Associate Professor Julie Brimblecombe

Honorary fellow

Qualifications:

PhD, Charles Darwin University, 2007; Postgraduate Certificate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Charles Darwin University, 2005; Master of Public Health, University of New South Wales, 2001; Post-graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Queensland, 1988; Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry and Physiology), University of Queensland, 1984.

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Principal Supervisor for PhD

Location:

Darwin - Royal Darwin Hospital campus

Biography:

Julie has worked cross-culturally in the South Pacific and with remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities for over 20 years. 

Since being awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council Public Health Fellowship in 2009, Julie has developed a significant research program in the area of Indigenous nutrition and is contributing to the evidence base to inform policy and practice.

Her research focuses on population dietary interventions, determinants of healthy eating and building capacity to support community-driven decision-making for nutrition improvement. She is currently leading the SHOP@RIC trial which is assessing the effect of a price discount on fruit and vegetables, diet drinks and water on store food purchases in 20 remote communities.

Research Themes
  1. Thompson, S.L., Chenhall, R.D., & Brimblecombe, J.K. (2013). Indigenous perspectives on active living in remote Australia: A qualitative exploration of the socio-cultural link between health, the environment and economics. BMC Public Health, 13, 473.
  2. Brimblecombe, J., Ferguson, M., Liberato, S., & O'Dea, K. (2013). Characteristics of the community-level diet in remote Aboriginal northern Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 198(7), 380-4.
  3. Hume, A., O'Dea, K., & Brimblecombe, J. (2013). A survey of remote Aboriginal horticulture and community gardens in the top end of Australia's Northern Territory. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health.  In Press.
  4. Maple-Brown, L.J., Brimblecombe, J., Connelly, P.W., Harris, S.B., Mamakeesick, M., Zinman, B., et al. (2013). Similarities and differences in cardiometabolic risk factors among remote Aboriginal Australian and Canadian cohorts. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 100(1), 133-141.
  5. Brimblecombe, J., Liddle, R., & O'Dea, K.. (2012). Use of point-of-sale data to assess food and nutrient quality in remote stores. Public Health Nutrition, 16(7), 1159-1167.
  6. Black, A.P., Brimblecombe, J., Eyles, H., Morris, P., Vally, H., & O’Dea, K. (2012). Food subsidy programs and the health and nutritional status of disadvantaged families in high income countries: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 12, 1099.
  7. Thomas, D.P., Ferguson, M., Johnston, V., & Brimblecombe, J. (2012). Impact and Perceptions of Tobacco Tax Increase in Remote Australian Aboriginal Communities. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 15(6), 1099-1106. 
  8. Cargo, M., Marks, E., Brimblecombe, J., Scarlett, M., Maypilama, E., Dhurrkay, J.G., & Daniel, M. (2011). Integrating an ecological approach into an Aboriginal community-based chronic disease prevention program: a longitudinal process evaluation. BMC Public Health 11, 299.
  9. Liberato, S.C., Brimblecombe, J., Ritchie, J., Ferguson, M., & Coveney, J. (2011). Measuring capacity building in communities: a review of the literature. BMC Public Health, 11, 850.
  10. Brimblecombe, J.K., McDonnell, J., Barnes, A., Dhurrkay, J.G., Thomas, D.P., & Bailie, R.S.. (2010). Impact of income management on store sales in the Northern Territory. Medical Journal of Australia, 192(10), 549-54.
Click here to view more Julie Brimblecombe publications in PubMed.
  1. Creating food retail environments for health

    Creating food retail environments for health

    Date

    WE are excited to announce the establishment of the first National Health and Medical Research Council Centre (NHMRC) for Research Excellence in Food Retail Environments for Health.

  2. CRANAplus magazine | Thumbs up for GOOD TUCKER app

    CRANAplus magazine | Thumbs up for GOOD TUCKER app

    Date

    A free healthy food app designed to help people from remote communities make healthier food and beverage choices at local stores has been launched.

  3. $12 Million NT Investment aims to save lives

    $12 Million NT Investment aims to save lives

    Date

    Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt AM today announced the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding for researchers at Darwin’s Menzies School of Medical Research, covering Indigenous-specific and broader health projects.

  4. Good Tucker app gets thumbs up from Rob

    Good Tucker app gets thumbs up from Rob

    Date

    The Good Tucker app scans a product’s barcode and then shows how healthy or unhealthy it is with a simple thumbs up, sideways or down message.

  5. 'Good tucker, long life': Hopes app will turn Indigenous eating habits around

    'Good tucker, long life': Hopes app will turn Indigenous eating habits around

    Date

    The Good Tucker app is designed to put free, instant and easy advice in the palm of your hand, moving away from conventional forms of healthy food campaigning.

  6. Traditional food trends in remote Northern Territory communities

    Traditional food trends in remote Northern Territory communities

    Date

    The majority of Aboriginal people living in remote Northern Territory communities are regularly using traditional foods in their diets according to research from Menzies School of Health Research published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health today

  7. Food price gap shows need for subsidies and promo deals for remote areas

    Food price gap shows need for subsidies and promo deals for remote areas

    Date

    Every year in the Northern Territory, government and non-government public health nutritionists gather data on the cost of a standardised basket of food... the price difference for grocery type foods was 136%.

  8. Food price gap shows need for subsidies and promo deals for remote areas

    Food price gap shows need for subsidies and promo deals for remote areas

    Date

    Every year in the Northern Territory, government and non-government public health nutritionists gather data on the cost of a standardised basket of food.

  9. MacKillop funding bolsters Good Tucker in Nyirripi

    MacKillop funding bolsters Good Tucker in Nyirripi

    Date

    A Menzies project which aims to support better nutrition in remote Aboriginal communities has been awarded $9000 in funding by the Mary MacKillop Foundation.

  10. The Conversation: Indigenous child health improves when fruit and veg are cheap

    The Conversation: Indigenous child health improves when fruit and veg are cheap

    Date

    Providing subsidised fruit and vegetable scheme to low-income Indigenous families in northern New South Wales improves children’s health and significantly reduces antibiotic use, a new study has found.

  11. SBS World News: Alarm over diets in remote communities

    SBS World News: Alarm over diets in remote communities

    Date

    Researchers in the Northern Territory have expressed alarm over the diets of Indigenous people in remote communities.

  12. SBS World News: Remote communities 'eat mostly processed foods'

    SBS World News: Remote communities 'eat mostly processed foods'

    Date

    The Menzies School of Health Research study into diets in three Northern Territory communities shows residents are eating mostly processed foods.

  13. MJA: Characteristics of the community-level diet of Aboriginal people in remote northern Australia

    MJA: Characteristics of the community-level diet of Aboriginal people in remote northern Australia

    Date

    To describe the nutritional quality of community-level diets in remote northern Australian communities.

  14. Research reveals concerning nutrition outcomes in remote communities

    Research reveals concerning nutrition outcomes in remote communities

    Date

    Some remote Indigenous communities are spending as little as 2.2 per cent of total food expenditure on fruit and just 5.4 per cent on vegetables according to a study by the Menzies School of Health Research, published in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

  15. Closing the Gap 2013: three good news stories

    Closing the Gap 2013: three good news stories

    Date

    With the Prime Minister’s Closing the Gap report published in February this year, here are three ways Menzies is helping to improve the lifespan and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.