The role of the Allied Health SIG is to bring together multidisciplinary researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience to advance the role of allied health professionals in traumatic stress. Many of the allied health professionals in the SIG research or work clinically to deliver services and interventions to trauma-affected populations.
The group meet bimonthly to network and hear from guest presenters who in the past have included Associate Professor Erin Smith and CEO of Stepping Out, Melissa Holmes.
To access previous presentations or to join future meetings, please contact Secretary, Chiara Mastrogiovanni ()
For our terms of reference (TOR) click here
Leadership Team
Dr Grace McKeon, Allied Health SIG Co-founder and Co-chair
Dr Grace McKeon is an Exercise Physiologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, supported by a Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Her research focuses on improving health outcomes for populations exposed to trauma, including refugees and people seeking asylum, and victim-survivors of gender-based violence. Grace’s work centres on understanding and addressing barriers to health behaviours such as physical activity and nutrition, with a strong emphasis on equity, access, and trauma and violence-informed approaches to care.
Grace is Co-Chair of the Allied Health Special Interest Group, which she co-founded with Chiara Mastrogiovanni in 2021. In this role, she brings together researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience to advance the role of allied health professionals in traumatic stress.
Dr Kylie McIntyre, Allied Health SIG Co-chair
Dr Kylie McIntyre is an internationally recognised researcher with specialist expertise in rural health and well-being, military and first responder health and wellbeing, and relationships between participation and health. She is a current member of the Australasian Military Medicine Association, Australasian College of Paramedicine, and Mental Health Practitioners Network. She is the Deputy Director of the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research at the La Trobe Rural Health School in Bendigo, Victoria, and Co-Chair of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ASTSS) Allied Health Special Interest Group, where she provides leadership in research governance, ethical practice, and allied health engagement within the field of traumatic stress. Kylie has collaborated widely with Government, health care services, industry, and community organisations to co-design, implement, and translate projects that enhance rural health outcomes.
Chiara Mastrogiovanni, Allied Health SIG Co-founder and Secretary
Chiara Mastrogiovanni graduated in 2021 as an Exercise Physiologist and in 2023 from a Masters of Research. She is currently a PhD candidate researching exercise and mental health workforce capacity to promote physical activity to groups at risk of poor mental health. She also works as Project Manager for the no Body left behind project with Mindgardens Neuroscience Network. Chiara was ESSA’s 2024 Practicum Supervisor of the Year and co-founded the Allied Health Special Interest Group with Dr Grace McKeon in 2021.