Research team

Our Network is  connected by a number of researchers who are physically located at FedUni, as well as numerous researchers who are located in other institutions both within the nation and in international locations.

We are currently supporting one PhD student, Mr Mohammad Yousuf, through a scholarship. Mohammad's PhD topic is Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) Travel in Australia: An Examination of the Role of VFR Hosts. Mohammad commenced his PhD in 2014 and the quality of his research has already been recognised through him receiving the prestigious CAUTHE PhD Bursary Award (received in February 2015). Read more about Mohammad's award.

At present, we are leading a project called Maximising the health and well-being benefits of visiting friends and relatives.  The focus of the project is to examine the link between VFR travel and the health and well-being benefits for socio-economic disadvantaged people. Associate Professors Elisa Backer and Jeremy Buultjens are the Chief Investigators for the project, and Professors Brian Hay and Alastair Morrison are the Partner Investigators.

The head of our Network is Associate Professor Elisa Backer.