Meet the researchers working on this project.

Prof Elizabeth Lobb

Dr Fiona Maccallum

Dr Serra Ivynian

Chief Investigator

Chief Investigator

Project Manager

​PhD, MAppSci, B.Adult Ed. Post Grad Cert Bereavement Counselling

BSc(Psych)(Hons), MPsych(Clinical), PhD

BMedSci(Hons), PhD

Elizabeth Lobb is Professor of Palliative Care at Calvary Health Care Kogarah (CHCK) and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, University of Technology. ​Prof Lobb has worked within oncology, haematology, genetics and palliative care settings for over 24 years. She has established national and international research collaborations, and pursued independent multi-disciplinary clinical collaborations. She established the Calvary Palliative and End of Life Care Research Institute (2017) and as the inaugural Chair facilitates collaborations and promotes palliative care research across the network.

Fiona Maccallum is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland. Her research focuses on grief and loss, trauma and anxiety. Fiona has worked for over a decade as a clinical psychologist in research, public, and private practice settings.

Dr Serra Ivynian is a Research Fellow at IMPACCT and the project manager for this study. Her PhD research investigated care-seeking behaviour in patients with heart failure, with inferences for patient-provider communication, improving health literacy and coping responses for people with chronic illness. She has worked on national evaluation projects to help improve palliative care service delivery across Australia, with a focus on supporting informal carers of palliative patients being cared for at home. Her current research focuses on understanding the information, practical and support needs of carers of at all stages, including post-bereavement, using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Kimberley Jones

Sara-Jane Roberts

Research Assistant

Research Assistant

BPsycSci, MBMSc

BBehSci(Hons)

Kim has a strong research background in paediatric psycho-oncology and neuropsychology. Kim has also worked clinically, in support roles in Out of Home Care settings, and in private psychology practice settings. Her research interests are in mental health, CALD and ATSI groups, and public health.

Sara has a research background in behavioural science, human development and paediatric palliative care. Sara’s research interests focus on improving the quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing of vulnerable populations, which was shaped through her research endeavours within end-of-life care.

This project has been funded by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund