Associate ProfessorAlison Booth

Associate Professor Alison Booth is a nationally and internationally recognised researcher in school food environments, food literacy, nutrition education and health promotion, whose work aims to improve food and nutrition outcomes for children, schools and communities. She leads a research program that translates evidence into policy and practice through collaborations with schools, community organisations, professional bodies and international research partners.

Alison’s research impact is strengthened through successful partnerships and capacity-building initiatives. She has also attracted external research funding ($1.5mil) and been invited to contribute to major grant applications, policy discussions and keynote presentations.

In addition, she provides significant research leadership through the supervision and mentoring of higher degree researchers and early career academics, with her graduates progressing to scholarships, fellowships and research careers, further extending the reach and influence of her research program.

Areas of research activity:

School meals: Collaborating with community organisations and schools in understanding key interest holder’s (teachers, children, parents, school staff, community) needs, benefits, barriers and enablers for effective and sustainable school meal delivery.

Food and nutrition education in schools: collaborating with teachers to discover ways we can best support schools and teachers in delivering effective food and nutrition education in the classroom, sustainably.

School food environments: Understanding how policy, food environments (including facilities and time) and canteens influence food intake and food behaviours of children in school settings.

Young adult and child food behaviours: Understanding food intake, influences on food behaviours and trialling programs to support healthy food behaviours.