Personal profile
Biography
Dr Goodwin is the Co-Director of Health Programs at BehaviourWorks Australia (BWA), which is situated in the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI). Dr Goodwin’s role is essentially a hybrid between an academic and professional. Her work is primarily industry facing - an enabler for translating research into practice. Dr Goodwin’s projects have all been funded by industry and public sector research income, made possible as a result of BWAs strong track record of delivering primary research and knowledge translation activities that understand client needs and are evidence based.
As BWA’s resident ‘systems thinker’, Dr Goodwin's current research spans a wide range of policy areas, including clinical and preventative health, education, sustainability, and social inclusion.Denise’s knowledge and understanding of how complex systems operate is critical to contextualising behavioural issues. Dr Goodwin has expertise in qualitative research, in particular investigating drivers of behaviour and beliefs elicitation to develop targeted behaviour change interventions. Her skills include data collection (individual interviews, focus groups, citizen panels and stakeholder dialogues), data management, analysis and reporting. She is experienced in knowledge translation of evidence-based interventions and change practice in a range of settings.
Dr Goodwin has an interest in in health interventions, social research, environmental determinants of bio-psychosocial health, social marketing, the evaluation of complex adaptive systems and public policy. A team player and leader with the drive, ambition and self-motivation to achieve specific objectives and a strong background in creating and maintaining relationships to ensure high quality work and effective outcomes.
Related Links:
Research interests
I am interested in the evaluation of complex problems and the nexus between systems thinking and behaviour change.
Research area keywords
- Systems Thinking
- Complex Systems
- Public Health
- Physical activity
- Community Well-Being
- Workplace health and safety
- Behaviour Change
- Education
- Health
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Co-facilitation of therapy sessions by peer coaches and clinicians in the spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation setting
Goodwin, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Lennox, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/08/24 → 31/05/27
Project: Research
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TSC - BWA Consortium 2023 to 2026
Goodwin, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Smith, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/23 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Harnessing behavioural insights for the cultural safety in sport campaign
Goodwin, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Silva, G. (Project Manager) & Fadelli, M. (Project Manager)
1/05/25 → 16/06/25
Project: Research
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Evaluation of a training program to develop habits for inclusive leadership.
Zhao, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Tull, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Goodwin, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
2/09/24 → 28/02/25
Project: Research
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Multicultural communities needs and gap analysis
Plant, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Goodwin, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
30/08/24 → 31/01/25
Project: Research
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Safe and sound communities: understanding behavioural influences on preventable injuries
Plant, B., Sweeney, R., Genat, A., Meade, R., Beck, B. & Goodwin, D., Feb 2026, In: Safety Science. 194, 13 p., 107055.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Developing a behaviour identification method for healthcare waste management: a case study of hospital waste management in Australia
Jungbluth, L., Wright, J., Bragge, P. & Goodwin, D., 2025, In: BMC Health Services Research. 25, 1, 11 p., 1288.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Effective components of integrated motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy for lifestyle behaviour change: a modified Delphi study
Barrett, S., Begg, S., Dunford, A. R., O’Halloran, P., Breckon, J., Denniss, E., Rodda, K., Hardcastle, S., Marshall, P. W., Anstiss, T., Kwasnicka, D., Bohman, B., Atkinson, C., Taylor, N. F., Randall, C., Greaves, C., Hall, K., Kunstler, B., Lakerveld, J. & Goodwin, D. & 5 others, , 2025, In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 22, 1, 13 p., 135.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Road Safety Needs and Gap Analysis: Multicultural Perceptions of Road Safety
Larkins, R., Pedersen, R., Plant, B. & Goodwin, D., Apr 2025, Melbourne Vic Australia: The LOTE Agency. 53 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Research
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Road Safety Needs and Gap Analysis - Multicultural Perceptions of Road Safety: Summary report
Larkins, R., Pedersen, R., Plant, B. & Goodwin, D., Apr 2025, Melbourne Vic Australia: The LOTE Agency. 17 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report (Non-Public) › Other
Prizes
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2021 PHRP Excellence Awards - Best InPractice Paper
Kunstler, B. (Recipient), Goodwin, D. (Recipient), Wild, A. (Recipient) & Skouteris, H. (Recipient), 18 Dec 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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One behaviour at a time - transforming the work of Industry through the "Applying Behavioural Science to Create Change" micro-credential
Garivaldis, F. (Recipient), Wild, A. (Recipient), Saeri, A. (Recipient), Bos, A. (Recipient), Goodwin, D. (Recipient), Riley, E. (Recipient), Tull, F. (Recipient), Paine, G. (Recipient), Raj, K. (Recipient), Aubanty, K. (Recipient), Jungbluth, L. (Recipient), Smith, L. (Recipient), Jaovisidha, M. (Recipient), Boulet, M. (Recipient), Santoso, M. (Recipient), Fadelli, M. (Recipient), Kneebone, S. (Recipient) & Kaufman, S. (Recipient), 14 Nov 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Press/Media
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We asked multicultural communities how best to communicate COVID-19 advice. Here’s what they told us
Wild, A., Kunstler, B., Goodwin, D. & Skouteris, H.
17/07/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Lots of people want to help nature after the bushfires – we must seize the moment
Goodwin, D., Wild, A. & Hatty, M.
4/02/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Here’s a funny thing: can comedy really change our environmental behaviours?
19/07/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Choosing healthy food: your surroundings can help or hinder your dining choices
Faulkner, N., Goodwin, D. & Wright, B.
12/06/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature