John Wiggers

Professor John Wiggers is a Professorial Fellow at the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He also serves as Director of Hunter New England (HNE) Population Health, leading a team of over 100 staff serving 800,000 people across the region from Newcastle to the Queensland border. His work uniquely bridges research, policy, and practice in population health.

Education:

• PhD in Behavioural Medicine, University of Newcastle (1997)
• Graduate Diploma in Health Social Science, University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Newcastle

Professor Wiggers focuses on population health research, particularly in re-orientating health and other agencies towards policies and practices that prevent chronic diseases and reduce health risks. His expertise spans chronic disease prevention, injury prevention, and harm reduction related to alcohol and tobacco. He has developed evidence-based models for implementing health promotion programs across multiple community settings including schools, childcare centers, sports clubs, and police stations. His research emphasizes a 'system' and 'capacity building' approach, working collaboratively with community organizations to ensure research is both informed by and translated into practice.

His recent publications (2021-2023) demonstrate a strong focus on implementation science, particularly in translating evidence into practice across various settings. Key themes include antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption, obesity prevention in schools and childcare settings, mental health promotion, and improving preventive care for people with mental illness. His work frequently employs cluster randomized controlled trials and implementation frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness of practice change interventions.

Scientific Awards:

• 2015 Excellence Award by the Collaboration of Community-based Obesity Prevention Sites for the Good for Kids Good for Life program

Professor Wiggers has secured significant research funding, including NHMRC grants, to support his work on alcohol harm reduction, obesity prevention, and tobacco control. His research has directly informed policy and practice, with programs like Good for Kids Good for Life being adopted by NSW Health as the Healthy Children Initiative. He has established strong collaborations across health services, community organizations, and government bodies to build capacity for evidence-based practice.

As Director of Hunter New England Population Health, Professor Wiggers oversees a substantial team implementing population health services across the region. His work with the NSW Police Force on alcohol-related crime reduction has served as a model adopted by police forces in New Zealand and South Australia. His 'virtuous cycle' approach emphasizes co-design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based practices with service providers.