Trish Obst

Trish Obst is an Associate Professor at the School of Psychology & Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She holds a PhD in Community Psychology (QUT, 2005) and serves as the Course Coordinator for the Honours Program. Her research explores how social connectivity, sense of community, and social identity influence well-being, with applications to volunteering, alcohol use, and aging.

• Education:
  • PhD (QUT)
  • Bachelor (Honours) in Social Science (QUT)

Research Interests span applied social psychology, focusing on cultural safety, belonging, and behavior change. Key areas include women’s alcohol consumption, older drivers’ road safety, and social support systems for carers and volunteers. Her work bridges theory with practical interventions for community health and policy.

Recent Publications emphasize cultural safety in healthcare, digital community support systems, and gender-specific health behaviors. Trends include interdisciplinary studies in psychology, health sciences, and social work, with subfields like online caregiving, addictive gaming, and muscularity drive in young men.

Professional Roles include editorial contributions to journals such as Australian Psychologist and Psychology of Popular Media. She has supervised PhD projects on topics like self-image in social media and workplace equity, and co-led an ARC Linkage Grant on retired professionals’ volunteering in rural areas.

Collaborations involve partnerships with Qld Health, Volunteering Qld, and community organizations, leveraging work-integrated learning for real-world impact.