Research
Ashlea is a clinician-researcher working both as a Clinical Psychologist and Research Officer at the InsideOut Institute. Ashlea completed her PhD (University of Sydney) in 2024. Supervised by Prof Maguire, Prof Touyz and Prof Le Grange, Ashlea's PhD explored a multi-site implementation of telehealth-delivered Family-based Treatment (FBT) for adolescents living with AN in rural Australia. Ashlea has published 29 papers (11 first author), 1000 citations and has presented at 19 national and international conferences. Ashlea has received $30,000 in funding as a CIA, received the Academy of Eating Disorders Clinician Award (2019), the Graduate Women of NSW Tempe Mann Award (2023, $12000) and her PhD was supported by the University of Sydney Postgraduate Award ($136,500).
Ashlea is avaliable for HDR and PhD supervision related to her research interests. Please get in touch to discuss further.
This study develops and validates a perinatal-adapted screening tool (IOI-SP) through lived-experience co-design to accurately identify eating disorder symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum, addressing a critical gap in routine detection.
In Recruitment
The Upskilling Project aims to improve treatment and early intervention of eating disorders in mainstream mental health settings nationally by embedding evidence-based treatment in care and upskilling frontline mental health clinicians.
Complete
This study investiagted the use of Family-Based Therapy (FBT) via telehealth for young people with Anorexia Nervosa living in rural and regional settings. It found that telehealth-FBT was feasibly implemented into rural services, with preliminary efficacy comparable to those reported by specialist studies.
In Progress
The Essentials: Upskilling a National Health Workforce in the Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders
Maloney, D., Ong, S. H., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Dann, K. M., Sidari, M., Hambleton, A., Marks, P., & Maguire, S.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders.
57(12), 2427–2437.
Psychiatric and Medical Comorbidities of Eating Disorders: Findings From a Rapid Review of the Literature
Hambleton, A., Pepin, G., Le, A. et al
Journal of Eating Disorders.
10, 132.
In an Otherwise Limitless World, I Was Sure of my Limit.'† Experiencing Anorexia Nervosa: A Phenomenological Metasynthesis.
Bryant E, Aouad P, Hambleton A, Touyz S, Maguire S.
Frontiers in Psychiatry.
13.
The Essentials: Upskilling a National Health Workforce in the Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders
Maloney D, Ong SH, Miskovic-Wheatley J, Dann KM, Sidari M, Hambleton A, Marks P, Maguire S.
International Journal of Eating Disorders.
57(12), 2427 - 2437.
Double-edged sword of translational research: stakeholder perspectives of the enablers and challenges implemention Anorexia Nervosa treatment in rural health settings.
Hambleton A, Vatter S, Le Grange D., Touyz S, Maguire S.
Australian Journal of Rural Health.
33.
Translating evidence-based treatment for digital health delivery: a protocol for family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa using telemedicine
Hambleton, A., Le Grange, D., Miskovic-Wheatley, J. et al.
J Eat Disord 8.
50.
Delivering evidence-based treatment via telehealth for Anorexia Nervosa in rural health settings: a multi-site feasibility implementation study.
Hambleton, A., Le Grange, D., Kim, M. et al.
J Eat Disord 12.
207.
digital-mental-health
treatment-innovation
implementation-translation
understanding-illness-lived-experience
BPsych(Hons1), MCP, PhD (Medicine and Health)
© 2026 InsideOut
InsideOut acknowledges the tradition of custodianship and law of the Country on which the University of Sydney and Charles Perkins Centre campus stands. We pay our respects to those who have cared and continue to care for Country. We are committed to diversifying research and eliminating inequities and discrimination in healthcare. We welcome all people regardless of age, gender, race, size, sexuality, language, socioeconomic status, location or ability.