DrAlison Kennedy

Dr Alison Kennedy is a Behavioural Scientist who has lived and worked in Victoria’s rural farming community for over 2 decades. Her expertise in rural/farmer mental health and suicide prevention has drawn on a range of innovative techniques including digital interventions, digital storytelling, community education programs and peer support models since entering academia as a second stage career in 2010. Since completing her PhD in 2016, Alison has led numerous farmer health and mental health translational research projects and continues to build the Centre’s capacity and reach by working collaboratively with researchers, farmers and industry stakeholders across Australia and internationally. Her expertise has been recognised through research awards, numerous advisory roles (national and international), peer review publications, international research consultation, invited presentations and expert witness testimony before the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. As Director of the National Centre for Farmer Health since 2021, Alison's passion for co-designing the Centre’s research, education and services in collaboration with the community and industry has ensured the Centre’s work continues to be effective, relevant, accessible and tailored to the needs of Australia's rural farming communities.

Research Groups
National Centre for Farmer Health