Dr Bernadette Matthews has extensive experience in public health research, specialising in drowning prevention for more than 15 years. Her work spans the epidemiology of fatal drowning, non-fatal drowning and aquatic injury, swimming competency in children and adults, through to monitoring and evaluation of education interventions and major public awareness campaigns. She is passionate about ensuring the translation of research into practice and ensuring that people in all communities are provided with survival swimming and water safety education and skills. She was awarded the International Life Saving Federation Medal for her contribution to international lifesaving.
Bernadette is currently the Principal Research Associate and General Manager – Health Promotion and Communications for Life Saving Victoria in Australia. She works in collaboration with academia, government, industry, and community, on research, policy and practice and her work has been critical in leading changes in home pool fencing legislation, swimming and water safety in the school curriculum and evidence-based public water safety messaging campaigns. Bernadette has authored and co-authored several scientific papers, reports, drowning reports and water safety strategies at a local, state and international level (including Sri Lanka and Bahrain). She has also supervised several graduate students.
Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, Australia
Master of Agricultural Science, MAgrSc, Australia
Bachelor of Science (Biological), BSc, Australia
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Bernadette Matthews (researchgate.net)