About Us
Deakin’s Carer Hub: Centre of Excellence in Carer Research Translation and Impact was established in 2023 following support from the State Government. The Carer Hub is led by Professors Trish Livingston and Vicki White, who have been developing supportive resources and interventions for people living with cancer and their family caregivers for over 25 years. Research projects within the hub are managed by the Cancer Carer Centre Research Fellow, Dr Stephanie Cowdery.
The Cancer Carer Hub provides evidence-based support and resources to cancer carers in Victoria to improve their health and wellbeing and promote their recognition as an integral part of the cancer care team. To learn more about the Carer Hub, visit our website.
Who Can Take Part
We are conducting a trial to test Carer_MindOnLine for carers of people living with cancer. Carer_MindOnLine is available for people who:
- Are 18 years or older,
- Live in Victoria, Australia,
- Can speak, listen to and read English,
- Have access to an internet-connected device, such as a smartphone, Android tablet, iPad, or desktop computer,
- Have cared or supported an adult diagnosed with (or treated for), cancer in the previous two years,
- Self-report that caring has/had an impact on their lives.
This project received approval from the Deakin University Human Ethics Research Committee (reference number: 2023-358).
How this works
If you are interested in participating, you can register above. After you register, you will be asked a series of questions to confirm if you are eligible to take part. If you are eligible, you will be asked some baseline questions.
Register
Baseline Measures
Randomisation
Access to Program
Follow-up Measures
In this trial, once your baseline questions are completed, you will be randomly allocated to receive either immediate access or delayed access to the Carer_MindOnLine program. In this program, you will receive weekly mindfulness videos and have the option to journal and complete your goal setting. You will also receive two email reminders each day to encourage meditation practice to help build your routine. After 9 weeks you will be asked to complete some follow-up questions.
Testimonial
The MindOnline Program addresses my very real and troubling challenges and helps me look at them with more hope and a more optimistic view. And the Program also helps me to see that my fears are normal in this situation. I can be and am starting to be more compassionate and understanding of my feelings and thoughts, and that's a good feeling and reassuring. I'm very grateful to have been able to participate in this worthy and valuable Program/Project. Thank you!
I found the Modules and entire MindOnline Program to be enormously helpful, supportive, and an excellent resource. I have gained confidence by using the Mindfulness Program in applying the Mindfulness Meditation techniques I have learned. They help me reduce some of my fears.
I found the program very enjoyable and useful and helpful, not just in relation to cancer, but in all aspects of my life
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact the Project Manager Dr Stephanie Cowdery (Cancer Carer Centre Research Fellow) at carermindonline@deakin.edu.au or phone +61 3 9244 6557.
Our team
This project is led by a team of experts whose aim is to improve outcomes for cancer carers through interventions.
Professor Trish Livingston
Project lead
Professor Vicki White
Project lead
Dr Stephanie Cowdery
Project manager
A/Professor Anna Ugalde
Project member
Professor Antonia Mikocka-Walus
Project member
Eric O
Project member
Chatpakorn Prasertsung
Project member
Karen Groves
Project member
A/Professor Lan Gao
Project member
Professor Liliana Orellana
Project member
Professor Matthew Fuller- Tyszkiewicz
Project member
Dr Natalie Winter
Project member
A/Professor Nikki McCaffrey
Project member
Dr Sangeetha Thomas
Project member