Introduction
The Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change is one of the few Centres in the world that provides an integrated approach to all aspects of behaviour change. We study a wide range of behaviours related to human health and wellbeing, as well as social and environmental sustainability.
We are specialists in the development, implementation, and evaluation of cutting-edge, evidence-based interventions, including those delivered via digital means or groups. We adopt a person-centred approach to assist individuals in self-managing their health, and work with professionals and organisations to co-design health-enhancing policies and practices. Our comprehensive process models incorporate cognitive, emotional and interpersonal regulation. Combined with our versatile methodological capabilities, they allow us to approach any behaviour change challenge.
This short animation features more information about behaviour change and who we are.
People
The Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change is a highly active, collaborative, and networked group of researchers and clinicians who foster and lead rewarding partnerships worldwide.
Members of our team are recognised internationally for their expertise in behaviour change and contributions to understanding the individual, social, organisational and environmental factors that affect behavioural patterns.
The Centre has also attracted local and international collaborators from a variety of disciplines and with a range of different skills and expertise including (but not limited to) cognitive neuroscience, clinical informatics, health information law, record linkage, allied health, tele-rehabilitation and criminology.
Meet the Centre
Research
Our research focuses on the individual, social, environmental, and organisational psychology of behaviour change. We investigate the various processes that direct individual behaviour and study evidence-based techniques capable of changing behaviour patterns. We are expert at developing, implementing, and evaluating behaviour-change interventions, including digital interventions.
Our research addresses many significant issues including:
- How can we deliver information in a way that promotes positive behaviour change?
- How can we motivate people to change their behaviour?
- How can we help people break and establish habits?
- How can we assist individuals in successfully managing long-term illnesses and disabilities?
- How can we deliver high-value interventions that are efficient and widely acceptable?
- How can we adapt interventions to meet the needs of vulnerable populations?
- What are the relative strengths and limitations of new technologies that aim to facilitate behaviour change?
- How can we change organisations and environments to support behaviour change?
- How can we improve interactions between practitioners and their patients; professionals and their clients; and organisations and members of the public?
Learn more about our research
Consultancy
We welcome community and industry participation and offer consultancy services to organisations in both the profit and not-for profit sectors. Our consultancy model is designed to build partnerships and capacity, and we seek to enable our partners to leverage our expertise in behaviour change. Whether you are interested in sponsoring a research project or forging a long-term strategic alliance, we will help you launch a successful and rewarding collaboration with researchers who are leaders in their fields.
Our services include (but are not limited to):
- Designing projects or programs focusing on behaviour change
- Developing, refining, implementing and evaluating behaviour change interventions
- Translating available evidence into service improvement
- Training staff to deliver interventions
- Developing implications for health policy
For example, we:
- Assist practitioners and associated health professionals in their efforts to help their clients with behaviour change problems
- Assist organisations with an interest in improving professional behaviour on ways to optimise professional practice
- Advise organisations, including governments, on environmental changes (i.e., “nudges”) that can lead to more adaptive behaviour
Study with us
The Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change welcomes interest from prospective Honours or PhD students who would like to conduct research with our team. Students must satisfy program eligibility requirements and prospective PhD students must be competitive for a scholarship.
To learn more about the research interests of our team, please visit the Team page.
For more information about the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences' Honours specialisation and Doctor of Philosophy programs, please refer to the links below.
More information about Honours More information about PhD
If you satisfy the eligibility requirements for entry to the University of Melbourne, please send us an email to express your interest in studying with us. All expressions of interest should include:
- CV
- Academic Transcript (with WAM or GPA).
Contact us
We welcome your interest in the Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change. Please get in touch if you would like to learn more or explore opportunities for collaboration.