Tess Austin: Breaking the wall of invisible isolation

Tess Austin  
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) 

Isolation is a prevalent health risk. However, inconsistent definitions of isolation mean that current measures are fragmented and don’t capture key drivers of the condition. I am developing a multidimensional measure to capture both social and environmental isolation as a unified construct. By identifying risk patterns earlier, this breakthrough will enable targeted prevention and effective interventions before isolation becomes harmful. 

Tess Austin is a Psychology PhD candidate at AUT, specialising in how social and environmental factors interact to shape human connection. Her first-hand experience of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic motivated her to pursue research that makes isolation visible before it becomes harmful. She holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology with advanced statistical training, has publications in behavioural science, and experience in psychometrics and mixed methods research. She is passionate about science communication and creating tools for real-world change.