Research Interests
Public HealthDr Sophie Pointer
Research Fellow
Office of Health
College of Health
Dr Sophie Pointer is a Research Fellow in the Synthesis Science Division at JBI, University of Adelaide. She is an experienced public health researcher and evidence synthesis practitioner with more than 20 years of experience working across university, government and research-sector environments.
Sophie contributes to the conduct, advancement and dissemination of evidence synthesis methods through her work at JBI. She is a member of the JBI Textual Evidence Methodology Group, contributes to the ongoing development and enhancement of JBI SUMARI, and teaches in JBI's Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program and Scoping Review Workshop. She is committed to supporting researchers and health professionals in applying rigorous evidence synthesis methods to inform healthcare decision-making.Before joining JBI, Sophie held senior research positions at Monash and Flinders Universities, where she led research and evidence review programs focused on injury prevention, occupational health, compensation systems and public health. Her work has involved the analysis of large population-based datasets, evidence synthesis, knowledge translation and collaboration with government, industry and healthcare stakeholders.
Sophie's research interests include evidence synthesis methodology, textual evidence synthesis, evidence-based healthcare, public and patient involvement in research, knowledge translation, injury epidemiology, occupational health, compensable injury and persistent pain. She is particularly interested in ensuring that research evidence is accessible, meaningful and useful for policy makers, clinicians, consumers and health service organisations.
Dr Sophie Pointer is a Research Fellow in the Synthesis Science Division at JBI, University of Adelaide. She is an experienced public health researcher and evidence synthesis practitioner with more than 20 years of experience working across university, government and research-sector environments.
Sophie contributes to the conduct, advancement and dissemination of evidence synthesis methods through her work at JBI. She is a member of the JBI Textual Evidence Methodology Group, contributes to the ongoing development and enhancement of JBI SUMARI, and teaches in JBI's Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program and Scoping Review Workshop. She is committed to supporting researchers and health professionals in applying rigorous evidence synthesis methods to inform healthcare decision-making.
Before joining JBI, Sophie held senior research positions at Monash and Flinders Universities, where she led research and evidence review programs focused on injury prevention, occupational health, compensation systems and public health. Her work has involved the analysis of large population-based datasets, evidence synthesis, knowledge translation and collaboration with government, industry and healthcare stakeholders.
Sophie's research interests include evidence synthesis methodology, textual evidence synthesis, evidence-based healthcare, public and patient involvement in research, knowledge translation, injury epidemiology, occupational health, compensable injury and persistent pain. She is particularly interested in ensuring that research evidence is accessible, meaningful and useful for policy makers, clinicians, consumers and health service organisations.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Research Fellow | Adelaide University |
| 2022 - 2025 | Senior Research Fellow | Monash University |
| 2022 - ongoing | Adjunct Senior Research Fellow | Flinders University |
| 2021 - 2022 | Senior Research Fellow | Flinders University |
| 2006 - 2021 | Senior Research Fellow | Flinders University |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Duraisingam, V., McEntee, A., Nicholas, R., Pointer, S., & Bowden, J. (2023). Alcohol and Other Drug Use: A Focus on Employed Australians. |
| 2023 | McEntee, A., Pointer, S., Pincombe, A., Nicholas, R., & Bowden, J. (2023). Alcohol and Other Drug Use: A Focus on Employed Australians. |
| 2019 | Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Avefua, S. (2019). Trends in hospitalised injury due to falls in older people, 2007–08 to 2016–17. |
| 2019 | Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Avefua, S. (2019). Hospitalised injury among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2011–12 to 2015–16. |
| 2019 | Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Avefua, S. (2019). Hospitalised injury and socioeconomic influence in Australia 2015–16. |
| 2019 | Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Avefua, S. (2019). Trends in hospitalised injury, Australia 2007–08 to 2016–17. |
| 2019 | Kreisfeld, R., Harrison, J., Pointer, S., & Avefua, S. (2019). Pedal cyclist injury deaths and hospitalisations 1999–00 to 2015–16. |
| 2019 | McKenna, K., Tovell, A., Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Avefua, S. (2019). Mobility scooter-related injuries and deaths. |
| 2018 | McKenna, K., & Pointer, S. (2018). Hospitalised assault injuries among men and boys. |
| 2018 | Tovell, A., McKenna, K., Harrison, J., & Pointer, S. (2018). Electrical injuries: hospitalisations and deaths 2014–15 and 2015–16. |
| 2018 | Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Avefua, S. (2018). Trends in hospitalised injury, Australia 1999–00 to 2014–15. |
| 2018 | Pointer, S. (2018). Trends in hospitalised injury due to falls in older people 2002–03 to 2014–15. |
| 2017 | Pointer, S. (2017). Hospitalised assault injuries among women and girls. |
| 2017 | Kreisfeld, R., Pointer, S., Bradley, C., & Harrison, J. (2017). Trends in hospitalisations due to falls by older people, Australia 2002–03 to 2012–13. |
| 2017 | Pointer, S. (2017). Dog-related injuries. |
| 2016 | Pointer, S., & Tovell, A. (2016). Hospitalised burn injuries Australia 2013–14. |
| 2015 | Pointer, S. (2015). Trends in hospitalised injury, Australia: 1999–00 to 2012–13. |
| 2015 | Ashby, K., Pointer, S., Eager, D., & Day, L. (2015). Australian trampoline injury patterns and trends. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39(5), 491-494. Scopus38 WoS36 Europe PMC28 |
| 2014 | Kreisfeld, R., Harrison, J. E., & Pointer, S. C. (2014). Australian Sports Injury Hospitalisations: 2011-2012. Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2014 | Kreisfeld, R., Harrison, J. E., & Pointer, S. C. (2014). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2014 | Pointer, S. C. (2014). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2014 | Tovell, A., Harrison, J. E., & Pointer, S. (2014). Hospitalised injuries in older Australians: 2011-12. |
| 2014 | Tovell, A., Harrison, J. E., & Pointer, S. (2014). Hospitalised injury in older Australians, 2011–12. Injury research and statistics series, (90). |
| 2014 | Pointer, S. (2014). Hospitalised injury in children and young people 2011-12. |
| 2014 | Kreisfeld, R., Harrison, J. E., & Pointer, S. (2014). Australian sports injury hospitalisations 2011-12. |
| 2013 | Zwaag, D. V. D., Pointer, S., & Harrison, J. E. (2013). Obesity and injury in the National Hospital Morbidity Database. |
| 2013 | Pointer, S. (2013). Impact of improvements to Indigenous identification in hospital data on patterns of hospitalised injury. |
| 2013 | van der Zwaag, D., Pointer, S., & Harrison, J. E. (2013). Obesity and injury in the National Hospital Morbidity Database. |
| 2013 | Pointer, S. (2013). Trends in hospitalised injury, Australia: 1999-00 to 2010-11. |
| 2012 | Bradley, C. E., Pointer, S. C., & Harrison, J. E. (2012). Trends in serious fall-related injury: Where we are and where to from here?. Australasian epidemiologist, 19(2), 13-15. |
| 2012 | Pointer, S. C., Bradley, C. E., & Harrison, J. E. (2012). Impact of improvements to Indigenous identification in hospital data. Australasian epidemiologist, 19(2), 7-8. |
| 2012 | Tovell, A., McKenna, K., Bradley, C., & Pointer, S. (2012). Hospital separations due to injury and poisoning, Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2012 | Pointer, S., & Helps, Y. (2012). Trends in hospitalised childhood injury in Australia 1999-07. |
| 2012 | Pointer, S., & Kreisfeld, R. (2012). Hospitalised interpersonal violence and perpetrator coding, Australia 2002-05. |
| 2011 | Norton, L., Harrison, J., Pointer, S., & Lathlean, T. (2011). Obesity and injury in Australia: a review of the literature. |
| 2010 | Killion, S., Magnus, P., Dixon, T., Bishop, K., Moon, L., Bullock, S., . . . York, L. (2010). Australia's Health 2010: The twelth biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2010 | Ben-Tovim, D. I., Pointer, S. C., Woodman, R., Hakendorf, P. H., & Harrison, J. E. (2010). Routine use of administrative data for safety and quality purposes - hospital mortality. MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 193(8), S100-S103. WoS17 |
| 2010 | Ben-Tovim, D. I., Pointer, S. C., Woodman, R., Hakendorf, P. H., & Harrison, J. E. (2010). Routine use of administrative data for safety and quality purposes - hospital mortality. Medical Journal of Australia, 193(SUPPL. 8), S100-S103. Scopus19 Europe PMC9 |
| 2009 | Bradley, C., & Pointer, S. (2009). Hospitalisations due to falls by older people. Australia, 10, 2013. |
| 2009 | Flood, L., Bradley, C., Pointer, S., & Harrison, J. (2009). Eye-related injuries in Australia. |
| 2009 | Ben-Tovim, D., Woodman, R., Harrison, J. E., Pointer, S., Hakendorf, P., & Henley, G. (2009). Measuring and reporting mortality in hospital patients. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2009 | Bradley, C., & Pointer, S. (2009). Hospitalisations due to falls by older people, Australia 2005-06. |
| 2009 | Elnour, A., Harrison, J., & Pointer, S. (2009). A review of suicide statistics in Australia. |
| 2007 | Brie, N., Pointer, S., & Harrison, J. (2007). Electrical injury and death. |
| 2007 | Pointer, S., & Harrison, J. (2007). Electrical injury and death. NISU Briefing, 9(April 2007). |
| 2007 | Pointer, S. (2007). Comment on Duffy (2007). Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review, 3(3), 195. |
| 2006 | Helps, Y., & Pointer, S. (2006). Child injury due to falls from playground equipment, Australia 2004. NISU Briefing, 6, 13pp. |
| 2005 | Degenhardt, L., Day, C., Dietze, P., Pointer, S., Conroy, E., Collins, L., & Hall, W. (2005). Effects of a sustained heroin shortage in three Australian States. Addiction, 100(7), 908-920. |
| 2005 | Turner, N., Pointer, S., & Trifonoff, A. (2005). Amphetamines use amongst police detainees. |
| 2005 | Degenhardt, L., Day, C., Dietze, P., Pointer, S., Conroy, E., Collins, L., & Hall, W. (2005). Effects of a sustained heroin shortage in three Australian States. Addiction, 100(7), 908-920. Scopus101 WoS101 Europe PMC80 |
| 2005 | Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., Day, C., Dietze, P., Collins, L., & Pointer, S. (2005). Mapping the consequences of an unanticipated drug supply change of uncertain origins: Response to the commentaries. Addiction, 100(7), 930-932. Scopus3 WoS2 |
| 2004 | Harrison, A., Christie, P., Longo, M., Pointer, S., & Ali, R. (2004). The course and consequences of the heroin shortage in South Australia. Sydney, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW. |
| 2004 | Morefield, K., Ali, R., Baigent, M., Christie, P., Pointer, S., & Danz, C. (2004). Methamphetamine Psychosis in South Australia. |
| 2003 | Pointer, S., Harrison, J., & Bradley, C. (2003). National injury prevention plan priorities for 2004 and beyond: discussion paper. |
| 2002 | Helps, Y. L. M., & Pointer, S. C. (2002). NISU Brie. group, 2004. |
| 1999 | Bryan, J., Luszcz, M. A., & Pointer, S. (1999). Executive function and processing resources as predictors of adult age differences in the implementation of encoding strategies. Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition, 6(4), 273-287. Scopus64 WoS62 |
| 1998 | Pointer, S. C., & Bond, N. W. (1998). Context-dependent memory: Colour versus odour. Chemical Senses, 23(3), 359-362. Scopus43 WoS36 Europe PMC24 |
| 1996 | Cameron, J. A., Bond, M. J., & Pointer, S. C. (1996). Reducing the anxiety of children undergoing surgery: Parental presence during anaesthetic induction. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 32(1), 51-56. Scopus41 WoS39 Europe PMC28 |
| 1995 | Walters, H., Bond, M., & Pointer, S. (1995). A stress management program for nursing home staff: An evaluation of combined education and relaxation strategies. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zealand, 11(3), 243-248. Scopus3 |
| - | House, P., Collins, H. P., Am, Q. C., Killion, S., Magnus, P., Dixon, T., . . . Waters, A. (n.d.). Australia's Health. Cancer, 136, 4.2. |
| - | Pointer, S., & Helps, Y. (n.d.). Trends in hospitalised childhood injury in Australia. |
| - | Pointer, S., & Kreisfeld, R. (n.d.). Hospitalised interpersonal violence and perpetrator coding, Australia. |
| - | Pointer, S. (n.d.). INJURY ISSUES MONITOR. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Pointer, S. (2016). Poisoning in children and young people 2012–13. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
| 2011 | Norton, L., Harrison, J. E., Pointer, S., & Lathlean, T. (2011). Obesity and injury in Australia: a review of the literature. Injury research and statistics series no. 60. Cat. no. INJCAT 136.. |
| 2009 | Harrison, J. E., Pointer, S., & Abou Elnour, A. (2009). A review of suicide statistics in Australia. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Canberra. |
| 2006 | Donald, A., Pointer, S., Weekley, J., & Donald, A. (2006). Risk perception and drug driving among illicit drug users in Adelaide. Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia. |
| 2004 | Weekley, J., Ali, R., & Pointer, S. (2004). SA Party Drug Trends 2003: Findings from the Party Drugs Initiative (PDI). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Harris, C., & Pointer, S. (2012). Serious childhood community injury in New South Wales. In Catalogue No.: INJCAT 152. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Canberra (Aust). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Wongtongkam, N., Kostadinov, V., & Pointer, S. (2022). Exploring risk perceptions of alcohol consumption among older people. Poster session presented at the meeting of DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW. WILEY 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ USA. |
| 2022 | Kostadinov, V., Pointer, S., & Fischer, J. A. (2022). " Literally lifesaving and transformational": Key stakeholders' views of an assertive outreach support pilot. Poster session presented at the meeting of DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW. WILEY 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ USA. |
Sophie contributes to JBI's evidence synthesis education program through the delivery of the Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program and the JBI Scoping Review Workshop. She supports researchers, clinicians and students in developing the knowledge and practical skills required to undertake rigorous evidence syntheses and apply evidence-based approaches to healthcare decision-making.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in public health research, evidence reviews and knowledge translation, Sophie is particularly interested in helping learners understand how research evidence can be effectively translated into policy and practice.
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