Dr. Rona Macniven

Biography

Rona Macniven specializes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, with specific interests in physical activity and sport. Her research involves co-design, delivery, and evaluation of projects that address complex health priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including ear health, fall prevention, and dementia prevention. She is committed to improving both the physical health and social-emotional wellbeing of these communities throughout the lifespan. Rona leads epidemiological and community evaluation research studies in collaboration with multiple academic institutions and community groups, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. She has also undertaken consultancy work and secondment placements with large Australian NGOs to translate research into practice. Rona holds a PhD in Public Health, focused on physical activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia from the University of Sydney, where she also serves as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Currently, she works as a Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales, actively engaged in research that addresses pressing health issues in Indigenous communities.

Research Interests