In 1986 I completing a BSc in Science and I commenced a Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology (1993) that I later translated to a Masters in Medical Science (Clinical Epidemiology), which was completed in 2003. Between 2002 and 2003 I undertook a part-time position with the Newcastle Institute of Public Health (NIPH) as a manager of a research project entitled ″An Evaluation of the Hunter Chronic Disease Rehabilitation Program″. Then in 2006 I commenced my PhD candidature on a part-time basis and I completed this in April 2019. I have also collaborated on other research projects with the charity Hands on Health Australia.