My Expertise
My expertise is using implementation science to optimise the uptake, quality, and sustainment of community-based interventions in areas of hepatitis C, mental health, domestic and family violence and injury. I use mixed methods research to co-design, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions that enhance the social determinants of health for marginalised populations. My work has translated to better health, educational and social outcomes for youth and women domestically and internationally, demonstrating significant transdisciplinary impact.
Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Implementation science and evaluation, Health promotion, Health and community services, Mental health servicesSEO tags
Biography
Dr. Rachel Baffsky (BPsych Hons, MPH, PhD) is an implementation scientist and psychology researcher. Her expertise is supporting school-based mental health programs and community interventions in injury prevention, domestic violence, Hepatitis infection control, and cancer care. Dr. Baffsky’s mixed methods research combines co-design approaches and hybrid effectiveness/implementation studies to develop implementation strategies. She has...view more
Dr. Rachel Baffsky (BPsych Hons, MPH, PhD) is an implementation scientist and psychology researcher. Her expertise is supporting school-based mental health programs and community interventions in injury prevention, domestic violence, Hepatitis infection control, and cancer care. Dr. Baffsky’s mixed methods research combines co-design approaches and hybrid effectiveness/implementation studies to develop implementation strategies. She has taught postgraduate courses in Public Health at the University of New South Wales. In 2023, she was appointed as a Post-doctoral Fellow to enhance Hepatitis C point-of-care testing practices across Australia.
My Grants
2023-2024, National Health & Medical Research Council/Clinical Trials Activity (MRFF), Enhancing point-of-care testing for hepatitis C infection: the OPTIMISE study, $134,625 over 1 year. Taylor, N., Mazariego, C, Baffsky R,
2020-2023, Prevention is better than cure: Accelerating implementation of the Good Behaviour Game in primary schools, at scale. Tye, M., Baffsky, R., Ivers, R., Cullen, P., McGillivray L., Werner-Seidler, A., Calear, A., Batterham, P. J., Toumbourou, J.
2021-2023, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), PhD Scholarship. $81,597 over 3 years. Baffsky, R.
2022-2023, World Health Organisation, Scoping review on injury prevention initiatives in the Western Pacific. $65799 over 9 months. Peden, A., Baffsky, R., Swamy, K., Ivers, R.
2022-2023, Co-designing an implementation strategy for a youth suicide prevention digital health intervention in hospitals: A scoping study. Tye, M., Rheinberger, D., McGillivray L., Baffsky, R.
2022-2023, The co-design of a youth road safety web-based education intervention. Ivers, R., Wang, A., Baffsky, R., Cullen, P., Peden, A., Moeller, H., George, E., MacMillan, F.
2021-2022, Exploring the data and governance of clinical registries in Australia through an equity lens. Ivers, R., Baffsky, R., Ryder, C., Severin, J.
2020-2021, UNSW COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Initiative, Responses to domestic and family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cullen, P, Beek, K., Wayland, S., Baffsky, R.
2020-2021, NSW Ministry of Health, Transforming Domestic and Family Violence Response and Recovery Services, $60,000 over 1 year. Cullen, P., Stevenson, S., Longbottom, M., Walker, N., Baffsky, R.
2018-2020, Creating Chances, $144,956 over 3 years. Bunde-Birouste, A., Baffsky R., Nathan, S., Rawstorne, P
2018-2020, The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Football United to deliver multinational youth life skills and leadership programs, $294,223 over 3 years. Bunde-Birouste, A., Baffsky, R., Shwe, T.
2019-2022, The Macquarie Group Foundation, Creating Chances to implement Future Pathways programs to build young people’s capacity to successfully transition out of school to employment or education, $450,000 over 3 years. McCarroll B., Meney, S., Helal, A., Busby, M., Bunde-Birouste, A., Baffsky R.
2018-2020, FIFA Foundation Community Programme, UNSW to deliver its Football United program to promote social inclusion, $174,000 over 3 years. Bunde-Birouste, A., Baffsky, R., Shwe, T.
2019, Bloomberg Extra Mile Project, UNSW to deliver its Football United program at community sites. $16,311 over 1 year, Bunde-Birouste, A, Helal, A, Hill, N., Baffsky, R.
2019, The French Embassy in Myanmar, UNSW to deliver its Football United Myanmar program to build youth capacity and promote community cohesion, and peace-building in war-torn Yangon region. $38,200 over 1 year. Shwe, T., Bunde-Birouste, A, Baffsky, R.
My Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy from School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine (awarded February 2024, UNSW). Thesis: An implementation science approach to early mental health programs for children in Australian schools.
Master of Public Health (2016, The University of Sydney).
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (2012, The University of Sydney).
My Awards
2021-2023, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), PhD Scholarship. $81,597 over 3 years. Baffsky, R.
2022, Black Dog Institute, Knowledge Translation Award, $2989 to present PhD findings at the 22nd International Association for Adolescent Health European Regional Conference in Athens. Baffsky, R.
2022, Black Dog Institute, Emerge Research Award, $4596.86 to cover open-access fees. Baffsky, R.
2022, Black Dog Institute, Open Access Funding, $2613.88. Baffsky, R.
2021, Australian Health Promotion Association, Student Personal Development Award. Baffsky, R.
2012, Charles Perkins Centre, Summer Research Scholarship. Baffsky, R.
My Research Activities
Between 2018-2020, Dr Baffsky led the monitoring and evaluation of sports-based positive youth development program, Creating Chances, serving over 2,500 children and adolescents who experienced disadvantage across New South Wales. The program was found to improve young people's wellbeing and engagement with school. From 2021-2023, she worked with the NSW Department of Education and educators to support the uptake of internationally renowned socio-emotional learning program, PAX Good Behaviour Game, into over 300 primary schools in New South Wales. This led to improvements in emotional and behavioural symptoms for over 3,000 children. Dr Baffsky also contributed to the co-design of a world-first trauma recovery centre for women with experience of long-term domestic and family violence in the Illawarra region.