Associate Professor Catherine O'Mullan
BA (Hons); MSc (Health Promotion); DrPH (Curtin University)Associate Professor (Public Health)
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
Institute for Future Farming Systems
Associate Professor Cathy O'Mullan has worked as a health promotion practitioner for over 20 years both here in Australia and in the UK. She has managed diverse programs within a number of government and non-government organisations across areas such as chronic disease, cancer, mental health and sexual health. She has extensive practical experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and has led a number of capacity-building public health projects on Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands.
As a research-focused academic at CQ University, Cathy is passionate about capturing the voices of marginalised populations through qualitative and participatory research approaches. She has a particular interest in applying a gender equity perspective to her work in women's health, sexual health and domestic violence. Her most recent research focuses on international development where she is committed to working with women subsistence farmers in PNG and Fiji to improve health and livelihoods. She is a committed and engaged community-based researcher who seeks to foster inclusive partnerships. She also strives to develop capacity-building opportunities for all those involved, particularly community organisations and members. Cathy has been awarded > $2.5 million in external research funding, most as Chief Investigator. She has published > 40 refereed manuscripts and has authored several industry reports.
Awards
2023 Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Researcher (Mid Career Reseracher)
2023 Dean's Award for Outstanding Researcher (Mid Career Researcher)
2015 CQ University Bundaberg Prize for Excellence in Research (Emerging Researcher)
2013 Opal Award - Excellence in Engagement Finalist (Engaged Research and Innovation)
2013 Student Voice Award (Distance Educator of the Year)
2012 Opal Award -Excellence in Engagement Finalist (Engaged Research and Innovation)
2011 Healthy Queensland Awards - State Finalist (Workplace Category $10,000 funding)
Media Citations
- September 2021 - Taking out Taboo: Researcher urges therapists to address sexuality (Courier Mail, Bundaberg Newsmail)
- February 2018 - Treating my anxiety made my sex life worse (SBS life article)
- February 2018 - How are middle-aged women negotiating safer sex? (Morning Bulletin, Bundaberg Newsmail, Gladstone Observer)
- December 2017 - Sex or Sleep? Which should you choose? (SBS Life article)
- December 2017- Can having sex help you sleep better at night? (Men's Health magazine, Australia)
- December 2017 - Having trouble falling asleep? Have sex (Women's Health magazine, Australia).
- October 2016 - Mid-life Sexual Health (Radio interview - ABC Wide Bay)
- October 2016 - Cougars and Condoms - Let's Talk about Sex ( Morning Bulletin, Bundaberg Newsmail, Gladstone Observer)
- April 2016 - Sexuality Expert Says "Sexuality Education is All of Our Concern" (Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton)
- December 2015 - Eight Ways to Boost Your Libido (Good Health Magazine, Australia)
- August 2013 - Orgasms and Brain Health (Radio Interview Tropical North ABC; Radio Interview Newcastle ABC; Radio interview Capricornia ABC)
- August 2013 - The Female Orgasm (Radio interview, Saturday Night Live, 4BC Brisbane)
- November 2012 - Antidepressants and sexual difficulties (Radio interview Bay FM 99.9)
- October 2012 - Study checks links between antidepressants and sexual difficulties (Radio interview Hitz FM 93.9)
- May 2012 - The Naked Truth - Skin Cancer (Radio Interview 4BU AM)
Professional Experience
2024 - Current Associate Professor (Public Health)
2020 - 2023 Senior Lecturer (Public Health)
2014 - 2019 Discipline Lead (Health Promotion)
2010 - 2017 Lecturer (Public Health).
Professional Memberships
Public Health Association Australia (PHAA)
Responsibilities
Research
Course Coordination and Lecturing
Supervision of Higher Degree by Research Students (Honours, Masters, PhD)
Human Research Ethics Commitee Member (Category F)
Professional Interests
Healthy and Safe Sexual Relationships
Women's Health
Gender Equity
International Development
Community Capacity Building
Industry Reports
Consultancy Work
2023 World Bank - Gender Advisor - Child Nutrition and Social Protection Project (PNG).
Project Development of HORT/2023/165 titled ‘Resilient commercial vegetable production systems for Pacific Island Countries’ (C003950)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Ineligible)
Funding Scheme: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Total Funding: $40,000.00
Dean's Awards for Outstanding Researchers - Mid-Career Research Category
Grant: Award - Internal (Internal Grant)
Funding Scheme: 2023 School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences Dean's Award
Total Funding: $2,000.00
Mitigating gender-based violence risk in international agricultural research (SSS/2022/116)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Scheme: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Total Funding: $250,000.00
Scoping and feasibility study for the development of a sago processing capability and commercialisation in the Kutubu area in the Southern Highlands Province
Grant: Non-Gov Tender (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Scheme: Oil Search Foundation
Total Funding: $75,750.00
Reducing the impact of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in seasonal workers working in regional Queensland (4-H3C9CYJ) (4-H3C9CZ2)
Grant: Government Tender (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Scheme: Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Research Program
Total Funding: $433,996.00
Decide and thrive. Innovative and regionally-relevant livestock ranking strategies that secure the business into, during and out of drought, and preserve and improve natural capital in agricultural landscapes (C22/419)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Innovation Grant - through University of New England
Total Funding: $920,000.00
RTP Scholarship, commencing 2021
Grant: Scholarship (Not Specified )
Funding Scheme: RTP Stipend Scholarship, Commencing 2021
Total Funding: $0.00
Stories of Success: Case studies of Women Farmers in PNG. (Report women's experience of village based extension approaches in PNG TADEP program (C0020907))
Grant: Contract Research (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Total Funding: $72,000.00
Strengthening collaboration between the agricultural and health sector to improve nutritional outcomes for farming families in Fiji (Develop and pilot workshops to link health and agriculture extension in Fiji (C002908))
Grant: Contract Research (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Total Funding: $55,000.00
The relationship between gambling and domestic violence against women
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Scheme: ANROWS 2017-19 Research Priorities
Total Funding: $230,848.00
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4206 Public health
- 4516 Pacific Peoples health and wellbeing
- 4404 Development studies
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Complete Supervision
Public health - Social determinants of health
Sexual Health; Gender Equity; Women's Health; Marginalised Groups
Development studies - Rural community development
Livelihoods; Health Outcomes; International Development
