Jo Badcock

Professor Jo Badcock is an international expert on loneliness and social connection, currently affiliated with The University of Western Australia (UWA) as a Professor and Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychological Science. Her research focuses on the assessment, mechanisms, and impact of loneliness on health and wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on knowledge translation to policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations. She co-founded the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (2020) and serves on advisory boards for national and international bodies, including the World Health Organization and Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.

• Affiliations:
  • Adjunct Professor, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, UWA (previous)
  • Research Professor, Edith Cowan University (previous)
  • Member, Steering Committee, Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection
  • Advisor, French Federation on Social Connection

Research Interests: Professor Badcock’s research spans loneliness mechanisms, mental health stigma, and interventions targeting healthcare providers. She develops evidence-based tools like the online service directory for loneliness and a self-care toolkit for healthcare workers. Her work bridges clinical practice and policy, addressing gaps in social connection frameworks.

Grants & Projects: Recent funding includes Perpetual Impact Funding for an online service directory and corporate sponsorship for a healthcare provider toolkit. Ongoing projects focus on hearing loss interventions and pharmacy workforce training.

• Awards:
  • Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (2018)
  • WA Mental Health Innovation Award (2017)
  • Schizophrenia Fellowship Consumer-Researcher Award (2009)

Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary collaborations through the Global Initiative and Ending Loneliness Together, fostering partnerships between universities, governments, and NGOs.