During summer holidays, health and achievement gaps between the rich and poor widen. Summer camps offer practical solutions to improve the lives and futures of disadvantaged youth. My Fulbright research evaluates the feasibility and appeal of summer camps for disadvantaged groups, seeking effective models for Australian adaptation.

Emily graduated from the University of South Australia in 2006 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honors). A volunteering experience in Nepal ignited her passion for health equity. Now a PhD candidate at UniSA’s Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition, and Activity, Emily studies the health costs of summer holidays, particularly for disadvantaged children.

With a Fulbright Scholarship, Emily will collaborate with Associate Professor Glenn Weaver and the team at the Arnold School of Public Health (University of South Carolina), experts in children’s wellbeing during summer. Exploring U.S. summer camp models, Emily aims to adapt these as culturally-tailored health interventions in Australia to bridge health inequality.

Home Institution Adelaide University
Host Institution University of South Carolina
Award Name Fulbright South Australia Scholarship, Funded by Flinders University, the University of Adelaide, and the Government of South Australia
Discipline Public Health
Award Year 2024