Nema is a Lecturer and Accredited Practicing Dietitian with the Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Innovation Team.
Nema's research is dedicated to enhancing healthcare outcomes for priority groups through qualitative and co-design methodology. With a background in public health nutrition and health services research, Nema is interested in translational research that aims to improve community health, mental health and well-being for Older People,...view more
Nema is a Lecturer and Accredited Practicing Dietitian with the Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Innovation Team.
Nema's research is dedicated to enhancing healthcare outcomes for priority groups through qualitative and co-design methodology. With a background in public health nutrition and health services research, Nema is interested in translational research that aims to improve community health, mental health and well-being for Older People, adolescents and CALD groups.
Nema convenes Food Service and Culinary Science (Diet 3001) and Inclusive Eating Practices (Diet 3003), where she will teach students how to master the intricacies of food service systems, embrace culinary techniques to put "food first," or adapting services to meet the needs of priority groups, such as those living with disabilities, older adults (especially in aged care), and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
My Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (Usyd)
Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics (Usyd)
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (Usyd)
My Awards
Faculty of Science Dean's Honour List Prize for Postgraduate Coursework (2018)
Dean's List of Excellence in Academic Performance (2018)
3rd Place, EMCR Symposium, University of Sydney (2021)
My Research Activities
Nema’s recent postdoctoral work focused on Human Factors and Resilient Healthcare, where she lent her expertise to the $2.86M MRFF project Working Together: Innovation to Improve Emergency Department (ED) Performance (MyED Study) based at 3 metropolitan hospitals in Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD). Using Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) methodology, the project aims to develop new models of care to enhance ED experience for five consumer cohorts: Older Adults, CALD individuals, people with mental health conditions, those with disabilities, and Indigenous Australians. As Engagement and Recruitment Lead, Nema was successful in developing strategic partnerships and achieved early buy-in from stakeholders, such as 4 major residential aged care facilities (RACFs), disability service providers as well as mental health specialist teams (hospital-based) to ensure priority consumer groups were engaged with, and their stories listened to.
Previously, she completed her PhD at The Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney which focussed on the development of a co-designed culturally responsive and locally engineered lifestyle (nutrition and physical activity) intervention to combat the obesity pandemic present in adolescents from Middle Eastern (ME) backgrounds. As the first to address this gap in New South Wales, this piece of research solidified her commitment to addressing health disparities within CALD populations and set the stage for her future endeavours.
My Teaching
Diet 3001 Food Service and Culinary Science
Diet 3003 Inclusive Eating Practices
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