Dr Megan Ferguson
Senior Lecturer-Pub Hlth Nutrition & Director Higher Degree Research
School of Public Health
+61 7 336 55546
Researcher biography
Megan is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at the School of Public Health. Her program of research is focused on approaches to support local decision-makers design effective policy interventions to improve nutrition and food security outcomes, through incorporating evidence and an understanding of the policy context. Megan's research in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and community retail settings follows a public health and nutrition career working in policy and service provision in government, remote retail and the international development sectors.
Megan is currently a Chief/Associate Investigator on four grants totalling $3.6million: Making healthy food choices the easy choice to reduce CVD risk for people in remote Indigenous communities: effectiveness of community nutrition reports to support store committees to create health-enabling stores; A Centre of Research Excellence in Food Retail Environments for Health; Healthy Stores 2020: Reducing retail merchandising of discretionary food and beverages in remote Indigenous community stores; Promoting Incentives for healthy food Choice with retailer-led Economic interventions.
| Featured projects | Duration |
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| First Nations Clinical Nurse Consultants |
Journal Articles
McMahon, Emma, Ferguson, Megan, Wycherley, Thomas, Gunther, Anthony and Brimblecombe, Julie (2024). Development of a Tool for Reporting Key Dietary Indicators from Sales Data in Remote Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Stores. Nutrients, 16 (7), 1058. doi: 10.3390/nu16071058
Delaine, Adam, Ferguson, Megan, Bacon, Rachel and Cullerton, Katherine (2024). An analysis of the features of successful written submissions to government inquiries. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 48 (2) 100133, 100133. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100133
Anderson, Kate, Elder-Robinson, Elaina, Ferguson, Megan, Fredericks, Bronwyn, Sherriff, Simone, Dickson, Michelle, Howard, Kirsten and Garvey, Gail (2024). Pathways between foodways and wellbeing for First Nations Australians. BMC Public Health, 24 (1) 502, 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18005-y
van Burgel, Emma, Fairweather, Molly, Hill, Amanda, Christian, Meaghan, Ferguson, Megan, Lee, Amanda, Funston, Sarah, Fredericks, Bronwyn, McMahon, Emma, Pollard, Christina and Brimblecombe, Julie (2024). Development of a survey tool to assess the environmental determinants of health-enabling food retail practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of remote Australia. BMC Public Health, 24 (1) 442, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-17945-9
Zorbas, Christina, Blake, Miranda R., Brown, Andrew D., Peeters, Anna, Allender, Steve, Brimblecombe, Julie, Cameron, Adrian J., Whelan, Jill, Ferguson, Megan, Alston, Laura and Boelsen-Robinson, Tara (2024). A systems framework for implementing healthy food retail in grocery settings. BMC Public Health, 24 (1) 137, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17075-8
Sun, Yuyue, Ferguson, Megan, Reeves, Marina M. and Kelly, Jaimon T. (2023). Maternal Dietary Patterns and Risk of Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 27 (12), 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03781-7
van Burgel, Emma, Holden, Stacey, Ferguson, Megan, Cullerton, Katherine, McCartan, Julia, Turner, Nicole, Cubillo, Beau, Day, Georgia and Brimblecombe, Julie (2023). Food security in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of print news media and press releases. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 47 (3) 100058, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100058
Whelan, Jillian, Brimblecombe, Julie, Christian, Meaghan, Vargas, Carmen, Ferguson, Megan, McMahon, Emma, Lee, Amanda, Bell, Colin, Boelsen-Robinson, Tara, Blake, Miranda R., Lewis, Meron, Alston, Laura and Allender, Steven (2023). CO-creation and evaluation of food environments to Advance Community Health (COACH). AJPM Focus, 2 (3) 100111, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100111
Atkinson, Nicole, Ferguson, Megan, Russell, Cherie and Cullerton, Katherine (2023). Are the impacts of food systems on climate change being reported by the media? An Australian media analysis. Public Health Nutrition, 26 (8) PII S1368980023000800, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/s1368980023000800
Ghatalia, Jaini, Russell, Cherie, Ferguson, Megan and Cullerton, Katherine (2023). Efficacy of submissions as an advocacy strategy: piloting the Public Health Association of Australia’s submission evaluation tool. Public Health Research and Practice, 33 (1) e3312307, 1-4. doi: 10.17061/phrp3312307
Booth, Sue, Deen, Caroline, Thompson, Kani, Kleve, Sue, Chan, Ellie, McCarthy, Leisa, Kraft, Emma, Fredericks, Bronwyn, Brimblecombe, Julie and Ferguson, Megan (2023). Conceptualisation, experiences and suggestions for improvement of food security amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers in remote Australian communities. Social Science and Medicine, 320 115726, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115726
Brimblecombe, Julie, Miles, Bethany, Chappell, Emma, De Silva, Khia, Ferguson, Megan, Mah, Catherine, Miles, Eddie, Gunther, Anthony, Wycherley, Thomas, Peeters, Anna, Minaker, Leia and McMahon, Emma (2023). Implementation of a food retail intervention to reduce purchase of unhealthy food and beverages in remote Australia: mixed-method evaluation using the consolidated framework for implementation research. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 20 (1) 20, 1-21. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01377-y
Ferguson, Megan, Tonkin, Emma, Brimblecombe, Julie, Lee, Amanda, Fredericks, Bronwyn, Cullerton, Katherine, Mah, Catherine L., Brown, Clare, McMahon, Emma, Chatfield, Mark D., Miles, Eddie and Cadet-James, Yvonne (2023). Communities setting the direction for their right to nutritious, affordable food: Co-design of the remote food security project in Australian Indigenous communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (4) 2936, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042936
Tonkin, E., Chan, E., Deen, C., Stubbs, E., Brown, C., Brimblecombe, J., Fredericks, B., Booth, S., Leonard, D., Pauli, J. and Ferguson, M. (2023). Collecting diet quality and food security data with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: results and reflections from a remote food security project. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 82 (OCE2) E63. doi: 10.1017/s0029665123000721
Lee, Amanda J., Patay, Dori, Summons, Susannah, Lewis, Meron, Herron, Lisa-Maree, Nona, Francis, Canuto, Condy, Ferguson, Megan and Twist, Aletia (2022). Cost and affordability of healthy, equitable and more sustainable diets in the Torres Strait Islands. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46 (3), 340-345. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13225
Guyatt, Sheridan, Ferguson, Megan, Beckmann, Michael and Wilkinson, Shelley A. (2021). Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to design and implement a perinatal education program in a large maternity hospital. BMC Health Services Research, 21 (1) 1077, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-07024-9
Huse, Oliver, Orellana, Liliana, Ferguson, Megan, Palermo, Claire, Jerebine, Alethea, Zorbas, Christina, Boelsen-Robinson, Tara, Blake, Miranda R, Peeters, Anna, Brimblecombe, Julie, Moodie, Marj and Backholer, Kathryn (2021). Retailer-led healthy pricing interventions: a pilot study within aquatic and recreation centres in Victoria, Australia. Health Promotion International, 36 (2), 430-448. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaa074
Cullerton, Katherine, Debia, Sena, Ferguson, Megan and Johnston, Ingrid (2021). Towards an advocacy evaluation framework: measuring the impact of submission writing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45 (1), 4-5. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13071
Arini, Hesti Retno Budi, Hadju, Veni, Thomas, Preetha and Ferguson, Megan (2021). Nutrient and food intake of Indonesian children under 5 years of age: a systematic review. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 34 (1), 25-35. doi: 10.1177/10105395211041001
Elder-Robinson, Elaina C., Parikh, Darshit Rajeshkumar, Diaz, Abbey, Ferguson, Megan M., Reeves, Marina M. and Garvey, Gail (2020). Health behaviours of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cancer survivors living in regional and remote geographic areas of Australia: a short report. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 2 (4) e039, e039. doi: 10.1097/or9.0000000000000039
Brimblecombe, Julie, McMahon, Emma, Ferguson, Megan, De Silva, Khia, Peeters, Anna, Miles, Edward, Wycherley, Thomas, Minaker, Leia, Greenacre, Luke, Gunther, Anthony, Chappell, Emma, Chatfield, Mark D. and Mah, Catherine L. (2020). Effect of restricted retail merchandising of discretionary food and beverages on population diet: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Planetary Health, 4 (10), e463-e473. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30202-3
Fehring, Emma, Ferguson, Megan, Brown, Clare, Murtha, Kirby, Laws, Cara, Cuthbert, Kiarah, Thompson, Kani, Williams, Tiffany, Hammond, Melinda and Brimblecombe, Julie (2019). Supporting healthy drink choices in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: a community-led supportive environment approach. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43 (6) 1753-6405.12950, 551-557. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12950
Huse, Oliver, Zorbas, Christina, Jerebine, Alethea, Kurzeme, Ari, Blake, Miranda, Ferguson, Megan, Palermo, Claire, Peeters, Anna, Orellana, Liliana, Brimblecombe, Julie, Moodie, Marj and Backholer, Kathryn (2019). Recreation centre managers’ perceptions of pricing interventions to promote healthy eating. Health Promotion International, 35 (4), 682-691. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daz062
Brimblecombe, Julie, Ferguson, Megan, McMahon, Emma, Peeters, Anna, Miles, Edward, Wycherley, Thomas, Minaker, Leia M, De Silva, Khia, Greenacre, Luke and Mah, Catherine (2019). Reducing retail merchandising of discretionary food and beverages in remote indigenous community stores: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 8 (3) e12646, e12646. doi: 10.2196/12646
Ferguson, Megan, O'Dea, Kerin, Altman, Jon, Moodie, Marjory and Brimblecombe, Julie (2018). Health-promoting food pricing policies and decision-making in very remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community stores in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15 (12) 2908. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15122908
Palermo, Claire, Kleve, Sue, McCartan, Julia, Brimblecombe, Julie and Ferguson, Megan (2018). Using unfolding case studies to better prepare the public health nutrition workforce to address the social determinants of health. Public health nutrition, 22 (01), 1-4. doi: 10.1017/S1368980018002811
Magnus, Anne, Cobiac, Linda, Brimblecombe, Julie, Chatfield, Mark, Gunther, Anthony, Ferguson, Megan and Moodie, Marj (2018). The cost-effectiveness of a 20% price discount on fruit, vegetables, diet drinks and water, trialled in remote Australia to improve Indigenous health. PLoS ONE, 13 (9) e0204005, e0204005. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204005
Brimblecombe, Julie, Ferguson, Megan, Barzi, Federica, Brown, Clare and Ball, Kylie (2018). Mediators and moderators of nutrition intervention effects in remote Indigenous Australia. British Journal of Nutrition, 119 (12), 1424-1433. doi: 10.1017/s0007114518000880
Rogers, Alison, Ferguson, Megan, Ritchie, Jan, Van Den Boogaard, Christel and Brimblecombe, Julie (2018). Strengthening food systems with remote Indigenous Australians: stakeholders’ perspectives. Health Promotion International, 33 (1), 38-48. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daw047
Brimblecombe, J., Bailie, R., van den Boogaard, C., Wood, B., Liberato, S. C., Ferguson, M., Coveney, J., Jaenke, R. and Ritchie, J. (2017). Feasibility of a novel participatory multi-sector continuous improvement approach to enhance food security in remote Indigenous Australian communities. SSM-Population Health, 3, 566-576. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.06.002
Ferguson, Megan, Brown, Clare, Georga, Claire, Miles, Edward, Wilson, Alyce and Brimblecombe, Julie (2017). Traditional food availability and consumption in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41 (3), 294-298. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12664
Wycherley, Thomas P., Pekarsky, Brita A. K., Ferguson, Megan M., O'Dea, Kerin and Brimblecombe, Julie K. (2017). Fluctuations in money availability within an income cycle impacts diet quality of remote Indigenous Australians. Public Health Nutrition, 20 (8), 1431-1440. doi: 10.1017/S1368980016003360
Brimblecombe, Julie, Ferguson, Megan, Chatfield, Mark D, Liberato, Selma C, Gunther, Anthony, Ball, Kylie, Moodie, Marj, Miles, Edward, Magnus, Anne, Mhurchu, Cliona Ni, Leach, Amanda Jane, Bailie, Ross and SHOP@RIC research collaborative (2017). Effect of a price discount and consumer education strategy on food and beverage purchases in remote Indigenous Australia: a stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Public Health, 2 (2), e82-e95. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(16)30043-3
Ferguson, Megan, O'Dea, Kerin, Holden, Stacey, Miles, Eddie and Brimblecombe, Julie (2017). Food and beverage price discounts to improve health in remote Aboriginal communities: mixed method evaluation of a natural experiment. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41 (1), 32-37. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12616
Wycherley, Thomas, Ferguson, Megan, O'Dea, Kerin, McMahon, Emma, Liberato, Selma and Brimblecombe, Julie (2016). Store turnover as a predictor of food and beverage provider turnover and associated dietary intake estimates in very remote Indigenous communities. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40 (6), 569-571. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12571
Ferguson, Megan, King, Alastair and Brimblecombe, Julie K. (2016). Time for a shift in focus to improve food affordability for remote customers. Medical Journal of Australia, 204 (11), 409-+. doi: 10.5694/mja15.00868
Magnus, Anne, Moodie, Marj L., Ferguson, Megan, Cobiac, Linda J., Liberato, Selma C. and Brimblecombe, Julie (2016). The economic feasibility of price discounts to improve diet in Australian Aboriginal remote communities. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40 (S1), S36-S41. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12391
Ferguson, Megan, O'Dea, Kerin, Chatfield, Mark, Moodie, Marjory, Altman, Jon and Brimblecombe, Julie (2016). The comparative cost of food and beverages at remote Indigenous communities, Northern Territory, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40 (S1), S21-S26. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12370
Holden, S., Ferguson, M., Brimblecombe, J. and Palermo, C. E. (2015). Can a community of practice equip public health nutritionists to work with remote retail to improve the food supply?. Rural and Remote Health, 15 (4).
Brimblecombe, Julie, Ferguson, Megan, Liberato, Selma C., O'Dea, Kerin and Riley, Malcolm (2013). Optimisation modelling to assess cost of dietary improvement in remote Aboriginal Australia. PLoS ONE, 8 (12) e83587, e83587. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083587
Brimblecombe, Julie, Ferguson, Megan, Liberato, Selma C., Ball, Kylie, Moodie, Marjory L., Magnus, Anne, Miles, Edward, Leach, Amanda J., Chatfield, Mark D., Mhurchu, Cliona Ni, O'Dea, Kerin and Bailie, Ross S. (2013). Stores Healthy Options Project in Remote Indigenous Communities (SHOP@RIC): a protocol of a randomised trial promoting healthy food and beverage purchases through price discounts and in-store nutrition education. BMC Public Health, 13 (1) 744. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-744
Thomas, David P., Ferguson, Megan, Johnston, Vanessa and Brimblecombe, Julie (2013). Impact and perceptions of tobacco tax increase in remote Australian Aboriginal communities. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 15 (6), 1099-1106. doi: 10.1093/ntr/nts232
Brimblecombe, Julie K., Ferguson, Megan M., Liberato, Selma C. and O'Dea, Kerin (2013). Characteristics of the community-level diet of Aboriginal people in remote northern Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 198 (7), 380-384. doi: 10.5694/mja12.11407
Liberato, Selma C., Brimblecombe, Julie, Ritchie, Jan, Ferguson, Megan and Coveney, John (2011). Measuring capacity building in communities: a review of the literature. BMC Public Health, 11 (1) 850. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-850
Conference Papers
Elder-Robinson, Elaina, Parikh, Darshit, Diaz, Abbey, Ferguson, Megan, Reeves, Marina and Garvey, Gail (2022). Health behaviours of indigenous and non-indigenous cancer survivors living in regional and remote geographic areas of Australia. COSA's 49th Annual Scientific Meeting Equitable cancer care for all: Gender, identity, culture, geography, and disease should not matter, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2-4 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Huse, Oliver, Zorbas, Christina, Jerebine, Alethea, Kurzeme, Ari, Blake, Miranda, Ferguson, Megan, Palermo, Claire, Peeters, Anna, Orellana, Liliana, Brimblecombe, Julie, Moodie, Marj and Backholer, Kathryn (2019). Pricing Interventions to Promote Healthy Eating: Perceptions of Managers of Victorian Aquatic and Recreation Centres. Joint Scientific Meeting of The Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) and the Breakthrough Discoveries in Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 16–18 October 2018. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2018.11.226
Guyatt, Sheridan, Wilkinson, Shelley, Ferguson, Megan and Beckmann, Michael (2019). Transforming pregnancy, birth and postnatal education. Developing effective physiotherapy interventions for expectant and new mothers in a digital age.. TRANSFORM 2019 Physiotherapy Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 17 - 19 October 2019.