I am an injury prevention researcher, recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in drowning prevention research and advocacy. My vision is to conduct meaningful research which amplifies attention on global drowning burden, identifies risk factors for drowning and promotes safe use of all aquatic locations. I have a strong focus on improving data collection methods and approaches to ensure global estimates of fatal and non-fatal drowning are accurate and inclusive, while also maintaining a strong focus on issues of equity, particularly injury risk among rural and remote communities and for people from low socio-economic backgrounds. I am passionate about translating research into action including through public education and awareness, and policy change.
As an injury prevention researcher and advocate, I specialise in adolescent injury and specifically drowning prevention - epidemiology, risk factor identification and evaluation of drowning prevention interventions.
I am an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Research Fellow with the School of Population Health and convene PHCM9792 - Injury Epidemiology, Prevention and Control. I have a specific interest on regional communities, alcohol, and social...view more
As an injury prevention researcher and advocate, I specialise in adolescent injury and specifically drowning prevention - epidemiology, risk factor identification and evaluation of drowning prevention interventions.
I am an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Research Fellow with the School of Population Health and convene PHCM9792 - Injury Epidemiology, Prevention and Control. I have a specific interest on regional communities, alcohol, and social determinants of health. I regularly appear in the media and hold adjunct appointments with Royal Life Saving Society - Australia, James Cook University, the George Institute for Global Health and the Health and Psychology Innovations (HaPI) lab at Griffith University. I am a co-founder of the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group and am interested in supervising Masters, PhD and ILP students on injury prevention and drowning prevention topics.
Research Interests: Public Health, Injury Prevention, Drowning Prevention, Epidemiology
My Grants
- Peden AE, Smith S, Hamilton K. ‘When roads become rivers’ Request for Quotation: Local Social Research and Community Engagement Advice. Newcastle State Emergency Service (SES), 2021, $22,311.12
- Thom O, Roberts K, Franklin RC, Leggat PA, Devine S, Peden AE ‘Emergency Department Treatment of the Drowning Victim’. Wishlist Foundation Sunshine Coast Health Foundation, 2020, $36,000
- Thom O, Roberts K, Franklin RC, Leggat PA, Devine S, Peden AE ‘Emergency Department Treatment of the Drowning Victim’, Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF), 2020, $91,468.00
- Peden AE ‘Exploring water safety and drowning prevention beliefs and practices among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members: A qualitative study’, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, 2020, $10,890.00
- Peden AE, Franklin RC ‘Breathalysing and surveying inland waterway users: Developing and testing an ongoing program’, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, 2020, $19,800
My Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Government and International Relations, Social Policy), Master of Public Policy, PhD (Health)
My Awards
- Safety Young Investigator Award - 2020
- Council of Academic Public Health Institutions in Australia (CAPHIA) Award for PhD Excellence in Public Health - 2020
- Dean’s Award for Higher Degree by Research Excellence (awarded for PhD research, James Cook University) - 2020
- Sax Institute Research Action Award Winner - 2019
- International Drowning Researcher’s Alliance (IDRA) Young Researcher of the Year - 2019
- Gold – International Safety Media Awards – Individual Print Category (River drowning prevention research and Respect the River) - 2018
- Finalist – International Safety Media Awards – Campaign Category (Don’t Let Your Mates Drink and Drown) - 2018
- Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth Diploma - 2018
- James Cook University Higher Degree Research Symposium (College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences) – Best Overall Presentation - 2017
- Australasian Injury Prevention Network (AIPN) – Achievement in Practice in Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion – 2017
- Australasian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference – Best Rapid Oral Presentation (Shortlisted) – 2017
- Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Spark of Life Conference: Best Poster Aquatic Safety - 2017
- International Life Saving Federation (ILS) Citation of Merit – 2011
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
I am interested in supervising HDR candidates, both Masters and PhD, in the following research areas:
- Injury prevention:
- Epidemiology,
- Risk factors,
- Prevention strategies,
- Behaviour change
- Evaluation
- Drowning prevention
- Alcohol and its impact on injury
- Health promotion
- Behaviour change
- Determinants of health, with a particular interest in:
- Rurality
- Socio-economic status
Currently supervising
PhD
- William Koon - 'Characterization and analysis of human factors and environmental physical hazards as determinants of ocean rescue, surf-related trauma, and drowning events at surf beaches'
- Nicholas Mulcahy - 'Analysing environmental and social risk factors to inform the prevention of drowning and injury in New Zealand'
- Samuel Cornell - 'Investigating risky behaviour to improve water safety and drowning prevention at aquatic Instagram hotspots'
My Engagement
Commentaries
The Lancet Public Health 'Closing the gap for drowning prevention across Europe' https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00193-1/fulltext
Sydney Morning Herald ‘How to Get Sydneysiders to wear masks” https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-to-get-sydneysiders-to-wear-masks-20201228-p56qjm.html
MJA Insight 'Condoms, lifejackets and face masks: examining factors that impact compliance and what we have learned to improve adoption', Insight+ (Medical Journal of Australia) https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2020/48/condoms-life-jackets-and-face-masks-compliance-and-adoption/
The Conversation
The 8 deadly days of Christmas https://theconversation.com/the-8-deadly-days-of-christmas-how-to-stay-safe-from-drowning-in-australia-this-summer-167440
When is the right time for children to learn to swim? https://theconversation.com/when-is-the-right-time-for-children-to-learn-to-swim-173144
When roads become rivers: forming a Plan B can stop people driving into floodwaters https://theconversation.com/when-roads-become-rivers-forming-a-plan-b-can-stop-people-driving-into-floodwaters-183036
Blog Posts
Peden AE (2021) Drowning among adolescents on the rise in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Centre for Adolescent Health https://blogs.rch.org.au/cah/2021/09/17/3978/
Peden AE, Franklin RC (2021) Global Drowning Prevention Day 2021: The start of a new era? Injury Prevention, https://blogs.bmj.com/injury-prevention/2021/07/22/global-drowning-prevention-day-2021-the-start-of-a-new-era/
Hamilton E, Peden AE, Franklin RC (2020) You’ll be surprised to know what we still don’t know about drowning. Injury Prevention, https://blogs.bmj.com/injury-prevention/2020/10/02/youll-be-surprised-to-know-what-we-still-dont-know-about-drowning/
Ma T, Peden AE (2020) Where is injury prevention in the Sustainable Development Goals? Injury Prevention, https://blogs.bmj.com/injury-prevention/2020/09/16/where-is-injury-prevention-in-the-sustainable-development-goals/
Letters to the Editor
Queiroga AC, Franklin RC, Marques O, Nascimento S, Peden AE (2022). Integrated Registry for Drowning and Aquatic Injuries in Portugal. Acta Med Port. 35(4): 303-312. https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/17973/6590
Media
The World Today - ABC Radio - https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/worldtoday/road-crashes-the-biggest-global-killer-of-young-people/13955018
Life Matters - ABC Radio - https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/what-is-the-best-age-for-children-to-learn-to-swim/13720902
ABC Radio - https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/drive/learning-to-swim/13719280
Science Daily - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220629202950.htm
Sydney Morning Herald - Experts Push for 30km/hr speed limit as traffic incidents lead youth deaths https://www.smh.com.au/national/experts-push-for-30km-h-limit-as-traffic-incidents-lead-youth-deaths-20220627-p5ax05.html
2GB - https://www.2gb.com/podcast/what-is-the-recommended-age-to-teach-your-child-to-swim/
My Teaching
Convening PHCM9792 - Injury Epidemiology, Prevention and Control' (T1)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6424-1511