DrSimone McCarthy

Dr Simone McCarthy is a postdoctoral research fellow at Deakin University working in the area of the Commercial Determinants of Health. Her PhD thesis explored Australian women’s lived experiences of gambling and gambling-related harm, and the practical and political responses to addressing women’s vulnerability to gambling through a gendered lens. Simone’s research interests have focused on the range of determinants that influence women’s consumption of harmful products and how this contributes to gender inequity. She is currently involved in a number of research projects the explore the actions and practices of corporations and how their behaviours influence the health and wellbeing of the public. This includes researching the role of harmful industries such as the gambling, alcohol, and fossil fuel industries in influencing the attitudes and behaviours of a range of at-risk groups including young people, women, and older adults. Her current role explores the ways in which public health policy, advocacy, and health promotion strategies can provide solutions to address the impact of harmful industries and contribute to a reduction in health inequalities. In this role, Simone utilises her expertise in qualitative research methods and develops upon her PhD research which used a sociology of risk and public health determinants framework to explore the influence of the gambling industry on women.

Dr McCarthy is also passionate about science communication and currently volunteers for two organisations where she runs their social media accounts. Her role in the Public Health Association Student and Young Professionals Committee aims to utilise social media to engage young professionals and build the capacity of the future public health workforce. She is also the social media coordinator of an academic journal where her role is to translate and promote new research for an wide range of audiences.

Dr McCarthy has worked in research since 2017 where she was employed as a research assistant while completing her PhD. She has since been employed as a postdoctoral research fellow on two ARC grants investigating the influence of gambling marketing on young people and strategies to protect them. These projects, and her PhD research, provided her with skills in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, experience recruiting and interviewing different population subgroups, and experience in project management and working with various stakeholders. She has disseminated research findings to local governments, the public, the media, key international stakeholders, and other public health audiences.