Dr Megan Ferguson

Honorary fellow

Qualifications:

PhD, Charles Darwin University, 2018; Master of Public Health, University of Queensland, 2007; Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Melbourne, 2004; Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics, Queensland University of Technology, 1995; Bachelor of Science, University of Queensland, 1993.

Location:

Brisbane

Biography:

Megan Ferguson has over 20 years' experience in the field of nutrition, predominantly in public health in remote Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory. This experience has been across food security, food supply and maternal and child health initiatives, working in the government, retail industry and research sector. Megan has also worked for international humanitarian agencies, implementing and evaluating nutrition and public health initiatives.

In 2012, Megan was awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship. Her research interests are in supporting local decision-makers in the use of evidence and in policy and practice, with a focus on improving food security and the food environment. 

Dr Megan Ferguson
Email
Research Themes
  1. Fehring, E., Ferguson, M., Brown, C., Murtha, K., Laws. C., Cuthbert, K., ... Brimblecombe, J. (2019). Supporting healthy drink choices in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: a community-led supportive environment approach. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12950.
  2. Brimblecombe, J., Ferguson, M., McMahon, E., Peeters, A., Miles, E., ... Mah, C. (2019). Reducing retail merchandising of discretionary food and beverages in remote indigenous community stores: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 8(3). doi: e12646. doi:10.2196/12646.
  3. Ferguson, M., O'Dea, K., Altman, J., Moodie, M. and Brimblecombe, J. (2018). Health-promoting food pricing policies and decision-making in very remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community stores in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(12). doi:10.3390/ijerph15122908.
  4. Brimblecombe, J., Ferguson, M., Barzi, F., Brown, C. and Ball, K. (2018). Mediators and moderators of nutrition intervention effects in remote Indigenous Australia. British Journal of Nutrition, 119, 1424-1433.
  5. Brimblecombe, J., Bailie, R., van den Boogaard, C., Wood, B., Liberato, S., ... Ritchie, J. (2017). Feasibility of a novel participatory multi-sector continuous improvement approach to enhance food security in remote Indigenous Australian communities. SSM Popul Health, 3, 566-576.
  6. Ferguson, M., Brown, C., Georga, C., Miles, E., Wilson, A. and Brimblecombe J. (2017). Traditional food availability and consumption in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41(3), 294-8.
  7. Brimblecombe, J., Ferguson, M., Chatfield, M.D., Liberato, S.C., Gunther, A., ... Bailie, R. (2017). Effect of a price discount and consumer education strategy on food and beverage purchases in remote Indigenous Australia: a stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial. Lancet Public Health, 2(2), e82-e95.
  8. Ferguson, M., O’Dea, K., Holden, S., Miles, E. and Brimblecombe, J. (2017). Food and beverage price discounts to improve health in remote Aboriginal communities: mixed method evaluation of a natural experiment. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41, 32-7.
  9. Ferguson, M., King, A. and Brimblecombe, J. (2016). Time for a shift in focus to improve food affordability for remote customers. Medical Journal of Australia, 204(11), 409.
  10. Ferguson, M., O’Dea, K., Chatfield, M., Moodie, M., Altman, J. and Brimblecombe, J. (2016). The comparative cost of food and beverages at remote Indigenous communities, Northern Territory, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(S1), s21-26. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12370.
Click here to view more Megan Ferguson publications in PubMed.
  1. Study to fight food insecurity in Indigenous communities

    Study to fight food insecurity in Indigenous communities

    Date

    The project was designed with the Apunipima Cape York Health Council and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. Menzies is collaborating on the project.

  2. CAAMA Radio | Traditional food trends

    CAAMA Radio | Traditional food trends

    Date

    Menzies researcher and lead author Megan Ferguson speaks to CAAMA's Paul Wiles about the publication of Traditional food availability and consumption in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory in the prestigious Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

  3. 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

  4. 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.