Dr Louise Roberts's main interest and principle research expertise is in the out-of-hospital management of mental health presentations. Her PhD explored how paramedics identify, assess and manage psychiatric presentations in the community.  Dr Louise Roberts has led and contributed to narrative literature reviews into the management of low acuity presentations in the pre-hospital setting for the Victorian Ambulance Service. She has collaborated on national research into men's lived experience with mental health and paramedics understanding of mental health and AOD presentations (Beyondblue and Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre). She has also conducted research into State and Territory Mental Health Acts and how paramedics are represented in those Acts and how this has informed the development of clinical practice guidelines. Recently she has contributed to research into PTSD and its effects on partners of veterans and emergency first responders and current research addresses the physical, psychological, psychobiological and psychosocial health of operational ambulance staff. She has been lecturing in mental health (since 2007) and paramedic science (since 2012).  She has published and presented in this area.

Dr Louise Roberts's main interest and principle research expertise is in the out-of-hospital management of mental health presentations

Research Projects (past & present)      

• The Repat Foundation 2017 Prabha Seshadri Grant for $60,000
• Successful Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences research grant in 2013
• Scheme: Seeding / Early Career Research,  Investigator/s: Louise Roberts.

Project Title: Analysis of the development and implementation of mental health related guidelines in Australian ambulance services.    Amount Awarded: $9,000.00  

• Industry collaboration: Project Titles:

1. Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug, Mental Health and Suicidal Behaviour Related Ambulance Attendances
2. Improving men's access to care: a national ambulance approach to reduce suicide and to improve the mental health of men and boys

• Report for the Beyond the Emergency Project  mapping the mental health education in Paramedic degrees across Australia (December 2015)
• Commissioned report for Ambulance Victoria:
• Literature review for treat & non-transport decisions in the out-of-hospital setting
• Ambulance Victoria asked for a submitted proposal to search and analyse literature related to treat & non-transport decisions in the out-of-hospital setting and we were successful in gaining the work. The report was completed by myself, Dr Julie Henderson and Professor Hugh Grantham in May 2015

• Ambulance clinicians and involuntary care: What influences their decision making process to implement involuntary care (1)