About
Professor Vincent Versace is a leading academic in public health and health geography at Deakin University, where he serves as Director of Deakin Rural Health and is affiliated with the School of Medicine. He is also the Founding Co-Director of the Centre for Australian Research into Access (CARA). With over 150 peer-reviewed publications, his work spans chronic disease prevention, biostatistics, and rural health equity.
- University: Deakin University
- School: School of Medicine
- Role: Professor and Director, Deakin Rural Health
- Email: vincent.versace@deakin.edu.au
His research interests focus on cardiovascular disease risk, diabetes prevention and management, and health geography, particularly in rural and regional populations. He has led major studies on colorectal cancer screening, gestational diabetes, and telehealth implementation. His methodological expertise includes biostatistics, spatial analysis, and randomized controlled trials.
His recent publications reflect a strong trend in rural health equity, telehealth scalability, chronic disease management, and health service accessibility. Key themes include diabetes distress interventions, maternal health in Indigenous communities, workforce distribution, and the built environment's impact on health. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on translating research into policy and practice in rural settings.
Scientific Awards and Honours:
- Deakin University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Indigenous Education (2018)
- Ballarat Health Services Research and Education Award (2018)
- Loch Postgraduate Research Award (2006)
- HDR Excellence Award (2006)
- Land and Water Australia Travelling Fellowship (2005)
- Australian Postgraduate Award (2004)
- Multiple early-career and academic excellence awards from Deakin University and CSIRO
Professor Versace is actively involved in supervising PhD and research students, with current and completed projects in rural emergency care, health geography tools, gestational diabetes, and Aboriginal health. He has secured substantial funding from NHMRC, MRFF, and Western Alliance for projects on mental health, diabetes, and rural service delivery. His work emphasizes collaboration between academia, health services, and communities to improve rural health outcomes.
He is also engaged in building research capacity in rural health services and co-designing interventions with stakeholders. His leadership in establishing research units in rural towns like Colac highlights his commitment to decentralizing research and enhancing local health service capability.