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Associate Professor Leesa Costello

Associate Professor

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 5459
Facsimile: +61 8 6304 5449
Email: L.costello@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1139-3228

Associate Professor Leesa Costello is the Discipline Lead for Public Health and Health Science programs in the School of Medical and Health Sciences.

She is a qualitative research methodologist with expertise in health promotion, health communication, behaviour change and social marketing.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University.
  • Master of Business, Edith Cowan University, 2004.
  • Bachelor of Business Major in Marketing, Edith Cowan University, 2000.

Research Outputs

2025

Journal Articles

  • Barblett, L., Enriquez-Watt, M., Collins, PR., Boylan, F., Roberts, P., Costello, L. (2025). Digital Provision, Educators’ Attitudes and Use in Early Learning Settings: Ready to Implement the EYLF V2.0?. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 1-17. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1836939125137671.
  • 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.
  • Molster, C., Irvine, J., Devine, A., Wallace, R., Barblett, L., Costello, L. (2025). Digital tools to promote or measure health literacy in children aged 3–5 years: scoping review. Health Promotion International, 40(4), Article number daaf093. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf093.
  • Bills, K., Costello, L., Cattani, M. (2025). Problematic International Aviation Safety Data?: ICAO’s online USOAP CMA compliance database and ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems. Transport Policy, 172(10), 103781. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.103781.

2024

Journal Articles

  • Jenkins, G., Palermo, C., Clark, AM., Costello, L. (2024). Communities of practice to facilitate change in health professions education: A realist synthesis. Nurse Education Today, 134(2024), article number 106091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106091.
  • Scott, S., Raynor, A., Dare, J., Grieve, J., Costello, L. (2024). Improving the Transition of Older Adults into Residential Aged Care: A Scoping Review. Clinical Gerontologist, 47(5), 746-759. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2023.2274042.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Malekpour, P., Devine, A., Dare, J., Costello, L. (2023). Investigating the perspectives of older adults in residential aged care on oral health-related quality of life. Gerodontology: an international journal, 40(2), 220-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/ger.12636.
  • Andrew, L., Robinson, K., Dare, J., Costello, L. (2023). Nursing students doing gender: Implications for higher education and the nursing profession. Nursing Inquiry, 30(1), article number e12516. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12516.
  • Bills, K., Costello, L., Cattani, M. (2023). Barry Turner: The Under-Acknowledged Safety Pioneer. Safety, 9(4), 49 pages. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/safety9040068.
  • 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.
  • Bills, K., Costello, L., Cattani, M. (2023). Major Aviation Accident Safety Investigation Methodologies used by ITSA Members. Safety Science, 168(December 2023), Article number 106315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106315.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Andrew, L., Dare, J., Robinson, K., Costello, L. (2022). Nursing practicum equity for a changing nurse student demographic: a qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 21(1), article number 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00816-2.
  • Costello, L., Dare, J., Dontje, M., Lambert, C., Straker, L. (2022). Applying the 4Ps of social marketing to retain and engage participants in longitudinal cohort studies: generation 2 Raine study participant perspectives. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22(1), article number 288. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-022-01778-4.
  • Jayakody, D., Tan, Y., Livings, I., Costello, L., Flicker, L., Almeida, O. (2022). Australian older adults' views on using social media for reducing social isolation and loneliness in hearing impaired older adults: A community conversation. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 41(4), 585-589. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.13137.
  • Andrew, L., Robinson, K., Costello, L., Dare, J. (2022). Competing worlds: the private lives of women nurse students and gender equity in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 47(6), 1171-1183. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1861597.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Radavelli Bagatini, S., Blekkenhorst, L., Sim, M., Prince, R., Bondonno, N., Bondonno, C., Woodman, R., Anokye, R., Dimmock, J., Jackson, B., Costello, L., Devine, A., Stanley, M., Dickson, J., Magliano, D., Shaw, J., Daly, R., Hodgson, J., Lewis, J. (2021). Fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with perceived stress across the adult lifespan. Clinical Nutrition, 40(5), 2860-2867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2021.03.043.
  • Andrew, L., Robinson, K., Dare, J., Costello, L. (2021). Widening the lens on capital: conceptualising the university experiences of non-traditional women nurse students. Higher Education Research and Development, 40(7), 1359-1374. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1815663.
  • Andrew, L., Costello, L., Robinson, K., Dare, J. (2021). Going-it alone: The university progression of women nursing students who are the first person in their intimate relationship to go to university. Higher Education Research and Development, 40(5), 901-916. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1867517.
  • Wickens, N., Wallace, R., Dare, J., Costello, L., Lo, J., Nimmo, L. (2021). Mobile phone use and social interactions among caregivers can reduce their ability to provide constant supervision to children at Australian public swimming pools. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 32(S2), 147-157. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.445.
  • 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.
  • Monks, H., Costello, L., Dare, J., Boyd, E. (2021). “We’re continually comparing ourselves to something”: Navigating media and social media ideals at the nexus of appearance, health and wellness. Sex Roles: a journal of research, 84(3-4), 221 - 237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-020-01162-w.

Reports

2020

Journal Articles

  • 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.
  • Wallace, R., Lombardi, K., De Backer, C., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2020). Sharing is Caring: A Study of Food-Sharing Practices in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Services. Nutrients, 12(January 2020), Article 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010229.
  • Lombardi, K., Beatty, S., Devine, A., Wallace, R., Costello, L. (2020). Fat talk: Influences on body image in childcare. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 31(2), 224-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.272.
  • Costello, L., Dare, J., Dontje, M., Straker, L. (2020). Informing retention in longitudinal cohort studies through a social marketing lens: Raine Study Generation 2 participants’ perspectives on benefits and barriers to participation. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 20(1), Article number 202. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01074-z.
  • 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.

Conference Publications

  • Wallace, R., Beatty, S., Lines, J., Moore, C., Costello, L. (2020). The power of peer-review: A tool to improve student skills and unit satisfaction. 6th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd 2020) (1-12). Editorial Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd20.2020.11116.

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.
  • Costello, L., McDermott, M., Patel, P., Dare, J. (2019). ‘A lot better than medicine’: Self-organised ocean swimming groups as facilitators for healthy ageing. Health and Place, 60(November 2019), Article Number 102212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102212.
  • 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.

2018

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2018). Netnographic Slog: Creative Elicitation Strategies to Encourage Participation in an Online Community of Practice for Early Education and Care. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1), 13p.. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406918797796.
  • Wallace, R., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2018). Exploring sense of community among early childhood education and care professionals through the Supporting Nutrition for Australian Childcare (SNAC) website. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 43(4), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.43.4.03.
  • Pabian, S., Erreygers, S., Vandebosch, H., Van Royen, K., Dare, J., Costello, L., Green, L., Hawk, D., Cross, D. (2018). “Arguments online, but in school we always act normal”: The embeddedness of early adolescent negative peer interactions within the whole of their offline and online peer interactions. Children and Youth Services Review, 86(Feb 18), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.01.007.

2017

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Devine, A., Costello, L. (2017). Determining educator's need to support healthy eating environments in early childhood settings. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 42(2), 20-28. https://doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.42.2.03.
  • Wallace, R., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2017). Over-provision of discretionary foods at childcare dilutes the nutritional quality of diets for children. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41(4), 447. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12658.
  • Costello, L., McDermott, M., Wallace, R. (2017). Netnography: Range of Practices, Misperceptions, and Missed Opportunities. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 12p.. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917700647.

2016

Journal Articles

  • Namasasu, J., Chivers, S., Costello, L. (2016). Social determinants of health: Social forces that shape women and men's knowledge of reproductive health in a resource-limited setting. Health Care for Women International, 37(10), 1138-1155. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2016.1158261.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Parker, I., Oosthuizen, J., Costello, L. (2015). Do facial characteristics influence acceptance of health and safety messages?. International Journal of Health Sciences, 3(1), 77-91. https://doi.org/10.15640/ijhs.v3n1a5.
  • Andrew, L., Maslin-Prothero, S., Costello, L., Dare, J., Robinson, K. (2015). The influence of intimate partnerships on nurse student progression: An integrative literature review. Nurse Education Today, 35(12), 1212-1220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.04.018.
  • Monks, H., Cardoso, P., Papageorgiou, A., Carolan, C., Costello, L., Thomas, L. (2015). Young people’s views regarding participation in mental health and wellbeing research through social media. The International Journal of Emotional Education, 7(1), 4-19.

2014

Conference Publications

  • Costello, L., Dare, J., Askander, G., McDermott, M. (2014). How should online health promoting communities address the health hazards of too much sitting?. 3rd Annual International Conference Proceedings: Global Healthcare Conference (GHC) (62-71). Global Science & Technology Forum. https://doi.org/10.5176/2251-3833_GHC14.121.

2013

Journal Articles

  • Witney, C., Green, L., Costello, L., Bradshaw, V. (2013). Creativity in an online community as a response to the chaos of a breast cancer diagnosis. M/C Journal, 16(1), 1-7.

Conference Publications

  • Dare, J., Costello, L., Green, L. (2013). Nutritional narratives: Examining perspectives on plant based diets in the context of dominant western discourse. Refereed Proceedings of the 2013 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Global Networks-Global Divides: Bridging New and Traditional Communication Challenges (13p). Australian and New Zealand Communication Association.
  • Costello, L., Dare, J., Green, L. (2013). Sustaining online communities in the charitable health sector: how to keep a good thing going. Refereed Proceedings of the 2013 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Global Networks-Global Divides: Bridging New and Traditional Communication Challenges (17 p.). Australian and New Zealand Communication Association.

2012

Journal Articles

  • Bradshaw, V., Witney, C., Green, L., Costello, L. (2012). Embodying knowledge of breast cancer in a disembodied community?. M/C Journal, 15(4), online.

Conference Publications

  • Costello, L., Green, L. (2012). Reflecting upon the challenges of building online community, or: "a techie's guide to the help dummies need'. Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication (CATaC) 2012 (359-371). School of Information Technology, Murdoch University.
  • Costello, L., Witney, C., Green, L., Bradshaw, V. (2012). Self-revelation in an online health community: Exploring issues around co-presence for vulnerable members. Refereed Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Assocation (ANZCA) Conference: Communicating Change and Changing Communication in the 21st Century (12). Australian and New Zealand Communication Association.
  • Witney, C., Green, L., Costello, L., Bradshaw, V. (2012). Building an online community in the context of an existing social network site. Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Cultural Attitudes Towards Technology and Communication 2012 (CATAC) (270-283). Murdoch University.

2010

Journal Articles

  • Green, L., Costello, L., Dare, J. (2010). Veganism, health expectancy, and the communication of sustainability. Australian Journal of Communication, 37(3), 51-72.

2009

Journal Articles

  • Green, L., Costello, L. (2009). Fractures between an online and offline community (and the ethical responses). International Journal of Web Based Communities, 5(3), 462-475. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJWBC.2009.025219.

2008

Journal Articles

  • Costello, L., Henley, N. (2008). A Drop in the Bucket: Collective Efficacy Perceptions and Environmental Behaviour. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 43(3), 345-358.

2007

Journal Articles

  • Green, L., Costello, L., McMahon, T. (2007). Adapting to a New Identity: Reconstructing the Self as a Heart Patient. M/C Journal, 10(2), 1-6.
  • Costello, L., Green, L. (2007). Finding a new kind of knowledge on the HeartNET website. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 24(s1), 67-76.

Conference Publications

  • Costello, L., Green, L. (2007). Online Community -- The Near Death Experience -- Masks and Miscommunication. Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference (79-87). IADIS Press.

2006

Journal Articles

  • Costello, L., Green, L., Swanson, MG. (2006). Communication on a health-related website offering therapeutic support: Phase 1 of the HeartNET website. Australian Journal of Communication, 33(2), 89-107.

Conference Publications

  • Costello, L., Omari, A., Swanson, MG. (2006). Shuffling Buddies: How an Online Community Supports Heart Patients with Healthier Lifestyle Choices - An Early Indication of Physical Activity and Exercise Outcomes From the HeartNET Intervention. Proceedings of the Fifth annual conference on Cultural attitudes towards technology and communication (90-101). School of Information Technology, Murdoch University.

2005

Journal Articles

  • Costello, L., Green, L., Swanson, MG. (2005). Affect and an effective online therapeutic community. M/C Journal, 8(6), Online.

Research Projects

  • Co-designing Playful Health-Arts, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Healthy Communities Grant, 2023 ‑ 2026, $259,923.
  • An investigation into how physical activity can enrich the lives of older adults during the transition process from independent living to residential aged care, Fresh Fields Aged Care Pty Ltd, Scholarships to Support Industry Engagement PhD Projects, 2021 ‑ 2026, $50,000.
  • Emotional Literacy Mindfulness Academy Research program evaluation, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Grant, 2023 ‑ 2024, $47,086.
  • 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.
  • Narratives in health communication - a multi-disciplinary approach to strengthen understanding of the roles and uses of narratives in conveying health information and changing health behaviours, European Commission, Marie Curie Actions - IRSES, 2013 ‑ 2017, $123,525.
  • 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.
  • Developing Guidelines for Integrating Social Networking Technologies and Professional Advice-Giving in Constructing an Online Community for Supporting Breast Cancer Survivors, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (Projects), 2009 ‑ 2014, $311,000.
  • Finding 30 in 9 to 5 (9305), HBF Health Limited, Grant, 2012 ‑ 2014, $27,675.
  • Construction of the subject as heart patient in the context of the gift economy, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (APAI), 2007 ‑ 2012, $110,047.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of the School Drug Education and Road Aware Program 2008-2011, School Drug Education and Road Aware, Grant, 2008 ‑ 2011, $518,420.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Navigating the transition experiences of older Australians into Residential Aged Care and the impact of a personalised exercise intervention to enhance wellbeing
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Communities of Practice: Transforming education in the health professions
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Connected Lives: A Narrative Inquiry into Digital Social Connectedness of Children Living with Chronic Disease.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Co-design of a digital tool to promote young children's planetary health literacy and support their digital agency

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Perceptions & Experience of Parental Online Dating in Single Parent Families.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Aviation accident investigation methodologies used by ITSA members: exploring practice through a multi-case study of shared experience and theory

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Holistic health: Shaping women's experiences of positive body image
  • Master of Public Health, What significance does physical activity and sedentary behaviour have for members of online health promoting communities? Learning from Australia's heartnet community
  • Doctor of Philosophy, A public health perspective of the higher education experiences of women studying nursing: A hermeneutic inquiry into commencement and progression
  • Master of Public Health, An exploration of the critical success factors associated with implementing a public health plan in local governments within Western Australia

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Master of Science (Medical Science), DRUMBEAT© for arthritis “a shared purpose” rather than a “lonely struggle”
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Socio-cultural factors influencing male involvement in reproductive health during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period in rural disctricts of Malawi.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Supporting nutrition for Australian childcare (snac): The development, implementation and evaluation of an online nutrition education intervention
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Developing and evaluating online education for dietitians to enhance learning of the nutrition care process (ncp)
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Does facial physiognomy in the context of an occupational safety and health message predict outcomes?

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Design, implementation and evaluation of the impact of a body image professional development program for early childhood educators
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Just a 'click' away from evidence-based online breast cancer information advice and support provided by a specialist nurse: An ethnonetnographic study
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Food provision in long day care requires a multilevel approach to optimise health and developmental outcomes for young children
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