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  • Dr Ruth Wallace

    Dr Ruth Wallace

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Dr Ruth Wallace

Senior Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 2731
Email: ruth.wallace@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO31.471  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-5195

Ruth is a lecturer in the School of Medical and Health Sciences.

Qualifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Edith Cowan University, 2022.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2016.
  • Bachelor of Health Science Honours, Edith Cowan University, 2011.
  • Bachelor of Health Science, Edith Cowan University, 2010.

Research Outputs

2024

Journal Articles

  • Padamsey, K., Liebenberg, A., Wallace, R., Oosthuizen, J. (2024). Characterising the Chemical Composition of Bushfire Smoke and Implications for Firefighter Exposure in Western Australia. Fire, 7(11), Article number 388. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7110388.
  • Padamsey, K., Liebenberg, A., Wallace, R., Oosthuizen, J. (2024). Preliminary Assessment of Tunic Off-Gassing after Wildland Firefighting Exposure. Fire, 7(9), Article number 321. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7090321.
  • Padamsey, K., Wallace, R., Liebenberg, A., Cross, M., Oosthuizen, J. (2024). Fighting fire and fumes: risk awareness and protective practices among Western Australian firefighters. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 33(4), Article number WF23147. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF23147.
  • Andrew, L., Gizzarelli, E., Estai, M., Wallace, R. (2024). Participant Misrepresentation in Online Focus Groups: Red Flags and Proactive Measures. Ethics & Human Research, 46(1), 37-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/eahr.500198.
  • Oosthuizen, J., Masaka, E., Doherty, S., Staples, K., Dine, G., Vance, G., Wallace, R. (2024). An innovative and meaningful scaffolded curriculum approach to Environmental Health education in Western Australia. Frontiers in Education, 9(2024), Article number 1346907. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1346907.
  • Lawlis, T., Mawer, T., Bevitt, T., Arthur, T., Andrew, L., Wallace, R., Sambell, R., Devine, A. (2024). Host organizations’ perceptions to providing safe and inclusive work-integrated learning programs for students with disability. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 25(1), 95-107.
  • Wallace, R., Doherty, S., Cook, E. (2024). Using image-reflections to support undergraduate students’ relational employability: A practitioner reflection. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 15(2), 5-17. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2024vol15no2art2030.
  • Wallace, R., Sambell, R., Fu, SC., Lo, J., Cook, E., Devine, A. (2024). Enhancing nutrition information utilisation, confidence and role legitimacy and adequacy among early childhood education professionals through evidence-based online training. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 2024(Article in press), 16 pages. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/18369391241270539.
  • Cook, E., Doherty, S., Wallace, R. (2024). Preparing the Future Public Health Workforce: Fostering Global Citizenship Through the Relational Employability Framework—Insights from Two Case Studies. Education Sciences, 14(11), Article number 1245. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14111245.

Conference Publications

  • Fox-Harding, C., Kendall, K., Porter, T., Belladonna, B., Beatty, S., Wallace, R. (2024). A taste of research: Preliminary insights from an undergraduate research training cadetship project in a Western Australian University offering experiences outside the classroom. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (714-723). Higher Education Advances (HEAd). https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD24.2024.17153.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Hoteit, M., Hoteit, R., Aljawaldeh, A., Van Royen, K., Pabian, S., Decorte, P., Cuykx, I., Teunissen, L., De Backer, C., Bergheim, I., Staltner, R., Devine, A., Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Allehdan, SS., Alalwan, TA., Al-Mannai, MA., Ouvrein, G., Poels, K., Vandebosch, H., Maldoy, K., Matthys, C., Smits, T., Vrinten, J., Desmet, A., Teughels, N., Geuens, M., Vermeir, I., Proesmans, V., Hudders, L., De Barcellos, MD., Ostermann, C., Brock, AL., Favieiro, C., Trizotto, R., Stangherlin, I., Mafra, AL., Correa Varella, MA., Valentova, JV., Fisher, ML., Maceacheron, M., White, K., Habib, R., Dobson, DS., Schnettler, B., Orellana, L., Miranda-Zapata, E., Wen-Yu Chang, A., Jiao, W., Liu, MT., Grunert, KG., Christensen, RN., Reisch, L., Janssen, M., Abril-Ulloa, V., Encalada, L., Kamel, I., Vainio, A., Niva, M., Salmivaara, L., Mäkelä, J., Torkkeli, K., Mai, R., Risch, PK., Altsitsiadis, E., Stamos, A., Antronikidis, A., Henchion, M., McCarthy, S., McCarthy, M., Micalizzi, A., Schulz, PJ., Farinosi, M., Komatsu, H., Tanaka, N., Kubota, H., Tayyem, R., Al-Awwad, NJ., Al-Bayyari, N., Ibrahim, MO., Hammouh, F., Dashti, S., Dashti, B., Alkharaif, D., Alshatti, A., Al Mazedi, M., Mansour, R., Naim, E., Mortada, H., Gutierrez Gomez, YY., Geyskens, K., Goukens, C., Roy, R., Egli, V., Morenga, LT., Waly, M., Qasrawi, R., Hamdan, M., Sier, RA., Al Halawa, DA., Agha, H., Liria Domínguez, MR., Palomares, L., Wasowicz, G., Bawadi, H., Othman, M., Pakari, J., Farha, AA., Abu-El-Ruz, R., Petrescu, DC., Petrescu Mag, RM., Arion, F., Vesa, SC., Alkhalaf, MM., Bookari, K., Arrish, J., Rahim, Z., Kheng, R., Ngqangashe, Y., June-Rose McHiza, Z., Gonzalez-Gross, M., Pantoja-Arévalo, L., Gesteiro, E., Ríos, Y., Yiga, P., Ogwok, P., Ocen, D., Bamuwamye, M., Al Sabbah, H., Taha, Z., Ismail, LC., Aldhaheri, A., Pineda, E., Miraldo, M., Holford, DL., Van Den Bulck, H. (2023). Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries. Heliyon, 9(11), article number e21585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21585.
  • Johnston, M., O'Sullivan, T., Devine, A., Wallace, R., Costello, L., Sambell, R. (2023). Toddlers may be getting enough iron in long day-care services after all. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 36(5), 1901-1911. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13180.

Reports

  • Lund, S., Dobson, M., Fitzgerald, K., Kelty, E., Archer, C., Wallace, R., Frantzich Gardiner, S., Harahap, D., McLeod, M., Quinton, S. (2023). The Valuing Children Initiative Survey 2023: Exploring Australian Adults' attitudes towards children for a better future.. Perth, Australia. The Valuing Children Initiative.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Blekkenhorst, L., Ride, K., Wallace, R., Eades, S., McAullay, D., Godrich, S. (2022). Healthy lifestyle initiatives for increasing fruit and vegetable intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: a rapid review. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 47(2), 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2021-0076.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Forde, K., Costello, L., Devine, A., Sambell, R., Wallace, R. (2021). A multifaceted approach increased staff confidence to develop outside of school hours care as a health promoting setting. BMC Public Health, 21(15 December 2021), Article number 2286. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12360-w.
  • Wickens, N., Wallace, R., Dare, J., Costello, L., Lo, J., Nimmo, L. (2021). Mobile phone use and social interactions among caregivers can reduce their ability to provide constant supervision to children at Australian public swimming pools. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 32(S2), 147-157. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.445.
  • Wallace, R., Hesterman, S. (2021). The Nexus of Play-based Learning and Early Childhood Education: A Western Australian Account. Education and Society, 39(1), 5-24. https://doi.org/10.7459/es/39.1.02.
  • Andrew, L., Wallace, R., Sambell, R. (2021). A peer-observation initiative to enhance student engagement in the synchronous virtual classroom: A case study of a COVID-19 mandated move to online learning. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 18(4), Article number 14. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/10894.
  • Andrew, L., Wallace, R., Wickens, N., Patel, J. (2021). Early childhood caries, primary caregiver oral health knowledge and behaviours and associated sociological factors in Australia: a systematic scoping review. BMC Oral Health, 21(1), Article number 521. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-021-01887-4.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Lombardi, K., De Backer, C., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2020). Sharing is Caring: A Study of Food-Sharing Practices in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Services. Nutrients, 12(January 2020), Article 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010229.
  • Lombardi, K., Beatty, S., Devine, A., Wallace, R., Costello, L. (2020). Fat talk: Influences on body image in childcare. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 31(2), 224-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.272.
  • Hua, D., Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Vale, S., Devine, A. (2020). Food allergy management in Early Childhood Education and Care Services in Australia. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56(3), 394-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14633.
  • Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Lo, J., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2020). Increasing food expenditure in long day-care by an extra $0.50 per child/day would improve core food group provision. Nutrients, 12(4), Article number 968. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040968.

Conference Publications

  • Wallace, R., Beatty, S., Lines, J., Moore, C., Costello, L. (2020). The power of peer-review: A tool to improve student skills and unit satisfaction. 6th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd 2020) (1-12). Editorial Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd20.2020.11116.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Mills, B. (2019). A study of the food environment at Australian Family Day Care. Nutrients, 11(10), Article number 2395. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102395.
  • Sambell, R., Wallace, R., Costello, L., Lo, J., Devine, A. (2019). Measuring food provision in Western Australian long day care (LDC) services: a weighed food record method/protocol at a service level. Nutrition Journal, 18(1), Article 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-019-0462-2.
  • Devine, A., Wallace, R., Lo, J., Miller, M., Sambell, R., Costello, L., Lombardi, K., Veurink, S. (2019). Online programs build confidence and improve healthy eating messages in Early Years services. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 44(2), 139-152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1836939119833244.

2018

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2018). Netnographic Slog: Creative Elicitation Strategies to Encourage Participation in an Online Community of Practice for Early Education and Care. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1), 13p.. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406918797796.
  • Wallace, R., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2018). Exploring sense of community among early childhood education and care professionals through the Supporting Nutrition for Australian Childcare (SNAC) website. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 43(4), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.43.4.03.

2017

Journal Articles

  • Costello, L., McDermott, M., Wallace, R. (2017). Netnography: Range of Practices, Misperceptions, and Missed Opportunities. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 12p.. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917700647.
  • Wallace, R., Devine, A., Costello, L. (2017). Determining educator's need to support healthy eating environments in early childhood settings. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 42(2), 20-28. https://doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.42.2.03.
  • Wallace, R., Costello, L., Devine, A. (2017). Over-provision of discretionary foods at childcare dilutes the nutritional quality of diets for children. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41(4), 447. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12658.

2016

Journal Articles

  • Wallace, R., Lo, J., Devine, A. (2016). Tailored nutrition education in the elderly can lead to sustained dietary behaviour change. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 20(1), 8-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0669-2.

Research Projects

  • Little Aussie Bugs: Designing, piloting and evaluating online professional development to support early years educators build health literacy among young children, Academic Staff Association of Edith Cowan University, Solidarity Research Fund (SRF), 2024 ‑ 2025, $19,990.
  • Emotional Literacy Mindfulness Academy Research program evaluation, ELMA EDUCATION PTY LTD, Grant, 2023 ‑ 2024, $47,086.
  • Primary carers’ knowledge and practices of infant oral health promotion. , Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future, Community Grant, 2022 ‑ 2023, $19,734.
  • Enablers and barriers to accessing digital oral health resources: caregivers and health providers’ perspectives , Raine Medical Research Foundation, 2021 Healy Research Collaboration Awards, 2022 ‑ 2023, $29,915.
  • Little Aussie Bugs Educational book set, Channel 7 Telethon Trust, Grant, 2022, $40,285.
  • Examining the efficacy of nutrition specific professional development for Early Childhood Education and Care professionals, Edith Cowan University, ECU Early Career Researcher Grant - 2018, 2018 ‑ 2019, $30,000.
  • SNACPlus: A whole-of-centre approach to healthy eating in WA Child Care Centres., Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Healthway - Research Starter Grant, 2014 ‑ 2016, $28,216.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Voices of partners of former commanding officers of the Australian special Air service regiment: A narrative enquiry
  • Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Perceptions & Experience of Parental Online Dating in Single Parent Families.

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Co-design of a digital tool to promote young children's planetary health literacy and support their digital agency

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Understanding mental wellbeing of Family Day Care Educators in Australia - a mixed methods study

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Master of Public Health, Food allergy management in early childhood education and care (ecec) services: Are services aware of training guidelines for food allergy management?
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Workplace exposures of wildland firefighters in Western Australia - novel insights and real-world impact

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Food provision in long day care requires a multilevel approach to optimise health and developmental outcomes for young children
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Design, implementation and evaluation of the impact of a body image professional development program for early childhood educators
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