Bernadette Matthews

Bernadette Matthews is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University and Head of Research, Evaluation and Insights at Life Saving Victoria. She has extensive experience in public health research with a strong focus on translating evidence into policy, programs and practice. Her work centres on understanding and preventing drowning and aquatic-related injury across diverse populations, including multicultural communities, regional and rural populations and other high-risk groups. She has led and contributed to projects spanning risk modelling, emergency management, behavioural insights, and the evaluation of interventions such as public rescue equipment, safety signage, and targeted education and communication campaigns. Her key areas of interest include equity-driven approaches to health promotion, and strengthening collaboration between research, government, and community stakeholders to deliver scalable, evidence-informed solutions.