Kellie Ward

Thesis Name

Thesis Abstract

Shift work is essential to modern society but is associated with significant risks to physical and psychological health, including sleep disruption, fatigue, and reduced quality of life. These impacts may be intensified in rural and regional Australia, where workforce shortages, geographic isolation, and limited access to health services are common. Workers in agriculture and related industries are particularly vulnerable due to long and irregular working hours, seasonal demands, and elevated rates of mental health challenges, including suicide. Despite this, there is a lack of holistic, strengths-based interventions tailored to the unique needs of regional shift-working populations.

This study aims to address this gap by co-designing a holistic positive health behaviour intervention with shift workers and academic experts. Grounded in positive psychology and health behaviour change theory, the intervention will target key domains including psychological wellbeing, sleep, physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and social connection to enhance wellbeing and quality of life. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research will explore lived experiences, identify unmet needs, and pilot the co-designed intervention.

This research seeks to contribute to the development of scalable, contextually relevant interventions that support thriving among shift workers in regional and agricultural communities.

Why My Research is Important/Impacts

This research has the potential to generate significant impact across health, workforce, and regional communities by addressing a critical gap in the support available to shift workers, particularly within rural and agricultural settings. By co-designing a holistic, strengths-based health behaviour intervention with lived-experience participants and experts, the study will produce a contextually relevant and scalable model that can be applied across diverse shift-working populations.

The findings will contribute to improved psychological wellbeing, physical health, and quality of life among shift workers by targeting interconnected factors such as sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress, and social connection. Importantly, the focus on regional and agricultural communities addresses a population that experiences elevated health risks, workforce shortages, and reduced access to services, thereby supporting more equitable health outcomes.

From a practical perspective, the co-designed intervention has the potential to be implemented within workplaces, community organisations, and digital platforms, increasing accessibility and sustainability. The research will also inform policy and workplace health strategies by providing evidence for integrated, preventative approaches to managing shift work-related health risks.

Overall, this project aims to shift the focus from deficit-based models toward promoting thriving and wellbeing, contributing to healthier workers, stronger regional communities, and more sustainable workforce practices.