Rate My Professor Allison Boyes

Dr Allison Boyes is a behavioural scientist and Senior Research Academic in the School of Medicine and Public Health (Health Behaviour Sciences) at the University of Newcastle. She holds a PhD in Behavioural Medicine from the University of Newcastle, a Master of Public Health from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Newcastle. Her career in health research exceeds 25 years, starting as a Research Assistant at the University of Sydney and University of Canberra, followed by Project Officer roles at Northern Sydney Area Health Service and the National Breast Cancer Centre. She advanced to Research Academic positions at the Cancer Council NSW, Hunter Medical Research Institute and Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology, and held NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowships (2014-2020) and Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowships (2014-2018). Currently, she is Research Fellow, Senior Research and Engagement Partner with the NSW Regional Cancer Research Network, and served as inaugural Program Leader of the Hunter Medical Research Institute Equity in Health and Wellbeing Research Program (2022-2024).

Boyes' research aims to improve wellbeing for individuals affected by chronic diseases, with emphasis on cancer, dementia, and mental health. She has developed patient outcome measures including the Supportive Care Needs Survey-SF34, validated in five languages, and dementia carer tools via the Australian Community of Practice in Research in Dementia. Her studies describe care experiences, such as psychosocial impacts of cancer survivorship and support needs for rural patients and older adults, and evaluate interventions like computerized distress screening, Cancer Council Helpline, support groups, legal referrals, exercise and nutrition for cancer survivors, and online peer support. As Chief Investigator on over 50 grants totaling more than $8 million, she has published 100 peer-reviewed articles cited over 3700 times, two book chapters, and seven commissioned reports. Key publications include 'Prevalence and predictors of the short-term trajectory of anxiety and depression in the first year after a cancer diagnosis: a population-based longitudinal study' (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2013), 'Brief assessment of adult cancer patients' perceived needs: Development and validation of the 34-item Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34)' (Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2009), and 'Screening and Assessment for Unmet Needs' (book chapter, 2015). Awards encompass Paper of the Year – Health Service/Epidemiological (UNSW, 2014), Research Higher Degree Excellence Award (University of Newcastle, 2013), Best Oral Presentation (Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, 2004), and Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing (European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2014).