PETER BRAAGGE
Director of Health Programs, BehaviourWorks Australia

Associate Professor Peter Bragge specializes in translating research evidence into practice and policy to address challenges faced in health and sustainable development. This involves identifying, appraising and cataloging research evidence; exploring practice through analysis of behaviors and their context; consulting with practitioners and policymakers to design tailored behavior change interventions and evaluating their effectiveness.

As Director of Health Programs for MSDI's BehaviourWorks Australia, Peter manages BWA’s partnerships with a number of government and other agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and the Victorian Transport Accident Commission. Many of these partnerships have drawn upon McMaster’s Forum method of evidence review and facilitated dialogues. Peter led the development of this methodology in Australia and has conducted over 25 Forums utilizing this approach since 2012.The Forum method has underpinned state-wide trials to optimize immunization in Victoria, a mass media campaign to promote the appropriate use of the Victorian emergency ambulance service (Save Lives. Save 000 for Emergencies) and a trial which improves management of urinary incontinence following spinal cord injury.

Peter is also leading Monash Sustainable Development Institute’s collaboration with McMaster University in Canada to build the world’s largest evidence resource for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Social Systems Evidence (SSE). SSE will draw upon the established and successful Forum approach by applying it to social and other policy areas outside of health to aid governments around the world in achieving the SDGs.

Peter has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles encompassing academic journals including The Lancet, Lancet Neurology, Implementation Science and Public Administration Review. He recently published his first book, From Roadside to Recovery: The Story of the Victorian State Trauma System and has written over 80 reports for government. He consults regularly with healthcare, government and other organizations and regularly gives invited talks on behavior change. In 2019 Peter and colleague Geoff Paine began a now-regular radio segment on ABC Radio Melbourne, ‘This is BS’ (behavioral science).

Prior to his full-time research career, Peter worked for 10 years as a physiotherapist in public and private practice settings, including one year in the United Kingdom. He also holds a Licentiate from Trinity College London in piano performance (1991) and continues to play, perform and record music.