Ivanka Prichard

Ivanka Prichard is a Professor in the Discipline of Health & Exercise Sciences at Flinders University, where she joined the College of Nursing & Health Sciences in 2014. She serves as the Director of The Embrace Impact Lab and the Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) Coordinator within her college.

• Research Focus: Health psychology, body image, social media impact, eating behavior, exercise science, and mental health promotion.
• Teaching: Courses include Health: A Psychological Perspective, Psychology of Exercise, Health & Behaviour Change, and Research Communication & Translation.

Research Projects include:

• Embrace Kids: Early intervention for body image concerns in youth through collaboration with The Embrace Collective.
• Body Image & Exercise: Analyzing how body dissatisfaction hinders physical activity in Australian women and social media's role in exercise motivation.
• Positive Innovation: Experimental studies on social media content to enhance body image across diverse populations.

Scientific Awards:

• 2016 Research Leadership Mentoring Program (ARC)
• 2015 Beat Cancer Project Travel Grant (Cancer Council SA)
• 2013 Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher Award

Grant Collaborations include partnerships with The Embrace Collective and Flinders Digital Health Research Centre. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for Health, Wellbeing, and Quality Education. She leads research teams focusing on behavioral health interventions and digital health innovation.