Dr Kate Hetherington

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Kate is a Clinical Psychologist and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Behavioural Sciences Unit (BSU) in the School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW. Her research focuses on understanding the psychosocial impact of cancer on children and their parents, and the development of interventions and supports to ameliorate its negative impacts. Since June 2019 Kate has been Ethics and Genetics Team Leader within the BSU, co-leading a number of large-scale projects focused on understanding families' and health professionals' experiences of precision medicine and genetic testing for childhood cancer.

Prior to joining the BSU, Kate completed both her Masters of Psychology (Clinical) and PhD in the School of Psychology at UNSW. Her doctoral research investigated psychological mechanisms involved in the onset and maintenance of depressed mood, with a particular focus on repetitive thinking. Kate has experience in a variety of clinical and research settings.

Phone

02 9382 3114

E-mail

k.hetherington@unsw.edu.au

Books | 2010

Ross JE; Darke S; Kelly EV; Hetherington K, 2010, Suicide risk assessment and intervention strategies: Current practices in Australian residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, Original, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia., Sydney, NSW, Australia, http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/suicide-risk-assessment-and-intervention-strategies-current-practices-australian

Books | 2008

Hetherington K; McKetin R, 2008, The contribution of cannabis use to psychotic symptons among methamphetamine treatment entrants., Original, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney
Book Chapters | 2014

Moulds M; Hetherington K; Werner-Seidler A, 2014, 'The impact of rumination on positive autobiographical memories in depression.', in K. Kaniasty, K.A. Moore, S. Howard, & P. Buchwald (ed.), Stress and Anxiety: Applications to Social and Environmental Threats, Psychological Well-Being, Occupational Challenges, and Developmental Psychology., pp. 65 - 71
Journal articles | 2023

Daly R; Hetherington K; Hazell E; Wadling BR; Tyrrell V; Tucker KM; Marshall GM; Ziegler DS; Lau LMS; Trahair TN; O’Brien TA; Collins K; Gifford AJ; Haber M; Pinese M; Malkin D; Cowley MJ; Karpelowsky J; Drew D; Jacobs C; Wakefield CE, 2023, 'Precision Medicine Is Changing the Roles of Healthcare Professionals, Scientists, and Research Staff: Learnings from a Childhood Cancer Precision Medicine Trial', Journal of Personalized Medicine, 13, pp. 1033 - 1033, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm13071033

Journal articles | 2023

Fuentes Bolanos NA; Padhye B; Daley M; Hunter J; Hetherington K; Warby M; Courtney E; Kirk J; Josephi-Taylor S; Chen Y; Alvaro F; Barlow-Stewart K; Wong-Erasmus M; Barahona P; Ajuyah P; Altekoester AK; Tyrrell VJ; Lau LMS; Wakefield C; Sylvester D; Tucker K; Pinese M; Dalla Pozza L; O'Brien TA, 2023, 'Protocol for a comprehensive prospective cohort study of trio-based whole-genome sequencing for underlying cancer predisposition in paediatric and adolescent patients newly diagnosed with cancer: The PREDICT study', BMJ Open, 13, pp. e070082, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070082

Journal articles | 2023

Gereis JM; Hetherington K; Robertson EG; Daly R; Donoghoe MW; Ziegler DS; Marshall GM; Lau LMS; Marron JM; Wakefield CE, 2023, 'Parents’ and adolescents’ perspectives and understanding of information about childhood cancer precision medicine', Cancer, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34914

Journal articles | 2023

McGill BC; Wakefield CE; Tucker KM; Daly RA; Donoghoe MW; Vetsch J; Warby M; Fuentes-Bolanos NA; Barlow-Stewart K; Kirk J; Courtney E; O’Brien TA; Marshall GM; Pinese M; Cowley MJ; Tyrrell V; Deyell RJ; Ziegler DS; Hetherington K, 2023, 'Parents’ expectations, preferences, and recall of germline findings in a childhood cancer precision medicine trial', Cancer, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34917

Journal articles | 2022

Chow WK; Hetherington K; McGill BC; Sansom-Daly UM; Daly R; Miles G; Cohn RJ; Wakefield CE, 2022, '‘Like ships in the night’: A qualitative investigation of the impact of childhood cancer on parents’ emotional and sexual intimacy', Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 69, pp. e30015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pbc.30015

Journal articles | 2022

Gereis J; Hetherington K; Ha L; Robertson EG; Ziegler DS; Barlow-Stewart K; Tucker KM; Marron JM; Wakefield CE, 2022, 'Parents’ understanding of genome and exome sequencing for pediatric health conditions: a systematic review', European Journal of Human Genetics, 30, pp. 1216 - 1225, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41431-022-01170-2

Journal articles | 2022

Hetherington K; Wakefield CE; Kunalan KPK; Donoghoe MW; McGill BC; Fardell JE; Daly R; Deyell RJ; Ziegler DS, 2022, 'Quality of Life (QoL) of Children and Adolescents Participating in a Precision Medicine Trial for High-Risk Childhood Cancer', Cancers, 14, pp. 5310 - 5310, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers14215310

Journal articles | 2022

Hunter JD; Robertson EG; Hetherington K; Ziegler DS; Marshall GM; Kirk J; Marron JM; Denburg AE; Barlow-Stewart K; Warby M; Tucker KM; Lee BM; O’Brien TA; Wakefield CE, 2022, 'What’s in a Name? Parents’ and Healthcare Professionals’ Preferred Terminology for Pathogenic Variants in Childhood Cancer Predisposition Genes', Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm12081327

Journal articles | 2022

Nguyen CQ; Kariyawasam D; Alba-Concepcion K; Grattan S; Hetherington K; Wakefield CE; Woolfenden S; Dale RC; Palmer EE; Farrar MA, 2022, '‘Advocacy groups are the connectors’: Experiences and contributions of rare disease patient organization leaders in advanced neurotherapeutics', Health Expectations, 25, pp. 3175 - 3191, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.13625

Journal articles | 2021

Donovan LA; Wakefield CE; Russell V; Fardell J; Mallitt KA; Hetherington K; Cohn R, 2021, 'Variables associated with grief and personal growth following the death of a child from cancer: A mixed method analysis', Death Studies, 45, pp. 702 - 713, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2019.1682087

Journal articles | 2021

Hsu J; Sansom-Daly UM; Hetherington K; Ellis SJ; Donoghoe MW; Cohn RJ; Zentella-Tusie A; Wakefield CE, 2021, 'Health service and medication use of parents of childhood cancer survivors: a controlled comparison study', Acta Oncologica, 60, pp. 1325 - 1334, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2021.1955968

Journal articles | 2021

Kamaladasa DS; Sansom-Daly UM; Hetherington K; McGill BC; Ellis SJ; Kelada L; Donoghoe MW; Evans H; Anazodo A; Patterson P; Cohn RJ; Wakefield CE, 2021, 'How Are Families Faring? Perceived Family Functioning among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors in Comparison to Their Peers', Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 10, pp. 711 - 719, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2020.0215

Journal articles | 2021

Wakefield CE; Sansom‐daly UM; McGill BC; Hetherington K; Ellis SJ; Robertson EG; Donoghoe MW; McCarthy M; Kelada L; Girgis A; King M; Grootenhuis M; Anazodo A; Patterson P; Lowe C; Dalla‐pozza L; Miles G; Cohn RJ, 2021, 'Providing psychological support to parents of childhood cancer survivors: ‘cascade’ intervention trial results and lessons for the future', Cancers, 13, pp. 5597 - 5597, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers13225597

Journal articles | 2020

Baenziger J; Hetherington K; Wakefield CE; Carlson L; McGill BC; Cohn RJ; Michel G; Sansom-Daly UM, 2020, 'Understanding parents’ communication experiences in childhood cancer: a qualitative exploration and model for future research', Supportive Care in Cancer, 28, pp. 4467 - 4476, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05270-6

Journal articles | 2020

Hill RE; Wakefield CE; Cohn RJ; Fardell JE; Brierley M-EE; Kothe E; Jacobsen PB; Hetherington K; Mercieca-Bebber R, 2020, 'Survivorship Care Plans in Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Care Plan Outcomes.', Oncologist, 25, pp. e351 - e372, http://dx.doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0184

Journal articles | 2020

Hill RE; Wakefield CE; Cohn RJ; Fardell JE; Brierley MEE; Kothe E; Jacobsen PB; Hetherington K; Mercieca-Bebber R, 2020, 'Survivorship Care Plans in Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Care Plan Outcomes', Oncologist, 25, pp. e351 - e372, http://dx.doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0184

Journal articles | 2020

Kelada L; Wakefield CE; Vetsch J; Schofield D; Sansom-Daly UM; Hetherington K; O'Brien T; Cohn RJ; Anazodo A; Viney R; Zeppel MJB, 2020, 'Financial toxicity of childhood cancer and changes to parents’ employment after treatment completion', Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 67, pp. e28345, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pbc.28345

Journal articles | 2020

McGill BC; Wakefield CE; Hetherington K; Munro LJ; Warby M; Lau L; Tyrrell V; Ziegler DS; O’brien TA; Marshall GM; Malkin D; Hansford JR; Tucker KM; Vetsch J, 2020, '“Balancing Expectations with Actual Realities”: Conversations with Clinicians and Scientists in the First Year of a High-Risk Childhood Cancer Precision Medicine Trial', Journal of Personalized Medicine, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm10010009

Journal articles | 2020

Raharjo CV; Hetherington K; Donovan L; Fardell JE; Russell V; Cohn RJ; Morgan NL; Siddiqui J; Wakefield CE, 2020, 'An Evaluation of By My Side: Peer Support in Written Form is Acceptable and Useful for Parents Bereaved by Childhood Cancer', Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 59, pp. 1278 - 1286, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.01.013

Journal articles | 2020

Vetsch J; Hetherington K; Wakefield C; Ziegler D, 2020, 'Families’ experiences of a precision medicine trial for childhood cancer', Oncology Central

Journal articles | 2019

Donovan LA; Wakefield CE; Russell V; Hetherington K; Cohn RJ, 2019, 'Brief report: Bereaved parents informing research design: The place of a pilot study', Death Studies, 43, pp. 62 - 69, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2018.1436616

Journal articles | 2019

Kelada L; Wakefield CE; Carlson L; Hetherington K; McGill BC; McCarthy MC; Miles G; Cohn RJ; Sansom-Daly UM, 2019, 'How Parents of Childhood Cancer Survivors Perceive Support From Their Extended Families', Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, pp. 1537 - 1547, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01394-9

Journal articles | 2019

Sansom-Daly UM; Wakefield CE; Hetherington K; Evans HE; Ellis SJ; McGill BC; Cohn RJ, 2019, 'Author reply', Internal Medicine Journal, 49, pp. 808 - 809, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imj.14320

Journal articles | 2018

Vetsch J; McGill BC; Sansom-Daly UM; Hetherington K; Ellis SJ; Marshall KH; Wakefield CE, 2018, 'Comorbidity of distress experienced by parents of childhood cancer survivors points to the importance of understanding transdiagnostic cognitive-affective mechanisms.', Acta Oncologica, 58, pp. 1 - 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2018.1512157

Journal articles | 2017

Sansom-Daly UM; Evans HE; Ellis SJ; McGill BC; Hetherington K; Wakefield CE, 2017, 'Something's got to give: time–cost trade-offs in site-specific research approval can negatively impact patient recruitment in multi-institutional studies', Internal Medicine Journal, 47, pp. 1088 - 1089, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imj.13535

Journal articles | 2015

Hetherington K; Moulds ML, 2015, 'Abstract recall of a happy memory to repair sad mood in dysphoria: A possible link to negative cognition', Memory, 23, pp. 817 - 828, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2014.929149

Journal articles | 2013

Heterington K; Moulds ML, 2013, 'Does mode of processing during a positive experience have consequences for affect', Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44, pp. 165 - 171, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.10.002

Journal articles | 2007

Harvey EE; Shakeshaft AP; Hetherington K; Sannibale C; Mattick RP, 2007, 'The efficacy of diversion and aftercare strategies for adult drug-involved offenders: a summary and methodological review of the outcome literature', Drug and Alcohol Review, 26, pp. 379 - 387, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09595230701373917

Journal articles | 2004

Darke S; Hetherington K; Ross JE; Lynskey MT; Teesson M, 2004, 'Non-injecting routes of administration among entrants to three treatment modalities for heroin dependence', Drug and Alcohol Review, 23, pp. 177 - 183, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/095952304100017044163
Conference Abstracts | 2022

Gereis J; Hetherington K; Robertson E; Ziegler D; Wakefield C, 2022, 'PARENTS' AND PATIENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF A PRECISION MEDICINE TRIAL FOR HIGH-RISK CHILDHOOD CANCER', in PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, WILEY, Vol. 69, pp. S399 - S399, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000859203901450&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Papers | 2020

Robertson E; Wakefield C; Hetherington K; Ziegler D, 2020, 'Parents' Expectations and Experiences of a Precision Medicine Trial for High-Risk Paediatric Cancer', in PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, WILEY, pp. S47 - S47, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000581769200091&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2019

Wakefield CE; Sansom-Daly U; Hetherington K; Ellis S; Girgis A; McCarthy M; Miles G; Patterson P; Awford K; Cohn R, 2019, 'Feasibility, Acceptability and Safety of a Novel Online Group-Based Psychological Support Program for Parents After Their Child's Cancer Treatment: A Three-Armed Randomized Trial of 'Cascade'', in PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, WILEY, Vol. 66, pp. S12 - S12, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000488458000019&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2018

Hill RE; Fardell JE; Wakefield CE; Cohn RJ; Brierley M-EE; Kothe E; Hetherington K; Mercieca-Bebber R, 2018, 'The effect of survivorship care plans on cancer survivors' patient-reported outcomes: A meta-analysis and systematic review', in PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, WILEY, Vol. 27, pp. 189 - 189, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000448188000504&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Abstracts | 2016

Wakefield C; Sansom-Daly U; Brittany MG; Robertson E; Ellis S; Marshall K; Hetherington K; Doolan E; Cohn R, 2016, ''Cascade': A randomized trial of online support for parents after their child's cancer treatment', in PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Dublin, Ireland, Vol. 25, pp. 106 - 107, presented at World Congress of Psycho-oncology, Dublin, Ireland, 17 October 2016 - 21 October 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pon.v25.S3/issuetoc

Reports | 2010

Ross J; Darke S; Kelly E; Hetherington K, 2010, Suicide risk assesment and intervention strategies: Current practices in Australian residential drug and alcohol rehabiliation services, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/suicide-risk-assessment-and-intervention-strategies-current-practices-australian

Reports | 2008

Hetherington K; McKetin R, 2008, The contribution of cannabis use to psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine treatment entrants, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/contribution-cannabis-use-psychotic-symptoms-among-methamphetamine-treatment-entrants

Reports | 2006

Harvey EE; Hetherington K; Sannibale C; Mattick RP, 2006, Methodological review: Outcome studies of diversion and aftercare programs for adult drug-involved offenders, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, NSW, 259

Reports | 2005

Spooner C; Hetherington K, 2005, Social determinants of drug use (NDARC Technical Report No. 228), National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney, http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/TR.228.pdf

Reports | 2003

Ross J; Lynskey M; Teesson M; Darke S; Havard A; Mills K; Williamson A; Hetherington K; Fairbairn S, 2003, Three month outcomes for the treatment of heroin dependence: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS) New South Wales, NDARC UNSW, Sydney, https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/three-month-outcomes-treatment-heroin-dependence-findings-australian-treatment-outcome

Reports | 2003

Ross J; Teesson M; Darke S; Lynskey M; Hetherington K; Mills K; Williamson A; Fairbairn S, 2003, Characteristics of heroin users entering three treatment modalities in New South Wales: Baseline findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), NDARC UNSW, Sydney, https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/resource/characteristics-heroin-users-entering-three-treatment-modalities-new-south-wales-baseline

Reports | 2003

Teesson M; Ross JE; Darke S; Lynskey M; Mills K; Williamson A; Hetherington K; Fairbairn S; Havard A; Wilhelm E; Shanahan M, 2003, Twelve month outcomes of the treatment of heroin dependence: Findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS) New South Wales, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia, NDARC Technical Report No. 191, https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/TR.191.pdf

Cerebral Palsy Alliance Project Grant (2022-2023)
NHMRC LOGGIC: A phase III, randomised international multi-centre trial for Low Grade Glioma In Children and adolescents (2021-2025)
Paediatrio funding PPM6 (2019-2021)
Children’s Cancer Institute Zero Childhood Cancer Program funding (2019-2021)
UNSW Career Advancement Fund (2018)
NSW Health SESLHD Multicultural Health Grants Program (2018-2019)
Ronald McDonald House Charities (2016)
Postgraduate Research Support Scheme funding (2014)
Inaugural Faculty of Science Research Student Maternity Scholarship (2012)
Postgraduate Research Support Scheme funding (2012) (Awarded but not taken up)
Australian Postgraduate Award (2010-2015)

Kate leads the Ethics & Genetics team in the Behavioural Sciences Unit, overseeing the psychosocial substudies of PRISM (PRISM-Impact), ZERO2 (ZERO2-Experiences), PREDICT and SMOC-Junior, as well as the evaluation of the By My Side and Walking Alongside resources for bereaved families and the health professionals who support them. More recently Kate has expanded her research focus to include the psychosocial impact of novel and emerging treatment of other childhood illnesses, including genetic vision loss and neurodevelopmental disorders.

My Research Supervision

2022

PhD Helping families to understand and talk about paediatric precision medicine: A parent and adolescent communication aid
PhD (co-supervisor): Clinical utility of whole-genome sequencing to identify inherited cancer risk in paediatric cancer patients
Honours student project: Parents' and clinicians' perspectives on the novel procedural aspects of precision medicine for high-risk childhood cancer

2021

PhD (co-supervisor): Clinical utility of whole-genome sequencing to identify inherited cancer risk in paediatric cancer patients
Honours student project: Quality of life in children undergoing precision medicine for high-risk childhood cancer
Masters student project: The psychosocial impact of genetic services on families affected by childhood cancer: A study of genetic counselling experiences
Masters student project: Parents' experience of family-based whole-genome sequencing for cancer predisposition testing in newly diagnosed paediatric cancer patients

2020

PhD Helping families to understand and talk about paediatric precision medicine: A parent and adolescent communication aid
ILP Student project: Evaluation of the Walking Alongside resources for health professionals
Honours student project (co-supervisor): Health-service and medication use of parents of young cancer survivors: A controlled study of prevalence and predictors of engagement and use
Masters student project: Surgeons' experiences delivering precision medicine to children with high-risk cancer

2019/2020

Masters student project: A qualitative study of clinicians' and scientists' experiences two years into and PRISM