BSc, DPH, MPH, PhD
Senior Research Fellow; HEIRU
Contact details
Tel +64 4 385 5541 ext 5248
Email julie.bennett@otago.ac.nz
Research interests and activities
Julie is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Public health at the University of Otago, Wellington. She has a wide range of public health research interests, with a particular focus on housing and health, air pollution, rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Julie is a member of He Kainga Organa, which was awarded the Prime Minister’s Science Team Prize in 2014.
Julie is currently project managing the following studies:
- Understanding group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis and skin infections as causes of rheumatic fever
- Developing an optimal strategy for the rheumatic fever endgame
- Searching for a Technology-Driven Acute Rheumatic Fever Test (START)
In 2019 Julie was awarded a Health Research Council Emerging Researcher grant to investigate the “Characteristics of S. pyogenes isolated prior to rheumatic fever diagnosis”.
Publications
Bennett, J., Zhang, J., Leung, W., Jack, S., Oliver, J., Webb, R., … Sika-Paotonu, D., Harwood, M., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Rising ethnic inequalities in acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, New Zealand, 2000-2018. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(1), 36-46. doi: 10.3201/eid2701.191791
Cannon, J., Zhung, J., Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Baker, M. G., Geelhoed, E., … Jack, S. (2020). The economic and health burden of disease caused by Group A Streptococcus in New Zealand. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.193
McGregor, R., Whitcombe, A. L., Sheen, C. R., Dickson, J. M., Day, C. L., Carlton, L. H., … Bennett, J., Baker, M. G., … Moreland, N. J. (2020). Collaborative networks enable the rapid establishment of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 during nationwide lockdown in New Zealand. PeerJ, 8, e9863. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9863
Chisholm, E., Keall, M., Bennett, J., Marshall, A., Telfar-Barnard, L., Thornley, L., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Why don't owners improve their homes? Results from a survey following a housing warrant-of-fitness assessment for health and safety. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(3), 221-227. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12895
Telfar-Barnard, L., Bennett, J., Robinson, A., Hailes, A., Ombler, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Evidence base for a housing warrant of fitness. SAGE Open Medicine, 7. doi: 10.1177/2050312119843028
Edited Book - Research
Howden-Chapman, P., Bennett, J., & Siebers, R. (Eds.). (2009). Do damp and mould matter? Health impacts of leaky homes. Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts, 172p.
Chapter in Book - Research
Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., O'Sullivan, K., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., Preval, N., Randal, E., Tiatia, R., Ombler, J., Amore, K., Rivera-Muñoz, G., … Davies, C., Aspinall, C., Oliver, J., Baker, M., Keall, M., … Crane, J., & Pierse, N. (2017). Housing, energy and health in resilient cities. In P. Howden-Chapman, L. Early & J. Ombler (Eds.), Cities in New Zealand: Preferences, patterns and possibilities. (pp. 95-106). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
Howden-Chapman, P., & Bennett, J. (2009). Why indoor dampness and mould matter. In P. Howden-Chapman, J. Bennett & R. Siebers (Eds.), Do damp and mould matter? Health impacts of leaky homes. (pp. 7-18). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts.
Journal - Research Article
Bennett, J., Zhang, J., Leung, W., Jack, S., Oliver, J., Webb, R., … Sika-Paotonu, D., Harwood, M., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Rising ethnic inequalities in acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, New Zealand, 2000-2018. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(1), 36-46. doi: 10.3201/eid2701.191791
Cannon, J., Zhung, J., Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Baker, M. G., Geelhoed, E., … Jack, S. (2020). The economic and health burden of disease caused by Group A Streptococcus in New Zealand. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.193
McGregor, R., Whitcombe, A. L., Sheen, C. R., Dickson, J. M., Day, C. L., Carlton, L. H., … Bennett, J., Baker, M. G., … Moreland, N. J. (2020). Collaborative networks enable the rapid establishment of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 during nationwide lockdown in New Zealand. PeerJ, 8, e9863. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9863
Chisholm, E., Keall, M., Bennett, J., Marshall, A., Telfar-Barnard, L., Thornley, L., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Why don't owners improve their homes? Results from a survey following a housing warrant-of-fitness assessment for health and safety. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(3), 221-227. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12895
Telfar-Barnard, L., Bennett, J., Robinson, A., Hailes, A., Ombler, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Evidence base for a housing warrant of fitness. SAGE Open Medicine, 7. doi: 10.1177/2050312119843028
Bennett, J., Davy, P., Trompetter, B., Wang, Y., Pierse, N., Boulic, M., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Sources of indoor air pollution at a New Zealand urban primary school: A case study. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 10, 435-444. doi: 10.1016/j.apr.2018.09.006
Telfar-Barnard, L., Bennett, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Jacobs, D. E., Ormandy, D., Cutler-Welsh, M., Preval, N., Baker, M. G., & Keall, M. (2017). Measuring the effect of housing quality interventions: The case of the New Zealand "Rental Warrant of Fitness". International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 14(11), 1352. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111352
Bennett, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Keall, M., & Baker, M. G. (2016). Towards an agreed quality standard for rental housing: Field testing of a New Zealand housing WOF tool. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(5), 405-411. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12519
Pierse, N., Arnold, R., Keall, M., Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Cunningham, M., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Bennett, J. (2013). Modelling the effects of low indoor temperatures on the lung function of children with asthma. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 67, 918-925. doi: 10.1136/jech-2013-202632
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Howden-Chapman, P., and the Housing Heating and Health Study Research Team, including Viggers, H., & Lloyd, B. (2011). The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide in children with asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 38, 303-309. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00115409
Preval, N., Chapman, R., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Gillespie-Bennett, J. (2010). Evaluating energy, health and carbon co-benefits from improved domestic space heating: A randomised community trial. Energy Policy, 38(8), 3965-3972. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.03.020
Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Nicholls, S., Bennett, J., Shields, D., Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Baker, M., & Crane, J. (2010). More effective home heating reduces school absences for children with asthma. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 64(5), 379-386. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.086520
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Nicholls, S., Shields, D., … Viggers, H., Baker, M., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2008). Sources of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in New Zealand homes: Findings from a community randomized controlled trial of heater substitutions. Indoor Air, 18(6), 521-528. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00554.x
Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Nicholls, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., … Free, S., … Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Shields, D., Baker, M., Cunningham, C., … Crane, J. (2008). Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: Randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 337, 852-855. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1411
Boulic, M., Fjällström, P., Phipps, R., Cunningham, M., Cleland, D., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P., … Viggers, H., … and the Housing, Heating, and Health Team, including Baker, M., Crane, J., Cunningham, C., Free, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Shields, D., & Wickens, K. (2008). Cold homes in New Zealand: Does increasing the heater capacity improve indoor temperatures? Clean Air & Environmental Quality, 42(3), 22-29.
Gillespie, J., Wickens, K., Siebers, R., Howden-Chapman, P., Town, I., Epton, M., Fitzharris, P., … Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Birth Cohort Study Group, including Ingham, T., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Silvers, K. M. (2006). Endotoxin exposure, wheezing, and rash in infancy in a New Zealand birth cohort. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 118, 1265-1270. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.07.051
Gillespie, J., Milne, K., & Wilson, N. (2005). Secondhand smoke in New Zealand homes and cars: Exposure, attitudes, and behaviours in 2004. New Zealand Medical Journal, 118(1227). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1227/1782/content.pdf
Gillespie, J., Siebers, R. W. L., & Crane, J. (2003). The hygiene hypothesis: The good, the bad, and the evil - a low-down on dirt. New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, 111-115.
Journal - Research Other
Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Oliver, J., Crane, J., Williamson, D. A., Sika-Paotonu, D., … Baker, M. G. (2019). Understanding group A streptococcal pharyngitis and skin infections as causes of rheumatic fever: Protocol for a prospective disease incidence study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19, 633. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4126-9
Telfar-Barnard, L., & Bennett, J. (2016). The case for minimum rental housing standards. The Lens, 2(1), 5.
Bennett, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2016). An overview of the housing issues facing New Zealand. The Lens, 2(1), 3-4.
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Keall, M., Howden-Chapman, P., & Baker, M. G. (2013). Improving health, safety and energy efficiency in New Zealand through measuring and applying basic housing standards. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1379), 74-85. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Bennett, J. (2017). Air pollution in schools. Build, 158, 60-61. Retrieved from https://www.buildmagazine.org.nz/articles/show/air-pollution-in-schools
Bennett, J. (2016). Costs to reach minimum. Build, 157, 77-78. Retrieved from https://www.buildmagazine.org.nz/articles/show/costs-to-reach-minimum
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Cunningham, M., Phipps, R., & Crane, J. (2008). Effect of installing effective heaters into the homes of asthmatic children. Proceedings of the Population Health Congress. (pp. 50-55). Maroochydore, Australia: Australian Health Promotion Association. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Telfar Barnard, L., & Bennett, J. (2018). Housing quality, home safety, rental housing, environmental health, housing assessment. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Energy and Environment of Residential Buildings (ICEERB): Housing Sustainability in Urban Areas. (pp. 27). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/iceerb-2018
Bennett, J. (2017). Warmer, drier and healthier buildings: Exposure to indoor air pollution at school. Proceedings of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ): The Critical Atmosphere. Retrieved from http://casanz2017.com/program/interactive-program/
Bennett, J., Birchfield, D., Rissel, Z., Featherstone, L., Cutler-Welsh, M., Moore, T., … Keall, M., Baker, M., Chisholm, E., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2014). Towards a minimum housing standard for rentals: Results from New Zealand's first warrant of fitness pre-test. Proceedings of the New Zealand Population Health Congress: Connecting Communities, Policy and Science. (pp. 45). Retrieved from http://www.pophealthcongress.org.nz/nzphc14/programme/programme
Gillespie, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Wickens, K., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., … Housing and Heating Research Team. (2007). Improving the indoor air in New Zealand homes: The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide exposure. Proceedings of the 14th International Union of Air Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection Associations (IUAPPA) World Congress. Retrieved from http://www.iuappa2007.com/
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Viggers, H., Nicholls, S., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2008, August). Improving indoor air in New Zealand homes: The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide exposure. Verbal presentation at the Indoor Air Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Other - Edited Journal
Bennett, J. (Ed.). (2016). The Lens, 2(1) [Special issue: Housing in New Zealand]. [Guest Editor].
