Ben O'Mara

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Ben O'Mara is an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Department of Media and Communications, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University.

Ben's main areas of expertise are in health communication, information technology, cultural and linguistic diversity and creative writing.

Ben's postdoctoral research explored opportunities and challenges in using social media, smartphones and other information technology for health communication with people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Melbourne's west.

More recently, his research has identified what helps reduce dependency, overdose and other harms associated with opioid drugs, and support their medicinal use. He has increased understanding of policy and related barriers and opportunities for more culturally and linguistically inclusive telehealth with the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also worked with people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) to learn what helps make video games more inclusive and fun to play for reducing the boredom, stress and loneliness of dealing with a life-limiting illness.

Ben is an author and/or co-author of articles for Health Education Research Journal, JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, Health Promotion International, Race, Ethnicity and Education Journal, Australian Journal of Public Administration and International Journal of Health Policy and Management.

His narrative nonfiction and other creative writing publications have appeared in the arts journals Meanjin, Overland, Kill Your Darlings, Aurealis and Screen Education.

Ben has complemented his research with knowledge translation and skills development projects at state and national levels. He worked at Quit, Cancer Council Victoria, where he delivered and evaluated partnership, communication and training projects on smoking cessation for the health and homelessness sectors. As a Science Writer for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation he collaborated on and led the development of fact sheets, explainer pieces, stories and prevention research information about reducing harms associated with alcohol and other drugs in Australia.

Ben was also the Information Resources Development Manager at MND Australia. He coordinated and developed fact sheets, booklets, COVID-19 information and other information resources for people living with motor neurone disease (MND), including their guide to end of life care for people living with MND. He also wrote and coordinated the delivery of stories for the blog, Spotlight on MND.

He has presented on his work at numerous conferences, including the World Congress on Public Health, World Cancer Congress, APSAD Scientific Conference, Allied Health Professionals Forum: International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations and the MND Research Australia Conference.

Experience

  • 2016–present
    Adjunct Research Fellow, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University
  • 2022–2024
    Adjunct Fellow, Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales
  • 2012–2013
    Adjunct Research Associate, Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University
  • 2012–2012
    Adjunct Fellow, Centre for Diversity and Wellbeing, Victoria University
  • 2011–2012
    Research Officer, School of Education, Victoria University
  • 2008–2011
    Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), Victoria University
  • 2006–2008
    Administrative and Communication Officer, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), Victoria University
  • 2004–2006
    Project Officer, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA), Victoria University

Education

  • 2006 
    Deakin University, PhD
  • 1999 
    Deakin University, Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Publications

  • 2024
    Making videogames more inclusive with people living with MND: A Scoping Review, JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
  • 2024
    Inclusive gaming through AI: a perspective for identifying opportunities and obstacles through co-design with people living with MND, Frontiers in Computer Science
  • 2021
    Making videogames more inclusive for people living with MND: protocol for a scoping review, Games for Change Asia-Pacific Journal
  • 2021
    Building equitable health and social policy in Australia to improve immigrant health literacy, Health Promotion Journal of Australia
  • 2021
    Telehealth, COVID-19 and Refugees and Migrants in Australia: Policy and Related Barriers and Opportunities for More Inclusive Health and Technology Systems, International Journal of Health Policy and Management
  • 2020
    Community-based health promotion about alcohol and other drugs in a multicultural Australia—what works? A review of evidence, Health Education Research Journal
  • 2020
    The effectiveness of changes to drug policy, regulation and legislation for reducing harms associated with opioids and supporting their medicinal use in Australia, Canada and the UK: A systematic review, Evidence Base
  • 2019
    Do multilingual androids dream of a better life in Australia? Effectiveness of information technology for government translation to support refugees and migrants in Australia, Australian Journal of Public Administration
  • 2014
    Aged care, cultural and linguistic diversity and IT in Australia: a critical perspective, International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
  • 2014
    Intercultural crossings in a digital age: ICT pathways with migrant and refugee-background youth, Race Ethnicity and Education
  • 2013
    Second-hand Reality: Philip K. Dick and Bookstores on a Budget in San Francisco, Aurealis
  • 2013
    Remaking "Total Recall": Short-changing Philip K. Dick and Our Cinematic Past, Kill Your Darlings
  • 2012
    Social media, digital video and health promotion in a culturally and linguistically diverse Australi, Health Promotion International
  • 2012
    Cutting With Rhythm: The Backbeat of Ben Joss, Screen Education
  • 2011
    The Drifters, Meanjin
  • 2011
    Digital Technology, Diabetes and CALD Communities: A Case Study with Elderly Vietnamese Women, Health Education Journal
  • 2010
    This Is Not A Hobby, Meanjin

Grants and Contracts

  • 2023
    Game on with MND: Making Videogames More Inclusive for People with MND
    Role:
    Project Manager and Adjunct Research Fellow
    Funding Source:
    Fight MND
  • 2021
    Her Flame Burns Brighter: Evaluation
    Role:
    Adjunct Research Fellow
    Funding Source:
    Department of Health
  • 2019
    Effectiveness of changes to drug policy, regulation and legislation for reducing harms associated with opioids and support their medicinal use in Australia, Canada and the UK
    Role:
    Adjunct Research Fellow
    Funding Source:
    Australia and New Zealand School of Government
  • 2011
    Trustworthy Technology Exchanges: An Intergenerational Samoan Australian Social Media Project
    Role:
    Adjunct Fellow
    Funding Source:
    Telematics Trust
  • 2010
    Promoting Using ICT for Chronic Disease Self-Management by CALD Communities
    Role:
    Project Coordinator
    Funding Source:
    Department of Health and Ageing
  • 2009
    Access and Use of ICT for Communicating Health and Wellbeing Messages with CALD Communities
    Role:
    Research Fellow
    Funding Source:
    VicHealth

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Society of Authors

Research Areas

  • Communication Technology And Digital Media Studies (200102)
  • Public Health And Health Services (1117)
  • Performing Arts And Creative Writing (1904)
  • Multicultural, Intercultural And Cross Cultural Studies (200209)

Contact Ben for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision