Our Cancer Support and Wellness Fellows work collaboratively with the teams at Cancer Council SA and Flinders University to develop and conduct research that aims to assess and address the needs of cancer survivors to enhance their wellbeing, reduce symptom burden and improve health outcomes.
They also engage with the team at the Flinders Cancer Wellness Centre, enabling research translation and allowing for patients and community perspectives to inform their research priorities.
Meet our current cancer support and wellness fellows
Dr Emma Kemp
Providing the right resources at the right time to support people throughout their cancer experience
Dr Emma Kemp from Flinders University has been awarded our Cancer Support Fellowship for her research which aims to explore the psychological impacts of cancer on patients and carers, to find better ways to support people living with and beyond cancer by providing the right resources at the right time.
Her research is particularly aimed at people who are at risk of poorer access to information and support and poorer cancer outcomes.
Her recent projects have involved local, national, and international collaboration to investigate:
- ways to improve access to information and support for people with cancer living rurally, or at risk of socioeconomic disadvantage
- factors associated with positive and negative employment outcomes for people living with or beyond cancer
- developing a clinical pathway to manage and coordinate healthcare for people living with other chronic health conditions alongside cancer.
Dr Katia Ferrar
Improving quality of life through physical activity and other wellness therapies
Dr Katia Ferrar from Flinders University has been awarded our Cancer Wellness Fellowship and leads several research projects focused on supportive care navigation, service delivery, physical activity and chronic stress for people impacted by cancer.
Dr Ferrar has worked with cancer survivors, carers and health professionals to co-design an online resource hub and navigation tool for pancreatic and biliary cancer survivors at Flinders Medical Centre, and a virtual reality exercise experience for patients undergoing chemotherapy infusion.
Additionally, Dr Ferrar will soon begin recruiting for a study examining the links between chronic stress, physical activity, symptoms, and psychosocial and environmental factors in women with breast cancer, with the goal of informing future interventions.
How to apply for our cancer support and wellness research fellowships
For more information about upcoming funding opportunities and how to apply, get in touch with Cancer Council SA at grants@cancersa.org.au.
