Professor Ben Britton is a clinical and health psychologist at the University of Newcastle, where he focuses on improving health outcomes through the science of ‘behaviour change’. As a Co-Founder and Director of the Applied Clinical Communications, Effectiveness Skills and Systems (ACCESS) Lab, his work bridges the gap between clinical theory and frontline healthcare, ensuring psychological interventions are both effective and scalable within complex health systems.

With over two decades of experience in the Australian public health sector, Professor Britton brings a pragmatic, service-oriented perspective to his research. Prior to his academic appointment in 2025, he served as the Head of Psychology for Hunter New England Mental Health, leading a diverse workforce across acute psychiatric, community, and specialised services. This clinical background informs his commitment to developing a healthcare workforce capable of meeting the needs of vulnerable populations.

Professor Britton’s research portfolio is unified by the mission to facilitate sustainable behaviour change for both patients and clinicians. Key programs include the ‘Eating As Treatment’ (EAT) trial, which demonstrated significant improvements in nutrition and mortality for head and neck cancer patients. His broader research expertise encompasses somatic symptom disorders, veterans’ health, and the therapeutic potential of community-based interventions like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

A dedicated mentor, Professor Britton aims to train practitioners who are academically rigorous and clinically resilient. He holds a PhD in Psychiatry and a Doctorate of Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Newcastle, and he remains focused on optimising care pathways for individuals facing chronic conditions and complex social challenges.