معرفی
Dr Julia Dray is a Lecturer in Speech Pathology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Health, where she also serves as Project Manager for the NurtureNextGen project in Genetic Counselling. Her academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of Newcastle and Australian National University, with research focusing on mental health, preventive care, and lived experience research.
Dr Dray completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Newcastle Australia, where she also earned her Bachelor of Psychology with First Class Honours and the J A Keats Award. She has since augmented her expertise with an Ethical AI certification from RMIT University.
Her research interests center on mental health promotion, particularly child and adolescent mental health, resilience, chronic disease prevention, and the integration of lived experience in research. Dr Dray has pioneered work in digital health, especially the application of Generative AI, AR, and VR in mental health support and speech pathology. Her research demonstrates a strong emphasis on co-design methodologies, implementation science, and community-engaged approaches to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward innovative digital health solutions, with increasing focus on Generative AI applications in mental health and speech pathology. Her work bridges implementation science with emerging technologies, examining both the potential and ethical considerations of these innovations in clinical practice.
- Donald J Cohen Fellowship (IACAPAP), 2016
- J A Keats Award for First Class Honours
- International impact recognition with citations in WHO and NICE guidelines
Dr Dray has supervised numerous research students across various projects related to mental health, chronic disease prevention, and consumer engagement in health research. She has secured over half a million dollars in research funding, including significant grants from the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the Health Foundation. Her collaborative approach extends to partnerships with community organizations, government bodies, and international research teams, reflecting her commitment to translating research into practice.
As a member of the Faculty of Health at UTS, Dr Dray contributes to the INSIGHT: Institute for Innovative Solutions for Wellbeing and Health and the UTS Research Centre for Trustworthy Digital Society. Her work on the NurtureNextGen project demonstrates her commitment to genetic counseling and family-centered approaches to health.
