Jessica Judd

Research Interests

Epidemiology Inequality studies Mental Health Public Health Public Health and Health Services

Mrs Jessica Judd

NHMRC Grant-Funded Researcher (A)

School of Public Health

College of Health

BetterStart Group

Jessica Judd is a postdoctoral researcher within the BetterStart Group in the School of Public Health. She is currently working on several grant-funded projects within BetterStart Group. Her research focusses on child social, health and developmental outcomes. Jess is also working on several cross-jurisdictional projects on child health and families with multiple and complex needs.

Jess completed her PhD in 2025, graduating with a Dean's Commendation and Doctoral Research Medal. She was supervised by A/Prof Catherine Chittleborough, A/Prof Rhiannon Pilkington, A/Prof Catia Malvaso and Prof John Lynch. Her PhD investigated out-of-home care contact and mental health sequelae.

Research Interests

  • Child protection system and out-of-home care
  • Child and adolescent mental health
  • Childhood health and development
  • Social inequalities and disadvantage
  • Families with multiple and complex needs

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing Grant-Funded Researcher University of Adelaide
2022 - 2024 Intern Department for Child Protection
2022 - 2023 Research Associate University of Adelaide
2021 - ongoing PhD Candidate University of Adelaide
2019 - 2020 Research Assistant University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2025 Recognition Deans Commendation The University of Adelaide Australia -
2025 Award Doctoral Research Medal The University of Adelaide Australia -
2024 Scholarship Neville Derrington Hicks PhD in Public Health Policy University of Adelaide Australia -
2023 Scholarship Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant Healthy Development Adelaide Australia -
2021 Scholarship HDA and Ch7 Children's Research Foundation PhD Excellence Award Healthy Development Adelaide Australia -
2021 Scholarship Research Training Program Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia -
2020 Award Introduction to Epidemiology Dux University of Adelaide Australia -
2020 Scholarship Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Honours Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia -
2020 Award Public Health Honours Dux University of Adelaide Australia -

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Date Institution name Country Title
2021 - 2025 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
2020 - 2020 University of Adelaide Australia Honours Degree of Bachelor of Health and Medical Science
2017 - 2019 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Advanced)

Date Title Institution name Country
— Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid Australia -

Year Citation
2024 Judd, J., Pilkington, R. M., Malvaso, C., Procter, A. M., Montgomerie, A., Anderson, J. J., . . . Chittleborough, C. R. (2024). Mental health-related hospitalisations of adolescents and their contact with child protection services to age 11 years, South Australia: a whole-of-population descriptive study. Medical Journal of Australia, 221(10), 540-545.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2

Year Citation
2026 Judd, J., Pilkington, R., Malvaso, C., McEvoy, P., O'Rielly, J., Petersen, J., . . . Chittleborough, C. (2026). Mental health and related circumstances and supports for children and young people in out-of-home care with complex needs: A case file review.
DOI
2023 Judd, J., Pilkington, R., Malvaso, C., Procter, A., Montgomerie, A., Anderson, J., . . . Chittleborough, C. (2023). Mental health-related hospitalisations among adolescents with previous child protection contact from birth to age 11.
DOI
Year Role Course
2021 - 2022 Workshop Facilitator Create. Communicate. Connect with Health and Medical Sciences
2020 - 2023 Tutor Health and Illness in Populations

 

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2025 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Representations of the child protective system in the Australian media University of Adelaide - Honours Part Time Emma Jones

Date Role Board name Institution name Country
2018 - 2019 Representative School of Public Health Programs Board University of Adelaide Australia

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2019 - ongoing Member Public Health Association Australia South Australian Branch Executive Committee Public Health Association of Australia Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2021 - ongoing Member Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) Australia
2018 - ongoing Member Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) Australia

Date Engagement Type Partner Name
2022 - ongoing Collaboration Department for Child Protection

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