Dr Kathleen McElwaine is a postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in psychology and health sciences, focused on reducing disparities in preventable chronic disease among people with mental health conditions. Her research targets common modifiable health risk behaviours—including smoking, poor nutrition, alcohol overconsumption, and physical inactivity—to improve physical health outcomes in this population.

She completed a PhD at the University of Newcastle, where her research focused on increasing the delivery of preventive care by primary care nurses and allied health clinicians for these health risk behaviours. Her academic training began with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours Class I), also at the University of Newcastle, where she investigated motivation to quit smoking among people with mental illness.

Dr McElwaine has contributed to a range of research projects examining strategies to reduce the prevalence of health risk behaviours, predominantly among community health clients and individuals with mental health conditions. She currently works as a Senior Research Officer with the Physical Health in Mental Illness (PHiMI) research group at the University of Newcastle, applying expertise in literature synthesis, data analysis, and project management. In addition to her research role, she has teaching experience as a casual academic across multiple psychology courses and is currently co-supervising two psychology honours students.