In 2024, I contributed to an evidence review at Boutique Insights, led by Dr. Gabrielle Jenkin, to evaluate suicides on New Zealand’s road transport networks, aiming to inform effective prevention strategies. As a researcher, I reviewed emerging CCTV and AI technologies, conducted literature synthesis, and assisted with report editing, writing, and formatting. The review analysed local and international research on suicides by jumping from heights and motor vehicle collisions, using case studies, meta-analyses, and prevalence data (179 cases, 2012–2019). Findings confirmed barriers’ effectiveness, highlighted AI’s potential for real-time detection, and recommended multi-faceted interventions, urging New Zealand-specific research to enhance prevention.

In 2022, I conducted research for the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine to examine the impact of increasing mental health presentations in New Zealand emergency departments (EDs), addressing critical challenges in patient care and staff workload. As a key researcher at Allen + Clarke, I collaborated with Dr. Greg Martin to design and execute a mixed-methods study, leading data collection and analysis. The study included a literature review of mental health care models, in-depth interviews with ED staff, and a survey of college fellows and nurses. Findings revealed inadequate resourcing and unclear referral pathways as major barriers, with recommendations for improved service provision and staff support to enhance patient and staff experiences. You can read it here.

In 2021, I conducted data analysis for a Whangārei District Council-commissioned report at Allen + Clarke, evaluating the social harms and benefits of Class 4 gambling (pokies). I analysed datasets from the Department of Internal Affairs, Statistics NZ, and the Health and Lifestyles Survey in Excel, producing visualizations (e.g., expenditure graphs) and updating the report. Findings revealed high gambling expenditure ($810M nationally in 2020) concentrated in deprived areas, exacerbating harms like problem gambling, while noting benefits like community grants. The analysis informed policy options to balance harm reduction with community funding.

In 2019, I led research in addressing Māori suicide prevention through a community lens, recognising its roots in intergenerational trauma and colonisation. I reviewed 23 articles to develop a framework and proposal for an Indigenous psychology paper at the University of Waikato, emphasizing collective healing and cultural reconnection. The mixed-methods approach included literature reviews, planned Hui, and interviews with Māori communities to inform a scalable prevention model. The resulting framework proposed community-driven interventions to restore identity and belonging, contributing to academic journals and workshops. This work informed culturally responsive strategies for Māori mental health and suicide prevention.

In 2019, for a Community Health Psychology class, I researched social determinants of youth suicide in New Zealand, emphasising a community health psychology perspective. I reviewed 61 articles, books, and chapters to argue that systemic factors such as inequalities, precarity, unemployment, postcolonial trauma, and social isolation are key drivers for suicidal ideation beyond individual mental health issues. The analysis critiqued biomedical models, drawing on Durkheim’s social integration theory and Māori/indigenous perspectives. The resulting essay proposed a multisector suicide prevention framework addressing socio-economic and cultural contexts, advocating for policies fostering hope, purpose, and community inclusion for youth, particularly Māori and marginalised groups.

In 2018, for a community psychology course, I reviewed the Otara Boards Forum Incorporated (OBFI), a New Zealand intervention addressing youth suicide, particularly among Māori and Pasifika. Analysing 25 academic sources, I assessed OBFI’s in-school programs and community hui, identifying its value base (care, resilience) and strengths (awareness, community empowerment). Limitations included its ameliorative focus, neglecting systemic issues like healthcare access. Recommendations proposed transformative actions, including teacher training and school-based health services, to enhance community focus and address suicide’s root causes, advocating for equitable mental health support in Otara.

In 2022, I led an evaluation at Allen + Clarke for the Burnett Foundation to assess a New Zealand HIV and STI self-testing service, focusing on equity of access and scalability for underserved communities. As team lead, I led the team in designing the evaluation and carrying out the evaluation, coordinated stakeholder engagement, and synthesised findings. The mixed-methods approach included an environmental scan of 12 self-testing models, three case studies, 10 key informant interviews, and client data analysis. Findings revealed inequities in access, particularly for remote and Māori populations, and informed recommendations for targeted outreach and co-design with communities to enhance nationwide self-testing equity.

In 2022, I led an evaluation at Allen + Clarke for Te Whatu Ora to assess a Critical Care Nurses Recruitment Campaign, targeting New Zealand-trained nurses overseas to address pandemic-related shortages. As a key evaluator, I conducted interviews, coded qualitative data, analysed quantitative metrics, and wrote the report. The mixed-methods approach included key informant interviews, surveys of recruiters and candidates, social media data analysis, and monitoring data on applications, referrals, and hires across two campaign phases. Findings informed lessons for future campaigns, enhancing recruitment strategies to bolster New Zealand’s critical care workforce.

In 2022, I took a lead researcher role in a project at Allen + Clarke for Te Pūkenga, New Zealand’s largest tertiary provider, to evaluate learner well-being and equity initiatives, focusing on support for Disabled, Pasifika, and Māori learners. As a key researcher, I conducted a desktop review of 92 documents, coded data in NVivo using the UK Healthy Universities framework and developed an insights report. Findings revealed Māori-focused initiatives using cultural models, limited Pasifika support, and resource constraints for disabled learners, with monitoring gaps hindering equity progress. Recommendations emphasised robust data systems to enhance equitable outcomes.

In 2023, I supported an evaluation at Allen + Clarke for the Ministry of Social Development, assessing the Care in the Community (CiC) program, a COVID-19 welfare response to support isolating households. As a support analyst, I assisted with survey development, project planning, and note-taking for stakeholder interviews. The mixed-methods evaluation included surveys, interviews, and focus groups to examine implementation and effectiveness. Findings highlighted the success of food support and Community Connectors, while identifying access barriers for Māori and disabled populations. Recommendations emphasized flexible contracting and stronger partnerships to enhance future community-led responses.

In 2022, I supported a WorkSafe-commissioned literature review at Allen + Clarke, evaluating agricultural injury and health prevention interventions from 2009–2021. Collaborating with Dr. Kirsten Lovelock, I organised a systematic search across databases (e.g., Medline, Scopus), mapped and analysed 320 publications in Excel, edited abstracts into digestible summaries, and co-developed a narrated annotated bibliography. The review categorised interventions by study design and reliability, using a hierarchy of evidence. Findings informed WorkSafe’s strategies to enhance occupational health and safety in agriculture, identifying effective interventions and evidence gaps to guide future policy.

In 2019, I conducted my Honours dissertation at the University of Waikato to explore positive psychological resources (psychological capital: self-efficacy, optimism, hope, resilience) among Hamilton, NZ firefighters, addressing gaps in understanding their mental health amidst workplace stress and bullying. As the sole researcher, I designed and executed an online survey of 31 firefighters, assessing positivity ratios and psychological capital in operational and non-operational settings. Findings revealed a positive correlation between positivity ratios and psychological capital, with higher capital in operational settings, and optimism and hope predicting positivity. Results informed recommendations for Fire and Emergency NZ to foster optimism and hope, enhancing firefighter well-being and performance.

From 2023–2024, I conducted research for Leftbrain to evaluate an AI image recognition system integrated with IoT technology, designed to enhance ice cream stock management for manufacturers by addressing retail freezer monitoring inefficiencies. As a researcher and product tester, I assessed system performance and supported product development through testing in freezers. My methods included analysing photo-based stock accuracy, freezer door openings, alongside exploratory analyses of sales and purchase patterns. Findings confirmed the system’s potential to improve stock accuracy and operational efficiency, informing recommendations for scalability and enhanced deployment in independent retail channels.

Pulse Workforce Survey Research

In 2021, I contributed to research at Allen + Clarke to analyse the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Pulse Workforce Survey, aiming to assess workplace culture and inform strategies for improving workforce health, satisfaction, and retention. As a researcher, I conducted data analysis and supported the production of six reports, focusing on organizational and service-level insights. My methods included descriptive statistics, regression analyses of key outcomes (e.g., morale, job satisfaction, leadership), and qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from over 5,000 respondents. Findings highlighted needs for inclusive workplaces, clear organizational purpose, and better work-life balance, guiding NZDF’s efforts to enhance commitment and morale.

In 2022, I contributed to Te Tari Taiwhenua’s Whakahoki Kōrero: Your Feedback Survey analysis, commissioned by the Department of Internal Affairs, to assess workforce experiences. In collaboration with another key analyst, we coded and analysed 1,400+ responses to four open-ended questions using NVivo, identifying themes on below-the-line behaviours, workplace strengths, and desired changes. Findings revealed bullying and exclusion as prevalent issues, with people, flexible work, and diversity as valued aspects. Recommendations to enhance IT systems, leadership, and Māori inclusion informed organizational improvements, fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

In 2022, I evaluated the social impacts of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week for the Ministry of Social Development, seeking to enhance public awareness and inform future contracting for this inclusive initiative. I led the evaluation at Allen + Clarke with Dr Greg Martin using a mixed-methods approach: document reviews, stakeholder interviews, and a nationally representative survey to assess NZSL recognition and engagement. Results showed increased awareness (450,000 reached) and interest in learning NZSL, with recommendations for year-round social media promotion and participatory strategies to strengthen impact.

In 2021, I supported an evaluation at Allen + Clarke for the New Zealand Red Cross, assessing the Pathways to Employment Programme (P2E) for refugee-background adults from the 2018/19 cohort. As a support researcher, I assisted with semi-structured interviews across eight New Zealand sites, taking notes to capture client, staff, and stakeholder perspectives. The case-study design included 78 interviews and administrative data analysis. Findings highlighted P2E’s success in fostering sustainable employment and settlement, with high client and employer satisfaction, while identifying needs for enhanced English support and program promotion to improve equitable outcomes.

In 2022, I contributed to an evidence brief for the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) at Allen + Clarke, aimed at identifying strategies for government departments to build and maintain public trust, with a focus on community engagement. As a key researcher, I conducted a literature review and developed three case studies, including an indigenous-focused case study, the Bougainville Peace Process, and Brant Children’s Aid Society, synthesising pathways to trust-building. My methods involved reviewing academic and grey literature and synthesising qualitative insights. The case studies provided actionable examples, particularly for indigenous communities, informing MSD’s trust-building strategies and earning strong client approval.

In 2021–2022, I supported the Pacific Community (SPC)’s synthesis evaluation of its Strategic Plan 2016–2020 at Allen + Clarke, assessing its implementation to inform the 2022–2031 plan. As an analyst, I conducted document reviews, took notes for interviews with senior leaders and CRGA members, analysed interview and survey data, developed case studies, and co-wrote interim and capstone reports. The evaluation used document analysis, 17 interviews, focus groups, and a stakeholder survey (54 responses). Findings highlighted SPC’s strengthened systems and relationships but noted challenges in prioritisation and equity integration. Recommendations informed improved strategic planning for Pacific development.

In 2022, I co-led an Allen + Clarke evaluation of the Strengthening Pacific Labour Mobility Programme (2017–2022) for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), assessing its effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance across nine Pacific Island Countries. I organised and led stakeholder interviews, conducted case studies in Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Kiribati, and co-wrote the report. Using a culturally responsive approach (talanoa, maroro), we found strong support for labour sending units and COVID-19 adaptations, but identified sustainability challenges. Ten recommendations, including enhanced reintegration and worker wellbeing, informed MFAT’s future design, promoting equitable Pacific labour mobility. You can read it here.

In 2022, I supported a mid-term review at Allen + Clarke for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), evaluating the NZ$45 million Pacific Community (SPC) Core Funding Partnership (2020–2024) to optimise its management and impact across eight SPC divisions. The review involved assessing programmatic support and membership contributions through document analysis and stakeholder consultations. Findings informed MFAT and SPC’s decisions for the partnership’s final two years, enhancing funding effectiveness for Pacific community development.