Associate Professor Belinda Cash

Belinda is a social worker with clinical and academic expertise in mental health and social gerontology. Her work primarily focuses on understanding and addressing psychosocial and systemic issues impacting the health and wellbeing of older adults and their caregivers in rural Australia.

Belinda is an Associate Professor in Social Work and Gerontology at Charles Sturt University, Chair of the Charles Sturt Ageing Well Research Group, and co-lead of the Ageing Well in Rural and Regional Australia research program. She is a research fellow with the Manna Institute and supports the research program of Equally Well, a national consortium working to improve the physical health of people living with mental illness. These roles all support her primary objective of working with likeminded people who are passionate about improving access and opportunities for better health and wellbeing for rural Australians.

Belinda is a Distinguished Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, awarded for her extensive contributions to supporting student and early career researchers. She is an active supervisor of research students across multiple programs, has led several international programs exploring social welfare and wellbeing, and continues to support students completing field-based learning in social work.

• Ageing and informal caregiving
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Health and welfare service provision in rural and regional areas
• Social policy

Current Appointments:

• Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Gerontology, Charles Sturt University
• Lead, Ageing Well in Rural and Regional Australia Research Program
• Researcher, Manna Institute for Regional Australia Mental Health Research Training
• Chair, Charles Sturt University Cross-Faculty Ageing Well Research Group

University Committee Roles:

• Chair, Charles Sturt University Cross-Faculty Ageing Well Research Group (2019 – current).
• Elected representative of School of Humanities and Social Sciences to Faculty of Arts and Education Faculty Board (2019 – 2021).
• Elected representative of Faculty of Arts and Education to Faculty of Science and Health Faculty Board (2021 – current).
• Member of School of Social Work and Arts School Board
• Chair, Social Work and Human Services Discipline Group (2018 – 2021).

Professional Association Roles:

• International Mental Health Leadership Initiative, Older Persons Mental Health Member (2022 – current).
• Indigo Shire Community Grants and Awards Advisory Committee (2022 – current).
• Australian Association of Gerontology Research Trust Grants Committee Member (2021 – current).
• Australian Association of Gerontology Mental Health and Wellbeing Expert Reference Group (2019 – current).
• National President of the Australian Association of Gerontology Student and Early Career Group (2013 – 2017; 2019); Deputy President (2012-2013).
• Coordinator: Albury-Wodonga Social Work Interest Group (2009–current).