Gillian is a GP and a Professor at the Southern Cross University.

At the time of her funding in 2017, Prof Gould was working with Aboriginal Medical Services in several states to find out which techniques help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women stop smoking.

Four times the number of pregnant women in Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population smoke compared to other Australians – 47% versus 13%. This means that each year nearly half of all newborn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies could be affected in the womb by smoking.

“Tackling smoking in pregnant women improves at least two people’s chances at a healthier life – mothers and babies – and has implications for the whole community, “ Gillian says.

Prof Gillian Gould's research

Currently little is known about what strategies work to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women quit smoking, so this is the focus of Gillian’s research.

“It’s wonderful that Cure Cancer Australia has recognised the importance of preventative health and this very high priority project,” she says.   

Gillian’s research will undertake in-depth analysis of behaviour-change therapies used in the SISTAQUIT program.

“We’ll compare the number and type of behaviour-change therapies actually used by trained health providers trained in ‘our program’, to health providers using their standard approach.

“We also aim to analyse the capabilities of investigators in this area to see whether people we have trained can do what we want them to do, and help improve training of providers.”

Colour and innovation

Gillian is also collaborating on quit smoking programs in pregnancy that are not specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“My work is spreading into the general population. It’s quite exciting,“ she says.

Gillian loves nature, walking and living by the beach. She is also passionate about creative arts – a love that she shares with many family members.

“My life is surrounded by colour and innovation, so that naturally spills over into my work,“ she says.

Gillian is funded by Cure Cancer Australia and Cancer Australia through the Priority-driven Cancer Support Scheme. Her grant is supported by The Can Too Foundation.

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