Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Professor Lauren Ball
Professor

Lauren Ball

Email: 
Phone: 
*

Overview

Background

My vision for Australia’s future is that knowledge creators are embedded and intertwined within the communities they serve. Discovery and understanding come from listening, genuine connection and enrichment. I creatively blend research excellence, leadership and strategy to create new knowledge for a better world.

As a researcher, my work shapes how communities thrive through health and wellbeing. I am Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing at The University of Queensland. Together with my team, we are internationally acclaimed with several awards and accolades for research excellence.

As a leader, I inspire people and organisations to imagine a more prosperous future. I bring people together and harness their collective ability to create innovative solutions to solve complex challenges.

As a strategist, I have a fresh and engaging approach to developing a shared vision, mapping the path, celebrating achievement and transforming improbable goals into realistic expectations.

The cornerstone of my work is leading the Springfield Living Lab. Living labs use geographical boundaries and systems thinking approaches to examine whole-of-city implementation and innovation mechanisms. They leverage infrastructure and partnerships to enable codesigned, pragmatic solutions in health and other disciplines that drive knowledge translation to benefit other contexts and regions. Springfield exemplifies the defining features of a living lab through its integrated urban design, strong local governance, and commitment to innovation across health, education, and technology. As Australia’s largest master-planned city, Springfield offers a contained, yet complex, real-world environment to co-create, test, and refine solutions to contemporary issues facing society. Living labs are increasingly recognised as effective models for place-based research, characterised by multi-stakeholder collaboration, iterative development, and embeddedness within everyday community life.

I have an international reputation for research excellence in primary care, community care, hospital services, allied health, health promotion and health policy. I use this expertise to drive improvements to the way community members are supported in pursuing their health and wellbeing. I am always looking to work with people, teams and organisations who share my vision. Together, we have the power to inspire, connect and deliver on new opportunities that will open doors to innovation and exemplify how communities prosper and thrive.

Please get in touch to explore how we can work together.

Availability

Professor Lauren Ball is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Works

Search Professor Lauren Ball’s works on UQ eSpace

225 works between 2010 and 2025

1 - 20 of 225 works

2025

Journal Article

Clenbuterol and the cost of cutting: A brief report comparing self-reported side effects of clenbuterol consumption to anabolic-androgenic steroid compounds

Bonenti, Benjamin, Puljević, Cheneal, Steve, Vigorous, Ferris, Jason, Davies, Emma, Barratt, Monica J., Winstock, Adam, Grobler, Etienne, Ganson, Kyle T., Ball, Lauren and Piatkowski, Timothy (2025). Clenbuterol and the cost of cutting: A brief report comparing self-reported side effects of clenbuterol consumption to anabolic-androgenic steroid compounds. Performance Enhancement & Health, 13 (4) 100356, 100356-4. doi: 10.1016/j.peh.2025.100356

Clenbuterol and the cost of cutting: A brief report comparing self-reported side effects of clenbuterol consumption to anabolic-androgenic steroid compounds

2025

Journal Article

The business of dietetics: Results from the national Australian private practice dietetics dataset

Kirkegaard, Amy, Clark, Peter, Wright, Olivia R. L. and Ball, Lauren (2025). The business of dietetics: Results from the national Australian private practice dietetics dataset. Nutrition & Dietetics 1747-0080.70036. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.70036

The business of dietetics: Results from the national Australian private practice dietetics dataset

2025

Journal Article

Development and baseline findings of a national dataset describing Australian private practice dietetics

Kirkegaard, Amy, Wright, Olivia, Clark, Peter and Ball, Lauren (2025). Development and baseline findings of a national dataset describing Australian private practice dietetics. Nutrition & Dietetics 1747-0080.70027. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.70027

Development and baseline findings of a national dataset describing Australian private practice dietetics

2025

Journal Article

Two decades of Medicare: An updated review of Medicare‐subsidised dietetics services in Australia

Kirkegaard, Amy, Lepre, Breanna, Bartrim, Karly and Ball, Lauren (2025). Two decades of Medicare: An updated review of Medicare‐subsidised dietetics services in Australia. Nutrition and Dietetics 1747-0080.70016. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.70016

Two decades of Medicare: An updated review of Medicare‐subsidised dietetics services in Australia

2025

Journal Article

Effectiveness of general practitioner-delivered nutrition care on dietary and health outcomes in adults with chronic conditions: A systematic review

Asher, Kathryn E, Somerville, Mari, Ball, Lauren, Hickson, Mary, Dombrowski, Stephan U, Luke, Alison and Doucet, Shelley (2025). Effectiveness of general practitioner-delivered nutrition care on dietary and health outcomes in adults with chronic conditions: A systematic review. BMJ Open , 15 (8) e090877, e090877. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090877

Effectiveness of general practitioner-delivered nutrition care on dietary and health outcomes in adults with chronic conditions: A systematic review

2025

Journal Article

Where is the nutrition? Content analysis of learning objectives within tertiary medicine and health degree programs at an Australian university

Derry, Mackenzie G, Ball, Lauren and Lepre, Breanna (2025). Where is the nutrition? Content analysis of learning objectives within tertiary medicine and health degree programs at an Australian university. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health e001263, bmjnph-2025. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2025-001263

Where is the nutrition? Content analysis of learning objectives within tertiary medicine and health degree programs at an Australian university

2025

Book Chapter

Healthy Eating

Ray, Sumantra, Lepre, Breanna, Amati, Federica and Ball, Lauren (2025). Healthy Eating. Essential Lifestyle Medicine. (pp. 102-121) Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781009391573.012

Healthy Eating

2025

Journal Article

Community listening to understand determinants of healthy eating in an Australian priority community

Kadariya, Shanti, Parkinson, Joy, Marsh, Julie and Ball, Lauren (2025). Community listening to understand determinants of healthy eating in an Australian priority community. Health Promotion International, 40 (2) daaf040. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaf040

Community listening to understand determinants of healthy eating in an Australian priority community

2025

Journal Article

Maximising the potential of type 2 diabetes remission: scale up and sustainability considerations from the DiRECT-Aus implementation trial

Gunatillaka, Nilakshi, Advocat, Jenny, Ball, Lauren, Haines, Terry, Williams, Cylie, Chai, Tze Lin, Bowden, Mitchell, Savaglio, Melissa, Gudorf, Kate and Sturgiss, Elizabeth (2025). Maximising the potential of type 2 diabetes remission: scale up and sustainability considerations from the DiRECT-Aus implementation trial. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 31 (2) PY24116, 2. doi: 10.1071/py24116

Maximising the potential of type 2 diabetes remission: scale up and sustainability considerations from the DiRECT-Aus implementation trial

2025

Journal Article

Omnivore, vegan and vegetarian diet quality associations with depressive symptoms: A comparative cross-sectional analysis of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

Lee, Megan, Ball, Lauren, Hill, Simon, Crowe, Timothy C., Walsh, Hayley, Cosgrove, Tylor and Best, Talitha (2025). Omnivore, vegan and vegetarian diet quality associations with depressive symptoms: A comparative cross-sectional analysis of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Journal of Affective Disorders, 370, 18-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.10.119

Omnivore, vegan and vegetarian diet quality associations with depressive symptoms: A comparative cross-sectional analysis of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

2025

Journal Article

‘The weight of expectation’–how weight stigma is impacting dietetic practice

Brown, Adrian, Flint, Stuart W. and Ball, Lauren (2025). ‘The weight of expectation’–how weight stigma is impacting dietetic practice. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38 (1) JHN70017. doi: 10.1111/jhn.70017

‘The weight of expectation’–how weight stigma is impacting dietetic practice

2025

Journal Article

Nutrition education and practice in university dental and oral health programmes and curricula: a scoping review

Kataoka, Minako, Adam, Lee Ann, Ball, Lauren Elizabeth, Crowley, Jennifer and McLean, Rachael Mira (2025). Nutrition education and practice in university dental and oral health programmes and curricula: a scoping review. European Journal of Dental Education, 29 (1), 64-83. doi: 10.1111/eje.13045

Nutrition education and practice in university dental and oral health programmes and curricula: a scoping review

2025

Journal Article

How do people living with cancer navigate health systems? : A multi–grounded theory

Hennessey, Emma, Kirkegaard, Amy and Ball, Lauren (2025). How do people living with cancer navigate health systems? : A multi–grounded theory. Cancer Nursing. doi: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001468

How do people living with cancer navigate health systems? : A multi–grounded theory

2025

Journal Article

Ten pressure points in primary care during COVID-19: findings from an international narrative review

Dykgraaf, Sally Hall, Parkinson, Anne, Wright, Michael, Wong, William C. W., Desborough, Jane, Ball, Lauren, Sturgiss, Elizabeth, Dut, Garang M., Barnes, Katelyn, Butler, Danielle, Davis, Steph, Douglas, Kirsty, Kendir, Candan, Martin, Danielle, Marten, Robert, Rouleau, Katherine, Barkley, Shannon, de Toca, Lucas and Kidd, Michael (2025). Ten pressure points in primary care during COVID-19: findings from an international narrative review. BMC Primary Care, 26 (1) 19, 19. doi: 10.1186/s12875-024-02640-w

Ten pressure points in primary care during COVID-19: findings from an international narrative review

2025

Journal Article

Effectiveness of dietetic care for cancer survivors in the primary care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Ryding, Henriette G., Mitchell, Lana J., Rigby, Roshan R., Ball, Lauren, Hobby, Julie and Williams, Lauren T. (2025). Effectiveness of dietetic care for cancer survivors in the primary care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 19 (5), 1694-1725. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01583-6

Effectiveness of dietetic care for cancer survivors in the primary care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

2024

Journal Article

Food, nutrition and dining information on residential aged care facility websites: a website analysis

Tan, Zavier Kok Shen, Pashley, Alice, Ball, Lauren, Wright, Olivia Renee Louise and Bartrim, Karly (2024). Food, nutrition and dining information on residential aged care facility websites: a website analysis. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 44 (1) e13388, e13388. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13388

Food, nutrition and dining information on residential aged care facility websites: a website analysis

2024

Journal Article

What factors affect the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals working in hospitals? A systematic literature review

Baumgartner, Laure, Wright, Olivia, Barne, Katelyn, Bartrim, Karly, Kirkegaard, Amy, Sullivan, Victoria, Burch, Emily and Ball, Lauren (2024). What factors affect the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals working in hospitals? A systematic literature review. Australian Health Review, 49 (1) AH24287. doi: 10.1071/ah24287

What factors affect the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals working in hospitals? A systematic literature review

2024

Conference Publication

Measurable and immeasurable spread of knowledge for research impact: the NutComp tool

Ball, Lauren, Lepre, Breanna and Dorssen, Clare Van (2024). Measurable and immeasurable spread of knowledge for research impact: the NutComp tool. 9th International summit on food, nutrition and health, Virtual, 15 June 2023. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2024-nnedprosummit2023.2

Measurable and immeasurable spread of knowledge for research impact: the NutComp tool

2024

Journal Article

Medical certificates: more than just paperwork

Delshad, Parvin, Ball, Lauren and Arab, Reza (2024). Medical certificates: more than just paperwork. Australian Journal of General Practice, 53 (11 Supplement), S123-S127. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7154

Medical certificates: more than just paperwork

2024

Journal Article

Cocreating eating disorder education solutions: a design thinking approach to dietetics curricula in Australia

Heafala, Alana, Rundle‐Thiele, Sharyn, Ball, Lauren and Mitchell, Lana J. (2024). Cocreating eating disorder education solutions: a design thinking approach to dietetics curricula in Australia. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 37 (5), 1219-1230. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13333

Cocreating eating disorder education solutions: a design thinking approach to dietetics curricula in Australia

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Helping Those Who Help: A co-created lifestyle intervention for health professionals to maximise retention and performance.
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    Active Choices for Springfield: A veteran-led online program to support physically active and connected lifestyles in a priority regional community
    Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium (a 2023 MRFF MMPC Stream 1 grant led by University of New South Wales)
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Springfield Healthy Hearts Longitudinal Co-Design
    Mater Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Review of Queensland's refugee health services
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Evaluation of the Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic Care service
    Mater Misericordiae Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Capitalising on the potential of the primary care setting to facilitate healthy eating in the Australian population.
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Feasibility of patient-led, technology-assisted nutrition screening in hospital
    Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Lauren Ball is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Health for EVERYbody: improving the reach and effectiveness of public health initiatives through weight-inclusivity

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amy Kirkegaard, Associate Professor Mark Robinson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Olivia Wright, Dr Karly Bartrim

  • Master Philosophy

    Measuring the value of the dietitian in eating disorder treatment.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amy Kirkegaard

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Using codesign to increase teachers' ability to deliver effective nutrition education to primary school children

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amy Kirkegaard, Associate Professor Mark Robinson, Dr Adam Hulme

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Supporting cardiovascular and planetary health through nature-based physical activity: a resource for primary healthcare professionals.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amy Kirkegaard

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Promotion of healthy takeaway food through community organising

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the Impact of Culinary Education on Adolescents¿ Psychosocial Wellbeing

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Olivia Wright, Dr Breanna Lepre, Dr Aoife-Marie Foran

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Examining the Impact of Community Gardens on Social Cohesion

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Breanna Lepre

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Interventions that support health professionals in their personal health behaviours

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Breanna Lepre

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Bridging Gaps: Enhancing Oral Health in Culturally Diverse Paediatric Populations

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan, Dr Diep Ha, Associate Professor Sobia Zafar

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Lauren Ball directly for media enquiries about:

  • Aged Care
  • Allied Health
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Chronic Disease
  • Community
  • Community Care
  • Community Health
  • Cooking
  • Diabetes
  • Digital Health
  • Food
  • Food Literacy
  • Food Security
  • General Practice
  • Health
  • Health economics
  • Health Literacy
  • Health Policy
  • Healthcare
  • Higher Education
  • Mental Health
  • Nutrition
  • Obesity
  • Physical Activity
  • Prevention
  • Preventive Health
  • Primary Care
  • Public Health
  • Science Communication
  • Wellbeing

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au