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  • Dr Shantha Karthigesu

    Dr Shantha Karthigesu

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Dr Shantha Karthigesu

Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Email: s.karthigesu@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO17.111  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3100-5253

Shantha is a Teaching and Research Scholar with active research projects on the intergenerational influence on the health and wellbeing of young families.

Current Teaching

Unit Co-ordinator

  • SCH3239 Human Immunology
  • SCH3227 Biology of Human Disease

Lecturer, Tutor and Lab Demonstrator

  • MHS1101 Anatomy and Physiology 1
  • MHS1102 Anatomy and Physiology 2

Lecturer and Tutor

  • MMS3101 Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease

Program Co-ordinator

  • K05 Bachelor of Biomedical Science ECU Sri Lanka

Background

  • 2019-present Lecturer (Anatomy and Physiology, Human Immunology, Biology of Human Disease, Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease), School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia
  • 2015-2018 Sessional lecturer and tutor (Anatomy and Physiology, Behavioural Ecology, Human Evolution and Ecology) School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia
  • 2005-2015 Professor-Continuing Education (Anatomy and Physiology), Humber Polytechnic/University of Guelph-Humber, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • 2010-2011-Teaching Assistant (Anthropology), University of Toronto, Canada
  • 2004-2010-Tutorial Facilitator (Anatomy and Physiology), Humber Polytechnic/University of New Brunswick, Toronto, ON, Canada

Professional Associations

  • European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association
  • International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health
  • Human Behaviour and Evolution Society
  • Australasian Society for Human Biology
  • The Association for Anthropology, Gerontology and the Life Course

Awards and Recognition

  • 2015 : Edith Cowan University Postgraduate Research Scholarship
  • 2010 : Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships, Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CAD17,500)
  • 2009 : University of Toronto Fellowship Award (CAD28,000)

Research Areas and Interests

Intergenerational health influences, indigenous health, infant nutrition (breastfeeding behaviour), food security, medical anthropology, evolutionary perspective on health and disease, human behavioural ecology, mixed methods research.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2019.
  • Bachelor of Education, Canada, 2013.
  • Master of Science, Canada, 2011.
  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Western Australia, 2002.

Research Outputs

2025

Journal Articles

  • Coall, D., Sear, R., Karthigesu, S., Chisholm, J. (2025). Hierarchical response models: new perspectives on development. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X25100939.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Andrew, L., Karthigesu, S., Coall, D., Sim, M., Dare, J., Boxall, K. (2023). What makes a space safe? Consumers' perspectives on a mental health safe space. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(5), 1355-1364. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13174.
  • Dare, J., Wilkinson, C., Karthigesu, S., Coall, D., Marquis, R. (2023). Keeping the family: A socio-ecological perspective on the challenges of child removal and reunification for mothers who have experienced substance-related harms. Children and Youth Services Review, 145(February 2023), Article number 106772. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106772.

2022

Reports

  • Boylan, J., Goodman, H., Karthigesu, S., Holmes, L., Dickson, J., Cattani, M., Coall, D. (2022). TCS@HOME PILOT PROGRAM: A qualitative exploration of the high attrition rate experienced in the pretest/post-test control study. Joondalup. Edith Cowan Univeristy.
  • Boylan, J., Goodman, H., Karthigesu, S., Holmes, L., Dickson, J., Cattani, M., Coall, D. (2022). TCS@HOME PILOT PROGRAM The psychological safety of volunteering from home as a Lifeline WA telephone crisis supporter. Joondalup. Edith Cowan Univeristy.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Dare, J., Seiver, H., Andrew, L., Coall, D., Karthigesu, S., Sim, M., Boxall, K. (2021). Co-creating visual representations of safe spaces with mental health service users using photovoice and Zoom. Methods in Psychology, 5(December 2021), Article number 100059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2021.100059.
  • Adua, E., Afrifa-Yamoah, E., Frimpong, K., Adama, E., Karthigesu, S., Anto, E., Aboagye, E., Yan, Y., Wang, Y., Tan, X., Wang, W. (2021). Construct validity of the Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25 in a Ghanaian population. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 19(July 2021), Article number 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01810-z.

2020

Reports

  • Coall, D., Wenden, L., Karthigesu, S., Robertson, F., Dare, J., Marquis, R. (2020). The Hidden Voices of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A State-wide Survey. Australia. Wanslea Family Services.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Taylor, M., Coall, D., Karthigesu, S. (2019). Who’ll Care for Them in the Event of Me Dying? Custodial Grandparents’ Incapacity, Mortality, and Succession Care-Plan Fears for Their Custodial Grandchild/ren. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 17(2), 178-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.2018.1535344.

2018

Journal Articles

Research Projects

  • ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child - The parent-child communication implications of infant feeding apps, Australian Research Council, Grant - Centres of Excellence (CEE126), 2022 ‑ 2025, $15,565.
  • Telephone Crisis Supporter @ Home Evaluation with Lifeline WA, Lifeline WA, Grant, 2021 ‑ 2023, $75,885.
  • Resourceful Minds Pilot Evaluation with Lifeline WA, Lifeline WA, Grant, 2021 ‑ 2022, $97,369.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Holding the Fort: Caregivers' wellbeing of left-behind children in Bhutan

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Grandparental Investment, Motivation, and Health: Development and Implementation of the Grandparent Autonomou Motivation Inventory

Completed Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Why do Grandparents Care?
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