Leanne Fried
Senior Research Fellow
BSc DipEd MSpEd EdD
leanne.fried@telethonkids.org.au
+61 8 6319 1480
Leanne Fried is a Senior Research Fellow who currently works with arts organisations to promote the social and emotional wellbeing of young people.
Leanne believes her work is critical to developing key messages in the community that not only help to promote young people’s social and emotional wellbeing but also that of the adults in their lives. Her work is guided by the vision of a community that not only responds when young people have mental health issues but also understands the importance of, and implements, social and emotional wellbeing promotion.
Over the last three years, Leanne and the SEW – Arts research team have received approximately $500,000 in funding from Healthway to develop a resource to build the capacity of arts organisations to promote young people’s social and emotional wellbeing. The resource has been embraced by arts organisations who not only have co-developed and advised on its development but have also been involved in piloting and adapting it for use with a variety of populations.
Leanne has a background in teaching at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. She has a strong interest in educational psychology and has trained to implement Acceptance Commitment Therapy interventions with adolescents. She has received awards from the Education Department for projects conducted in partnership with schools.
Projects
Building social and emotional wellbeing through the arts
The ‘Building Social and Emotional Wellbeing Through the Arts Project’ was funded in 2021 by Healthway and supported through a partnership between The Kids Research Institute Australia and Edith Cowan University (ECU).
Priority-setting in youth with chronic conditions
Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the transition of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes from paediatric to adult care in Western Australia
Exploring the associations between coping, resilience, well-being and glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents
Published research
Development of a Novel Mobile Health App to Empower Young People With Type 1 Diabetes to Exercise Safely: Co-Design Approach
Blood glucose management around exercise is challenging for youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Previous research has indicated interventions including decision-support aids to better support youth to effectively contextualize blood glucose results and take appropriate action to optimize glucose levels during and after exercise. Mobile health (mHealth) apps help deliver health behavior interventions to youth with T1D, given the use of technology for glucose monitoring, insulin dosing, and carbohydrate counting.
Getting creative: Using art-based techniques to identify how arts organizations enhance young people’s well-being
Mental health concerns present significant challenges for Australian youth. Arts organizations play a key role in promoting preventative mental health strate-gies through enhancing the social and emotional well-being (SEWB) of youth. However, little is known about how the arts promote SEWB and the processes and contexts through which this occurs.
Perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse families in the management of children with type 1 diabetes in Western Australia
Children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) from different ethnic backgrounds are growing in proportion in clinical practice and tend to have a higher risk of poor health outcomes. The study aimed to investigate the perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse families in the management of children with T1D in Western Australia.
Hybrid closed-loop therapy with a first-generation system increases confidence and independence in diabetes management in youth with type 1 diabetes
Hybrid closed-loop (HCL) therapy improves glycaemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes; however, little is known about their lived experience using these systems. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of youth with type 1 diabetes using HCL therapy, and their parents, to provide insight into their lived experiences.
Built Environments and Child Health: A Policy Review’, Life Course Centre Working Paper Series, 2021-22
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century and is affected not only by individual choice but also by societal and environmental influences. Childhood obesity is higher in children living in regional and remote compared with major cities, in one-parent families and for those with a disability.
The Challenges of Being Physically Active: A Qualitative Study of Young People With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents
Benefits of physical activity are well recognized for youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but being active is challenging. In this study, we aimed to investigate the challenges experienced by adolescents, their parents and young adults with T1DM when they are physically active.
The Challenges of Being Physically Active: A Qualitative Study of Young People With Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents
Benefits of physical activity are well recognized for youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but being active is challenging. In this study, we aimed to investigate the challenges experienced by adolescents, their parents and young adults with T1DM when they are physically active.
Lessons from schools with high levels of support for students with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative study
This project aimed to investigate how schools provide support for the psychosocial wellbeing and disease management of students with type 1 diabetes
The school experiences of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Western Australia
Elevated levels of emotional difficulties among school students with T1D and variable levels of support from school staff to assist these students to manage their diabetes at school
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science – Murdoch University
- Masters in Special Education – UWA
- Education Doctorate - UWA