Aletha Ward

Aletha Ward serves as a Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southern Queensland, conducting critical research at the intersection of public health, food insecurity, and systemic inequities affecting Indigenous Australian communities. Her work directly addresses national health policy gaps through evidence-based analysis of dietary guidelines.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Master of Business Administration
• PhD from University of Southern Queensland (2019)

Dr. Ward's research demonstrates how Australia's official dietary guidelines fail Indigenous populations by ignoring traditional foods, widespread lactose intolerance, and food access barriers in remote communities. She advocates for regionally tailored nutritional frameworks incorporating bush foods like kangaroo, emu, and native plants to address diabetes and cardiovascular disease disparities. Her methodology combines public health analysis with decolonizing approaches to health policy.

Her seminal 2020 publication reveals how one-size-fits-all dietary advice exacerbates health inequities, requiring urgent reform to align with Closing the Gap health targets. The work analyzes specific guideline failures across protein sources (dairy vs traditional meats), grain recommendations (wheat/barley vs native seeds), and vegetable accessibility.

Dr. Ward receives active funding from the Spinifex Research Rapid Review (University of New England) and maintains professional affiliation with the Australian College of Nursing. Her research provides actionable pathways for culturally safe nutrition policy that respects Indigenous food sovereignty and traditional knowledge systems.