Professor Talitha Best
PhD, Clinical Psychologist, MAPS, MAICDProfessor, Deputy Chair Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
Institute for Future Farming Systems, Appleton Institute
CQUniversity Bundaberg
Talitha is a clinical psychologist, researcher, educator, supervisor and founding head of the NeuroHealth Lab within Appleton Institute.
Talitha’s research, clinical practice, teaching and supervision focus on the impact of diet and therapeutic approaches for promoting brain function and improved psychological and mental health outcomes. Broadly, Talitha uses applied research methods and clinical practice to understand the complex ways in which nutrition and our food systems influence brain function, well-being, behaviour, cognitive performance and mental health. She has been chief investigator on competitively funded national and international research projects of over $7.5million.
She has expertise in developing and implementing interdisciplinary applied research that contributes to outcomes and knowledge across the areas of clinical psychology, behavioural neuroscience, nutritional psychiatry, compassion science, food systems and agricultural development aimed at improving lives through better brain and mind health.
Background
Before joining CQU, Talitha worked in the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre at the University of South Australia, and Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University. She also worked as a Researcher-in-Business, funded through an initiative of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, to facilitate knowledge transfer between the research and industry sectors in food and nutrition.
She has worked in private and public sectors, and within the non-for-profit sector in board director roles active in community development through health, food and nutrition.
Universities Studied At
University of Adelaide
Flinders University
University of South Australia
Awards
2017: Dean’s Outstanding Research Award (Mid-Career), in recognition of excellence in research activity, publication and engagement. School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences, CQU
2017: Women's Leadership Australia Scholarship Award, in recognition of leadership development and executive ready level performance and capability.
2015: ICC International Award for Application of Science for Improving Public Health, in recognition of scientific endeavours. International Association for Cereal Chemistry (ICC).
Professional Experience
Professional Memberships
AHPRA: Registered Psychologist, Psychology Board of Australia
APS: Australian Psychological Society
MAICD: Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors
FCCP: Fellow of College of Clinical Psychologists
WIT: Women in Innovation and Technology
WOB: Women on Boards
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3006 Food Sciences
- 3209 Neurosciences
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 5202 Biological psychology
- 5205 Social and personality psychology
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Complete Supervision
Public health - Preventative health care
Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine - Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine not elsewhere classified
Biological psychology - Behavioural neuroscience
Clinical and health psychology - Clinical psychology
Talitha has specific research and clinical interests that apply to nutrition, health, healthy ageing and clinical psychology
Cognitive and computational psychology - Learning, motivation and emotion
