School of Medical and Health Sciences

Dr Roslyn Giglia

Roslyn Giglia, is a Senior Research Fellow in the Food Environments Team of the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, within the School of Medical and Health Science. In this role, Roslyn is responsible for overseeing research in school food environments and consumer food environments. Through this research the Food Environments Team endeavour to influence public policy that positively impacts the nutrition intake of individuals and communities.

Background

Roslyn is an Advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian with a strong foundation working and researching in the area of public health nutrition, and policy development. Roslyn has a strong track record as a pracademic as the Nutrition and Food Security Manager for Foodbank WA (2019 – 2023) and Senior Scientific Officer with the Department of Health, WA (2023 – 2024). She has now returned to academia with 15 years research experience as the Head and Senior Research Fellow for the Alcohol, Pregnancy and FASD Research team at the Telethon Kids Institute, and as a NHMRC Translating Research into Practice Fellow, at the Institute (2014 – 18). Roslyn completed her PhD at Curtin University (2004 – 2008) on alcohol and breastfeeding, and recommendations from her PhD thesis formed the basis for the first alcohol guideline for lactating women nationally and internationally. She was subsequently awarded a Healthway Health Promotion Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2004 – 2013) conducting the first RCT online intervention to support breastfeeding women.

She is currently a Senior Research Fellow in the Food Environment Team of the Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute at Edith Cowan University.

Jan 23 – Aug 24 Food Unit, Environmental Health Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia

Senior Scientific Officer

Working with the national food regulatory system to develop and assist with the provision of national policy advice, guidelines and related strategies to the Government, local government, the food industry and other relevant stakeholder groups.

Feb 2019 – Jan 23 Foodbank Western Australia

Manager, Nutrition and Food Security

Strategic development and mentoring of the 18 strong team of nutritionists and dietitians. Providing advocacy and policy direction for the nutrition portfolio of Foodbank. Overseeing and managing the design, implementation and evaluation of the nutrition and food security programs for disadvantaged population subgroups within the Western Australian community.

Dec 2015 – Feb 2019 Telethon Kids Institute

Head, Alcohol, Pregnancy & FASD Research Program (DEC 2017 – FEB 2019)

Co-Head, Pregnancy & FASD Research Program (NOV 2015 – NOV 2017):

Strategic vision for the team, development of funding opportunities and strategic collaborations, promotion and advocacy of research outcomes to foster research translation, support student opportunities and the development of team members.

Professional Associations

• 1990 – current, Member of the Dietitians Australia (DA)

Awards and Recognition

• 2013    Dietitians Association of Australia, Outstanding Contribution Award
• 2009    Dietitians Association of Australia, Best New Researcher Award
• 2008    Healthway Health Promotion Research Postdoctoral Fellowship (deferred 2009)
• 2006    Best poster presentation. Do Australian women drink during pregnancy and lactation? The Joint 8th IUNS International Symposium on Clinical Nutrition (8th ISCN) and 5th Asia-Pacific Clinical Nutrition Society (5th APCNS) Conference. Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
• 2006    Best oral presentation. DAA (WA Branch) Symposium
• 2004    National Health and Medical Research Council Public Health Postgraduate Scholarship
• 2002    Selected participant for the inaugural Healthway Leadership in Health Promotion Program
• 2001    Recipient of the DAA Nutrition Media Awards (Best new media talent 2000 – 2001: electronic)
• 1998  Australian Postgraduate Award with Stipend, Curtin University Postgraduate Scholarship

Research Areas and Interests

• Policy development and implementation (translation into uptake)
• Alcohol and breastfeeding
• Maternal and child health
• translating research into practice
• Behaviour change interventions at all socioecological levels

Research Student Supervisions

• Current: Doctor of Philosophy x 1
• Complete: Master of Child Health Research x 1 (2 publications), Postdoctoral Research Fellow x 1
• Complete: Doctor of Philosophy x 4
• Complete: Master of Public Health x 3 (50 credit course work students)
• Complete: Master of Public Health x 2 (100 credit coursework students) (2 publications)
• Complete: Master of Dietetics x3 (1 publication)