Ben O'Mara is an Adjunct Fellow in the Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales, and in Media and Communications, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design at Swinburne University. He also works as the Information Resource Manager at Motor Neurone Disease Australia.
Ben writes for academic and general audiences. He has worked in university research for over fifteen years, including as a post doctoral research fellow and research officer.
More recently, he has delivered communication, training and evaluation projects on smoking cessation for the health and homelessness sectors, as well as research into preventing harm caused by alcohol and other drugs in Australia. Ben is currently developing information resources for people living with motor neurone disease (MND), including their recent guide to end of life care for people living with MND.
Ben's main areas of expertise are in health communication, information technology, cultural and linguistic diversity and alcohol and other drug dependence. His postdoctoral research explored opportunities and challenges in using social media, smartphones and other information technology for health communication with people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Melbourne's west.
Ben is an author of articles for Health Education Research Journal, Health Promotion International, Race, Ethnicity and Education Journal, Australian Journal of Public Administration and International Journal of Health Policy and Management. He has presented on his work at numerous conferences, including the World Congress on Public Health, World Cancer Congress, APSAD Scientific Conference and the MND Australia Conference.
Experience
2022–present
Adjunct Fellow, Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales
2016–present
Adjunct Research Fellow, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University
2012–2013
Adjunct Research Associate, Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University
2012–2012
Adjunct Fellow, Centre for Diversity and Wellbeing, Victoria University
2011–2012
Research Officer, School of Education, Victoria University
2008–2011
Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), Victoria University
2006–2008
Administrative and Communication Officer, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), Victoria University
2004–2006
Project Officer, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), Victoria University
Education
2006
Deakin University, PhD
1999
Deakin University, Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Publications
2021
Building equitable health and social policy in Australia to improve immigrant health literacy, Health Promotion Journal of Australia
2021
Making videogames more inclusive for people living with MND: protocol for a scoping review, Games for Change Asia-Pacific Journal
2021
Telehealth, COVID-19 and Refugees and Migrants in Australia: Policy and Related Barriers and Opportunities for More Inclusive Health and Technology Systems, International Journal of Health Policy and Management
2020
Community-based health promotion about alcohol and other drugs in a multicultural Australia—what works? A review of evidence, Health Education Research Journal
2020
The effectiveness of changes to drug policy, regulation and legislation for reducing harms associated with opioids and supporting their medicinal use in Australia, Canada and the UK: A systematic review, Evidence Base
2019
Do multilingual androids dream of a better life in Australia? Effectiveness of information technology for government translation to support refugees and migrants in Australia, Australian Journal of Public Administration
2014
Intercultural crossings in a digital age: ICT pathways with migrant and refugee-background youth, Race Ethnicity and Education
2014
Aged care, cultural and linguistic diversity and IT in Australia: a critical perspective, International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
2012
Social media, digital video and health promotion in a culturally and linguistically diverse Australi, Health Promotion International
2012
Cutting With Rhythm: The Backbeat of Ben Joss, Screen Education
2011
The Drifters, Meanjin
2011
Digital Technology, Diabetes and CALD Communities: A Case Study with Elderly Vietnamese Women, Health Education Journal
2010
This Is Not A Hobby, Meanjin
Grants and Contracts
2023
Game on with MND: Making Videogames More Inclusive for People with MND
Role:
Project Manager and Adjunct Research Fellow
Funding Source:
Fight MND
2021
Her Flame Burns Brighter: Evaluation
Role:
Adjunct Research Fellow
Funding Source:
Department of Health
2019
Effectiveness of changes to drug policy, regulation and legislation for reducing harms associated with opioids and support their medicinal use in Australia, Canada and the UK
Role:
Adjunct Research Fellow
Funding Source:
Australia and New Zealand School of Government
2011
Trustworthy Technology Exchanges: An Intergenerational Samoan Australian Social Media Project
Role:
Adjunct Fellow
Funding Source:
Telematics Trust
2010
Promoting Using ICT for Chronic Disease Self-Management by CALD Communities
Role:
Project Coordinator
Funding Source:
Department of Health and Ageing
2009
Access and Use of ICT for Communicating Health and Wellbeing Messages with CALD Communities
Role:
Research Fellow
Funding Source:
VicHealth
Research Areas
Communication Technology And Digital Media Studies (200102)
Public Health And Health Services (1117)
Performing Arts And Creative Writing (1904)
Multicultural, Intercultural And Cross Cultural Studies (200209)