Research Interests
Clinical Sciences Defence Studies Developmental Psychology and Ageing Health Policy Health Policy & Services History and Philosophy of Medicine Human Factors Industrial and Organisational Psychology Medical Ethics Memory Structures Mental Health Mortality Philosophy of Mind Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Primary Health Care Psychoanalytic Philosophy Psychology Public Health Public Health and Health Services Public Policy Rehabilitation Social and Community Psychology Social PsychologyPaula Dabovich
School of Public Health
College of Health
Adjunct Senior LecturerSchool of Public HealthVisiting FellowCentre of Traumatic Stress StudiesFaculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Paula is currently an Adjunct Senior Lecturer and postdoctoral researcher with the School of Public Health and Visiting Fellow with the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at the University of Adelaide. She holds a strong interest in the historical relationships that exist between medicine, psychiatry, and the military, and the ways these relationships have informed major public health advances over the past 100 years. More specifically, Paula uses psychoanalytic theory to link physical, psychological, and social health phenomenon that cannot be accounted for in more reductionist fields. In addition she explores the relationship between this theory (and its clinical application) to the experience of (and recovery from) trauma and related issues such as moral injury, in the context of organisations such as the military, police, and emergency services. Her work is primarily developmental and highlights the strengths and limitations of dominant (i.e. cognitive behaviourist) and emerging (i.e. existentialist, strengths, and values based) approaches to care and cultural reform.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Adjunct Senior Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 2018 - ongoing | Visiting Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| 2011 - 2012 | Aide de camp to the Governor of NSW Her Excellency Professor Dame Marie Bashir | Department of Defence |
| 2010 - ongoing | Research Officer | Department of Defence |
| 2008 - 2010 | General Service Project Officer - Part time | Department of Defence |
| 2004 - 2010 | Registered Nurse | The Sutherland Hospital and Community Health Service |
| 1995 - 1999 | General Service Officer - Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Department of Defence |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 - 2018 | University of Adelaide, Adelaide | Australia | PhD (Medicine with Commendation) |
| 2000 - 2004 | University of South Australia | Australia | Bachelor of Nursing |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Studies in Counselling and Psychotherapy (including qualitative research) | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Graduate General Service Officer; human resource management and training | Royal Military College of Australia | Australia |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Stannard, J., Finch, C., Dabovich, P., & Fortington, L. (2025). Musculoskeletal Injury in Australian Infantry Personnel: A Cross-sectional Study to Understand Prevention Priorities. Military Medicine, 190(3-4), e682-e689. Scopus1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2021 | Rozek, D. C., Crawford, J. N., LoSavio, S. T., Myers, U. S., Dabovich, P., Warnecke, A., . . . Bryan, C. J. (2021). The protective role of reasons for living on suicidal cognitions for military affiliated individuals with a positive PTSD screen in primary care settings. Journal of Affective Disorders, 292, 424-429. Scopus7 Europe PMC4 |
| 2021 | Dabovich, P. A., Eliott, J., & McFarlane, A. (2021). The meanings soldiers attach to health and their impacts on primary health-care utilization and avoidance in an Australian high-risk combat unit. Armed Forces & Society, 47(2), 1-21. Scopus7 WoS6 |
| 2019 | Dabovich, P. A., Eliott, J. A., & McFarlane, A. C. (2019). Individuate and separate: values and identity re-development during rehabilitation and transition in the Australian Army. Social Science and Medicine, 222, 265-273. Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC4 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Dabovich, P., Elliot, J., Van Hooff, M., & McFarlane, A. (2015). From Well to Wounded and Back Again: High Risk/Highly Cohesive Soldiers Experience of Self During Rehabilitation in the Australian Army. In Journal of Military and Veteran'sHealth Vol. 23 (pp. 35). Hobart. |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | PTSD Centre of Excellence Research Overview Committee | Jamie Larcombe Centre The Road Home | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Veteran Advisory Council | Government of South Australia | Australia |
| 2015 - 2016 | Member | PTSD Centre for Excellence Research Working Party | Government of South Australia | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Veteran Health Advisory Committee | Government of South Australia | Australia |