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  • Dr Ros Sambell

    Dr Ros Sambell

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Dr Ros Sambell

Senior Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 5424
Email: r.sambell@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8799-3441

Ros is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition, Community Nutrition and Food Habits and Trends.

Current Teaching

  • NUT1112  Public Health Nutrition,
  • NUT3221 Community Nutrition and
  • NUT3231 Food Habits and Trends

Background

  • 25 years involvement in Public Health Nutrition, lecturing, training, unit development, writing and delivery, contextualised to a variety of sectors, including aged care and childcare.
  • Unit Coordinator Nutrition and Public Health and Community Nutrition, School of Medical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University.  Co-lead Jamie’s Ministry of Food Program and Course Coordinator of Master of Public Health.

Professional Associations

  • NSA – Registered Public Health Nutritionist, Nutrition Society of Australia
  • PHAA – Public Health Association of Australia

Research Areas and Interests

  • Nutrition and food provision in childcare and aged care sector.  Food security and food literacy.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2023.
  • Master of Public Health, Edith Cowan University, 2013.
  • Graduate Diploma of Public Health, Edith Cowan University, 2012.

Research Outputs

2025

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Ruscoe, A., Costello, L., Kirk, G., Sambell, R., Devine, A. (2025). Little Aussie Bugs: piloting health literacy educational resources at Early Childhood Education and Care. Health Promotion International, 40(3), Article number daaf053. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf053.
  • Voisin, R., Godrich, S., Blake, D., Sambell, R., Herrington, S., Joyce, J., Horwitz, P., Devine, A. (2025). Comprehensive assessment instruments for place-based sustainable agriculture: a scoping review. Sustainability Science, 20(3), article number 100132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01629-3.
  • Wallace, R., Sambell, R., Fu, SC., Lo, J., Cook, E., Devine, A. (2025). Enhancing nutrition information utilisation, confidence and role legitimacy and adequacy among early childhood education professionals through evidence-based online training. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 50(1), 50-65. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/18369391241270539.
  • Cook, E., Sambell, R. (2025). Exploring how nutrition students used the relational employability framework to reflect on their micro-placement experiences. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 26(2), 249-273. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks2022-2026/5903.
  • Rees, J., Moes, K., Devine, A., Clarke, M., Sambell, R., Laws, S., Cruickshank, T. (2025). Co-Design of a Weekly Meal Box for Neurological Conditions: Findings From Consumer and Healthcare Provider Collaborative Workshops. Health Expectations, 28(5), e70412. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70412.

2024

Journal Articles

  • Andrew, L., Arthur, T., Mawer, T., Sambell, R., Krishnakumar, G., Lawlis, T. (2024). A Review of Australian Universities Work Integrated Learning Policies and Procedures: Referencing Disability. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 25(2), 259-289. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks2022-2026/5765.
  • Lawlis, T., Mawer, T., Bevitt, T., Arthur, T., Andrew, L., Wallace, R., Sambell, R., Devine, A. (2024). Host organizations’ perceptions to providing safe and inclusive work-integrated learning programs for students with disability. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 25(1), 95-107.
  • Voisin, R., Horwitz, P., Godrich, S., Sambell, R., Cullerton, K., Devine, A. (2024). What goes in and what comes out: a scoping review of regenerative agricultural practices. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 48(1), 124-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2023.2270441.
  • Kirkegaard, A., Irwin, C., Byrne, R., Sambell, R., Vincze, L. (2024). Barriers and enablers to a healthy food environment in Australian childcare services: Exploring directors' perspectives. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35(1), 122-133. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.722.
  • Brooker, PG., Poelman, AA., Livingstone, KM., Collins, CE., Mihrshahi, S., Sambell, R., Wu, JH., Hendrie, GA. (2024). Consolidating the evidence on the effectiveness of strategies to promote vegetable intake in priority settings: An overview of systematic reviews. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38(1), Article number e13398. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13398.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Johnston, M., O'Sullivan, T., Devine, A., Wallace, R., Costello, L., Sambell, R. (2023). Toddlers may be getting enough iron in long day-care services after all. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 36(5), 1901-1911. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13180.
  • Cox, DN., Campbell, KJ., Cobiac, L., Gardner, C., Hancock, L., Hendrie, G., Kelaart, A., Lausen, M., Poelman, A., Sambell, R., Tikellis, KM., Wiggins, B. (2023). Working together to increase Australian children’s liking of vegetables: a Position Statement by the Vegetable Intake Strategic Alliance (VISA). Public Health Nutrition, 26(11), 2271-2275. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023001398.
  • Hoteit, M., Hoteit, R., Aljawaldeh, A., Van Royen, K., Pabian, S., Decorte, P., Cuykx, I., Teunissen, L., De Backer, C., Bergheim, I., Staltner, R., Devine, A., Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Allehdan, SS., Alalwan, TA., Al-Mannai, MA., Ouvrein, G., Poels, K., Vandebosch, H., Maldoy, K., Matthys, C., Smits, T., Vrinten, J., Desmet, A., Teughels, N., Geuens, M., Vermeir, I., Proesmans, V., Hudders, L., De Barcellos, MD., Ostermann, C., Brock, AL., Favieiro, C., Trizotto, R., Stangherlin, I., Mafra, AL., Correa Varella, MA., Valentova, JV., Fisher, ML., Maceacheron, M., White, K., Habib, R., Dobson, DS., Schnettler, B., Orellana, L., Miranda-Zapata, E., Wen-Yu Chang, A., Jiao, W., Liu, MT., Grunert, KG., Christensen, RN., Reisch, L., Janssen, M., Abril-Ulloa, V., Encalada, L., Kamel, I., Vainio, A., Niva, M., Salmivaara, L., Mäkelä, J., Torkkeli, K., Mai, R., Risch, PK., Altsitsiadis, E., Stamos, A., Antronikidis, A., Henchion, M., McCarthy, S., McCarthy, M., Micalizzi, A., Schulz, PJ., Farinosi, M., Komatsu, H., Tanaka, N., Kubota, H., Tayyem, R., Al-Awwad, NJ., Al-Bayyari, N., Ibrahim, MO., Hammouh, F., Dashti, S., Dashti, B., Alkharaif, D., Alshatti, A., Al Mazedi, M., Mansour, R., Naim, E., Mortada, H., Gutierrez Gomez, YY., Geyskens, K., Goukens, C., Roy, R., Egli, V., Morenga, LT., Waly, M., Qasrawi, R., Hamdan, M., Sier, RA., Al Halawa, DA., Agha, H., Liria Domínguez, MR., Palomares, L., Wasowicz, G., Bawadi, H., Othman, M., Pakari, J., Farha, AA., Abu-El-Ruz, R., Petrescu, DC., Petrescu Mag, RM., Arion, F., Vesa, SC., Alkhalaf, MM., Bookari, K., Arrish, J., Rahim, Z., Kheng, R., Ngqangashe, Y., June-Rose McHiza, Z., Gonzalez-Gross, M., Pantoja-Arévalo, L., Gesteiro, E., Ríos, Y., Yiga, P., Ogwok, P., Ocen, D., Bamuwamye, M., Al Sabbah, H., Taha, Z., Ismail, LC., Aldhaheri, A., Pineda, E., Miraldo, M., Holford, DL., Van Den Bulck, H. (2023). Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries. Heliyon, 9(11), article number e21585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21585.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Trapp, G., Hooper, P., Billingham, W., Thornton, L., Sartori, A., Kennington, K., Devine, A., Godrich, S., Sambell, R., Howard, J., Bivoltsis, A. (2022). Would you like fries with that? Investigating fast‐food outlet availability near schools in Perth, Western Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(S1), 262-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.597.
  • Trapp, G., Pulker, C., Hurworth, M., Law, KK., Brinkman, S., Pollard, CM., Harray, AJ., Sambell, R., Mandzufas, J., Anzman-Frasca, S., Hickling, S. (2022). The Nutritional Quality of Kids’ Menus from Cafés and Restaurants: An Australian Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients, 14(13), article number 2741. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14132741.
  • Elford, A., Gwee, C., Veal, M., Jani, R., Sambell, R., Kashef, S., Love, P. (2022). Identification and Evaluation of Tools Utilised for Measuring Food Provision in Childcare Centres and Primary Schools: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), Article Number 4096. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074096.
  • Rees, J., Fu, SC., Lo, J., Sambell, R., Lewis, J., Christophersen, C., Byrne, M., Newton, R., Boyle, S., Devine, A. (2022). How a 7-Week Food Literacy Cooking Program Affects Cooking Confidence and Mental Health: Findings of a Quasi-Experimental Controlled Intervention Trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9(March 2022), Article number 802940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.802940.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Wilkinson, C., Clark, K., Sambell, R., Dare, J., Bright, S. (2021). The health of older Western Australians: the role of age, gender, geographic location, psychological distress, perceived health, tobacco and alcohol. Advances In Dual Diagnosis: Policy, Practice And Research In Mental Health And Substance Use, 14(2), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/ADD-12-2020-0026.
  • Sambell, R., Andrew, L., Devine, A., Darby, J., Beatty, S., Godrich, S. (2021). Opportunities to identify and develop people skills: What university students need early in their degree journey. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 12(2), 348-365. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/11761.
  • Forde, K., Costello, L., Devine, A., Sambell, R., Wallace, R. (2021). A multifaceted approach increased staff confidence to develop outside of school hours care as a health promoting setting. BMC Public Health, 21(15 December 2021), Article number 2286. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12360-w.
  • Andrew, L., Wallace, R., Sambell, R. (2021). A peer-observation initiative to enhance student engagement in the synchronous virtual classroom: A case study of a COVID-19 mandated move to online learning. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 18(4), Article number 14. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/10894.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Spence, A., Love, P., Byrne, R., Wakem, A., Matwiejczyk, L., Devine, A., Golley, R., Sambell, R. (2020). Childcare Food Provision Recommendations Vary across Australia: Jurisdictional Comparison and Nutrition Expert Perspectives. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), Article number 6793. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186793.
  • Hua, D., Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Vale, S., Devine, A. (2020). Food allergy management in Early Childhood Education and Care Services in Australia. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56(3), 394-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14633.
  • Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Lo, J., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2020). Increasing food expenditure in long day-care by an extra $0.50 per child/day would improve core food group provision. Nutrients, 12(4), Article number 968. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040968.
  • Rees, J., Christophersen, C., Lewis, J., Lo, J., Sambell, R., Costello, L., Walker, C., Byrne, M., Boyce, M., Newton, R., Devine, A. (2020). The study protocol for a pseudo-randomised pre-post designed controlled intervention trial to study the effects of a 7-week cooking program on self-efficacy and biomarkers of health: The ECU lifestyle and biomarkers get connected study (ECULABJMOF) including the Jamie's Ministry of Food WA participant experience. BMC Public Health, 20(1), Article number 1037. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09124-3.
  • Sambell, R., Devine, A., Lo, J., Lawlis, T. (2020). Work-integrated learning builds student identification of employability skills: Utilizing a food literacy education strategy. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 21(1), 63-87. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/8652.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Costello, L., Lo, J., Devine, A. (2019). Measuring food provision in Western Australian long day care (LDC) services: a weighed food record method/protocol at a service level. Nutrition Journal, 18(1), Article 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-019-0462-2.
  • Devine, A., Wallace, R., Lo, J., Miller, M., Sambell, R., Costello, L., Lombardi, K., Veurink, S. (2019). Online programs build confidence and improve healthy eating messages in Early Years services. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 44(2), 139-152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1836939119833244.
  • Sambell, R., Andrew, L., Godrich, S., Wolfgang, J., Vandenbroeck, D., Stubley, K., Rose, N., Newman, L., Horwitz, P., Devine, A. (2019). Local Challenges and Successes Associated with Transitioning to Sustainable Food System Practices for a West Australian Context: Multi-Sector Stakeholder Perceptions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11), Article number 2051. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16112051.
  • Lawlis, T., Sambell, R., Douglas-Watson, A., Belton, S., Devine, A. (2019). The Food Literacy Action Logic Model: A Tertiary Education Sector Innovative Strategy to Support the Charitable Food Sectors Need for Food Literacy Training. Nutrients, 11(4), Article number 837. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040837.

2018

Journal Articles

  • Hammershaimb Jacobsen, K., Sambell, R., Devine, A., Vale, S. (2018). Food allergy readiness and anaphylaxis management in early childhood education and care in Western Australia. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 43(4), 43-47. https://doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.43.4.05.

2014

Conference Publications

  • Sambell, R., Devine, A., Lo, J. (2014). Does the food group provision in early years' education and care settings in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia, meet national dietary requirements; and how can Home Economics support this?. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia (20-27). Home Economics Institute of Australia.

Research Projects

  • Nurturing Healthy Futures: Development of a Best Practice Guide for Food Environments in Early Childhood Education and Care in Western Australia, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Healthy Communities Grant, 2025 ‑ 2027, $1,388,706.
  • Foodcore Food and Nutrition Early Years Support pilot project, Foodcore Nutrition Services, Grant, 2025 ‑ 2026, $40,000.
  • Evaluating the feasibility of a co-designed meal box solution for people living with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinsons Association of WA Inc, Zrinski Research Grant, 2025 ‑ 2026, $121,069.
  • Little Aussie Bugs: Designing, piloting and evaluating online professional development to support early years educators build health literacy among young children, Academic Staff Association of Edith Cowan University, Solidarity Research Fund (SRF), 2024 ‑ 2025, $19,990.
  • Pathway to healthy food environments: a guide for local governments in Western Australia, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Healthway - Grant, 2018 ‑ 2023, $469,078.
  • Local Eats, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Healthy Communities Grant, 2022 ‑ 2023, $4,795.
  • Can the quality of life of young adults with Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis [CIA] be improved through participation in a DRUMBEAT© program?, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Health Promotion Project Grant, 2019 ‑ 2020, $5,000.
  • Social connectedness and healthy lifestyle support - What do regional communities want and do they use it?, Edith Cowan University, ECU Development Grant, 2017 ‑ 2018, $50,000.
  • SNACPlus: A whole-of-centre approach to healthy eating in WA Child Care Centres., Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Healthway - Research Starter Grant, 2014 ‑ 2016, $28,216.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Place based sustainable horticulture: a co-participatory exploration of agricultural metrics in southwestern Australia

Completed Supervisions

Assistant Supervisor

  • Master of Science (Medical Science), DRUMBEAT© for arthritis “a shared purpose” rather than a “lonely struggle”
  • Master of Public Health, Food allergy management in early childhood education and care (ecec) services: Are services aware of training guidelines for food allergy management?
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