, Hugo G, Goldney R, Tucker G. South Australian Department of Health Strategic Health Research Program AUD 285,292
2001-2003 Effective targeting of major chronic disease groups Taylor A, Ruffin R, Phillips P, Wilson D, Cheek J, Dal Grande E, Chittleborough C. Human Services Research & Innovation Program (Large Projects) AUD 341,450
Current

Chair, School of Public Health Programs Board

PUB HLTH 1001 Health and Illness in Populations: Coordinator (Semester 1)

MEDIC ST 1501 Foundations of Medicine: Health & Society domain content coordinator

MBBS Level 2: Guest lecturer

Previous

University of Adelaide

Public Health Major Convenor: Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences Advanced 2017-2022 ​​​

HLTH SC 2105 Reflect. Research. Resolve Questions in Health: Module coordinator 2017

HLTH SC 3103 Infant, child and adolescent health: Co-coordinator 2018-2021

PUB HLTH 1001 Public Health IA: Course coordinator 2014-2016; Practical facilitator 2012-2015

PUB HLTH 1002 Public Health IB: Practical facilitator 2012-2016

PUB HLTH 2000 Public Health Inquiry: Module coordinator 2007

PUB HLTH 2005 Essentials of Epidemiology: Module coordinator 2013-2016

PUB HLTH 2200 Social Foundations of Health: Module coordinator 2013

PUB HLTH 3501 Epidemiology in Action: Guest lecturer 2013-2014

PUB HLTH 3506 Public Health Theory and Practice: Guest lecturer 2006, 2015-2017

PUB HLTH 7090 Global Public Health: Guest lecturer 2018-2020

MBBS Level 2: Guest lecturer 2014-2016

University of Bristol

Society, Health and Medicine, Level 1 medicine undergraduates: Tutor 2009-2011

Flinders University of South Australia

Environmental Health I: Invited guest lecturer 2008

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Principal Supervisor Moving towards a fairer Australia: disentangling multidimensional disadvantage and child protection contact Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Anna Anne Kalamkarian
    2021 Principal Supervisor Investigating out-of-home care contact and mental health sequelae using linked whole-of-population data Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jessica Renee Judd
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The incidence, risk factors and implications of type 1 diabetes: whole-of-population linked-data study of children in South Australia born from 1999-2013 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Mumtaz Begum
    2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Children's Temperament and Parenting Practices in the First Five Years of Life and Cognitive, Academic and Adiposity Outcomes in Later Childhood and Adolescence Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Shiau Yun Chong
    2012 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Parental Body Shape in Mid-life and its Association with Adult Offspring Obesity, Body Shape and Self-perception of Weight Status Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Janet Grant
    2012 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Surveillance of Health Status and Health Risk: The Future of Data Collection Using the Telephone in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Eleonora Dal Grande
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Health professional views about helping women to stop smoking during pregnancy The University of Adelaide Honours Public Health Honours Full Time Anna Kalamkarian
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Does frequency of antenatal care visits in SA vary according to sociodemographic factors? The University of Adelaide Master of Public Health Master Part Time Shae Pryke
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Child protection outcomes among children notified before birth The University of Adelaide Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy Master Full Time Laura Gough
    2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Vaccine-preventable hospitalisations in children The University of Adelaide Master of Public Health Master Full Time Yi Wang
    2017 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Potentially preventable hospitalisations in children The University of Adelaide Honours Public Health Honours Full Time Alexandra Procter
    2013 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Physical inactivity and incidence of obesity among South Australian adults The University of Adelaide Master of Public Health Master Part Time Alicia Montgomerie
    2012 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Parental influence on the association between temperament and IQ The University of Adelaide Master of Public Health Master Full Time Shiau Yun Chong
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2019 - 2020 Member World Congress of Epidemiology 2020 Scientific Committee Australasian Epidemiological Association Australia
    2017 - ongoing Member School of Public Health Programs Board University of Adelaide Australia
    2016 - 2016 Member Project Grant Review Panel National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2016 - 2017 Member Faculty of Health Sciences Learning Quality and Innovation Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2016 - 2016 Chair School of Public Health Programs Board University of Adelaide Australia
    2016 - 2016 Member Faculty of Health Sciences L&T Transition Steering Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2016 - ongoing Member Health Sciences Program Board University of Adelaide Australia
    2016 - 2016 Member School of Public Health Programs Board University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member World Congress of Epidemiology 2020 Scientific Committee Australasian Epidemiological Association Australia
    2015 - 2015 Member Project Grant Review Panel, Assistant Chair National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2015 - 2015 Chair School of Public Health Learning & Teaching Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - 2015 Member Faculty of Health Sciences Learning & Teaching Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - 2015 Member Bachelor of Health Sciences Reimagining Working Group University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - 2015 Member Bachelor of Health Sciences Population Health Reimagining Working Group University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - 2015 Member Bachelor of Health Sciences Management Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member Wardliparingga Aboriginal Research Unit, Landscape Technical Reference Group South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Australia
    2014 - 2015 Member School of Population Health Program Management Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2014 - 2014 Member First Year Experience Working Group University of Adelaide Australia
    2012 - 2014 Member Developing a needs-based simulation model for GP workforce Reference Group University of Adelaide Australia
    2007 - 2008 Member Public Health Association of Australia (SA Branch) Executive Committee Public Health Association of Australia Australia
    2006 - 2008 Representative Discipline of Public Health Committee, Postgraduate representative University of Adelaide Australia
    2006 - 2006 Member Local Organising Committee, International Society for Equity in Health Conference International Society for Equity in Health Australia
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2018 - ongoing Member Australian Real-World Data Network (RADiANT) Australia
    2018 - ongoing Member Indigenous Working Group, World Federation of Public Health Associations Australia
    2016 - ongoing Member International Network for Research on Inequalities in Child Health -
    2014 - ongoing Member Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) network -
    2012 - ongoing Member Healthy Development Adelaide -
    2008 - ongoing Member International Epidemiological Association -
    2004 - ongoing Member Australasian Epidemiological Association -
    1998 - ongoing Member Public Health Association of Australia Australia
  • Community Engagement

    Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
    2018 - ongoing Invited Panel Member, Student Careers Night Scientific Community Engagement Public Health Association of Australia, SA Branch Australia
    2016 - ongoing Discussion facilitator, Principals Forum to consider STEM Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
    2014 - ongoing Panel member, Bachelor of Health Sciences Student-Industry Networking Event Scientific Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
    2013 - ongoing Co-chair of parallel oral presentation session Scientific Community Engagement European Congress of Epidemiology Denmark
    2011 - ongoing Engaging the public about science workshop Public Community Engagement University of Bristol United Kingdom
  • Offices Held

    Date Office Name Institution Country
    2016 - ongoing Public Health Major Convenor, Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences & Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced) University of Adelaide Australia
    2014 - 2015 Population Health Major Convenor, Bachelor of Health Sciences University of Adelaide Australia
  • Presentation

    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2014 - ongoing Invited presentation Mentoring Program introductory evening Public Health Association of Australia, SA Branch Australia
    2012 - ongoing Student attrition in Bachelor of Health Sciences Bachelor of Health Sciences Management Committee University of Adelaide Australia
  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice

    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2019 - 2019 Ideas Grants Panel Member Grant Assessment National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2018 - ongoing Health Improvement, Protection & Services Research Grants Grant Assessment Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government United Kingdom
    2018 - ongoing Abstracts: SRCD Biennial Meeting Conference Review Society for Research in Child Development United States
    2018 - ongoing Chapter review: Fleming ML, Parker E. (eds) Introduction to Public Health Peer Review Elsevier -
    2018 - ongoing Chapter review: Liamputtong P. (ed.) “Public Health” Peer Review Cambridge University Press -
    2017 - ongoing Research grants on interventions that contribute to the prevention and reduction of health inequalities Grant Assessment Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) Netherlands
    2017 - ongoing Abstracts: Australasian Epidemiological Association Annual Scientific Meetn Conference Review Australasian Epidemiological Association Australia
    2017 - ongoing Chapter review: Fleming ML, Parker E. (eds) Introduction to Public Health Peer Review Elsevier -
    2017 - ongoing Research grants, Humanities, Social Sciences Panel Grant Assessment Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Hong Kong
    2016 - 2016 Project Grants Panel Member Grant Assessment National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2015 - 2015 Assistant Chair Project Grants Panel Grant Assessment National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
    2015 - ongoing Chapter review: Liamputtong P. (ed.) “Public Health” Peer Review Cambridge University Press -
    2015 - ongoing Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services and Health of the Public Research Grant Assessment Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government United Kingdom
    2014 - 2014 Public Health Research Programme Final Report Submission Grant Assessment National Institute of Health Research United Kingdom
    2014 - ongoing Joint Global Health Trials Grant Assessment Medial Research Council United Kingdom
    2012 - ongoing Project grants Grant Assessment National Health and Medical Research Council Australia

Connect With Me
External Profiles

Other Links