Dr Lauren Rice

Biography

Lauren Rice is a non-Indigenous Research Fellow passionate about enhancing services in remote regions. Lauren has an honours degree in Psychology and was awarded her PhD from the University of Sydney in 2016. Her PhD and postdoctoral research focused on understanding and improving the mental health of people with disability.

Motivated by a commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Lauren joined the Bigiswun Kid (Kimberley Kriol for adolescent) Research Project led by Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre in 2018, which resulted in the government-funded Bigiswun Social and Emotional Wellbeing Service. For this project, Lauren lived in Fitzroy Crossing (Bunuba Country) from 2019-2022 before moving to Broome (Yawuru Country). Since then, Lauren has helped conduct a range of Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO)-led projects, e.g., evaluations of the National Disability Insurance Scheme roll-out and Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation’s Youth Night Space. She also helped identify place-based strategies to improve access to health and disability services for people in the Fitzroy Valley.

In 2025, Lauren was awarded a Healthway Research Fellowship, to continue collaborating with ACCOs to co-design, implement, and evaluate culturally grounded health and wellbeing strategies/services that support people to thrive and advocate for structural changes to government service delivery.

Teaching areas

Lauren is an experienced HDR supervisor.

Research expertise and supervision

Aboriginal Participatory Research Action Approach
Child and Adolescent Health
Implementation Science
Improving existing and co-designing new services in remote communities
Clinical trials
Neurodevelopmental disabilities
Lived experience of people with disability
Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Book chapters

Rice, L., Einfeld, S., Howlin, P. (2020). Behavioural and Cognitive Phenotypes in Genetic Disorders Associated with Offending. In William R. Lindsay, Leam A. Craig, and Dorothy Griffiths (Eds.), The Wiley Handbook on What Works for Offenders with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: An Evidence-Based Approach to Theory, Assessment, and Treatment, (pp. 69-96). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

Journal articles and proceedings

Einfeld, S. L., Stancliffe, R. J., Gray, K. M., Sofronoff, K., Rice, L., Emerson, E. & Yasamy, M. T. (2012). Interventions provided by parents for children with intellectual disabilities in low and middle-income countries. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25, 135-142.
Einfeld, S., Smith, A., McGregor, I., Steinbeck, K., Taffe, J., Horstead, S., Rice, L., Guastella, A. (2014). A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of oxytocin nasal spray in Prader-Willi syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 164(9), 2232-2239.
Howlin, P., Arciuli, J., Begeer, S., Brock, J., Clarke, K., Costley, D., Di Rita, P., Falkmer, T., Glozier, N., Gray, K., Guastella, A., Horstead, S., Rice, L., Stancliffe, R., West, S., Yam, C., &. Einfeld, S. (2015). Research on adults with autism – roundtable report. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 40(4), 388-393.
Rice, L. J. & Einfeld, S. L (2015). Cognitive and behavioural aspects of Prader-Willi syndrome. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 28(2), 102-105
Rice, L. J., Gray, G., Howlin, P., Taffe, J., Tonge, B. J. & Einfeld, S. L. (2015). Developmental trajectory of disruptive behaviours in Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and Williams syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C, 169(2), 182-187.
Rice, L. J., Gray, G., Howlin, P., Taffe, J., Tonge, B. J. & Einfeld, S. L. (2016). The Developmental Trajectory of Self-Injurious Behaviours in Individuals with Prader Willi Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Intellectual Disability. Diseases, 4(1), 9.
Rice, L. J., Brammer, M., Lagopoulos, J. & Einfeld, S. L (2016). Reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid is associated with emotional and behavioural problems in Prader-Willi syndrome: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B, 9999, 1-8.
Rice, L. J., Brammer, M., Lagopoulos, J. & Einfeld, S. L (2017). Microstructural white matter tract alteration in Prader-Willi syndrome: A diffusion tensor imaging study. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C. 175C, 362-367.
Bezzina, L.B., Howlin, P., Rice, L. J., & Einfeld, S. L. (2017). Syndrome Specific Modules to Enhance the Stepping Stones Triple P Public Health Intervention. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61(9), 836-842.
Rice, L. J., Emerson, E., Gray, G., Howlin, P., Tonge, B. J. & Einfeld, S. L. (2018). Concurrence of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Developmental Behaviour Checklist Among Children with an Intellectual Disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 62(2), 150-155.
Mazzucchelli, T. G., Hodges, J., Kane, R. T., Sofronoff, K., Sanders, M. R., Einfeld, S., & Gray, K. M. (2018). Parenting and family adjustment scales (PAFAS): validation of a brief parent-report measure for use with families who have a child with a developmental disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 72, 140-151.
Rice, L. J., Carter, C.S., Hu, N., & Einfeld, S. L. (2018). A review of clinical trials of oxytocin in Prader-Willi syndrome. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 31(2), 123-127.
Rice, L.J., Woodcock, K., & Einfeld, S.L. (2018). The Characteristics of Temper Outbursts in Prader-Willi Syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 1–9.
Teague, S. J., Newman, L. K., Tonge, B. J., & Gray, K. M., and the MHYPEDD Team. (2018). Caregiver Mental Health, Parenting Practices, and Perceptions of Child Attachment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-11.
Teague, S. J., Newman, L. K., Tonge, B. J., Gray, K. M., and the MHYPEDD Team. (2019). Attachment and child behaviour and emotional problems in autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 33(3), 475-487.
Arora, S., Goodall, S., Viney, R., Einfeld, S., & MHYPEDD team. (2020). Health‐related quality of life amongst primary caregivers of children with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64(2), 103-116.
Day, J. J., Hodges, J., Mazzucchelli, T. G., Sofronoff, K., Sanders, M. R., Einfeld, S., Tonge, B., Gray, K. & MHYPeDD Project Team. (2021). Coercive parenting: modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors in parents of children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 65(4), 306-319.
Lees, B., Elliott, E. J., Allsop, S., Thomas, S., Riches, J., Nepal, S., Rice, L., Newton, N. C., Mewton, L., Teesson, M., & Stapinski, L. A. (2021). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder resources for educators working within primary school settings: A scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 11(4), e045497.
Schwartz, L., Caixàs, A., Dimitropoulos, A., Dykens, E., Duis, J., Einfeld, S., Gallagher, L., Holland, A., Rice, L., Roof, E. and Salehi, P., Strong, T., Taylor, B., Woodcock, K. (2021). Behavioral features in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS): consensus paper from the International PWS Clinical Trial Consortium. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 13(1), 1-13.
Rice, L.J., Tsang, T.W., Carter, E, Hand, M., Davies, J., Thomas, S, Bedford, E, Bear, E, Carter, C., and Elliott, E.J. (2022). Bigiswun Kid Project Protocol: A longitudinal study of adolescents with high rates of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in a remote Aboriginal Community. BMJ Open, 12(4), e058111.
Kelly, E., Day, J. J., Hodges, J., Tellegen, C. L., Ma, T., Sanders, M. R., ... & Team, T. M. (2022). Parental Adjustment Scale: Validation of a brief, five-item measure of parental adjustment for use with families of typically developing children and children with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in Australia. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 128, 104304.
Lees, B., Riches, J., Mewton, L., Elliott, E. J., Allsop, S., Newton, N., ... & Stapinski, L. A. (2022). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for educators: A scoping review. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(3), 797-809.
Okurame, J. C., Cannon, L., Carter, E., Thomas, S., Elliott, E. J., & Rice, L. J. (2022). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, 12(9), e065327.
Sanders, M., Hoang, N. P. T., Hodges, J., Sofronoff, K., Einfeld, S., Tonge, B., ... & MHYPEDD Team. (2022). Predictors of change in stepping stones triple interventions: the relationship between parental adjustment, parenting behaviors and child outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13200.
Lees, B., Riches, J., Mewton, L., Elliott, E.J., Allsop, S., Newton, N., Thomas, S., Rice, L.J., Nepal, S., Teesson, M. and Stapinski, L.A. (2022). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for educators: A scoping review. Health promotion journal of Australia: Official Journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 33(3), 797-809.
Shields, N., Bennell, K. L., Southby, A., Rice, L. J., Markovic, T., Bigby, C., ... & Taylor, N. F. (2022). Progressive resistance training in young people with Prader-Willi syndrome: protocol for a randomised trial (PRESTO). BMJ open, 12(12), e060306.
Rice, L. J., Cannon, L., Dadlani, N., Cheung, M. M. Y., Einfeld, S. L., Efron, D., ... & Elliott, E. J. (2023). Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1-22
Rice, L. J., Agu, J., Carter, C. S., Harris, J. C., Nazarloo, H. P., Naanai, H., & Einfeld, S. L. (2023). The relationship between endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin levels and the Prader-Willi syndrome behaviour phenotype. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1183525.
Tellegen, C. L., Schoch, M., Hodges, J., Peters, K., Sanders, M. R., Tonge, B., ... & The MHYPEDD Team. (2024). The role of social identity and self-efficacy in predicting service providers’ use of Stepping Stones Triple P following training. Children and Youth Services Review, 156, 107318.
Stubbs, T., Cannon, L., Carter, E., Naanai, H., Okurame, J. C., Martiniuk, A. L., ... & Rice, L. J. (2024). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals: a scoping review. BMJ open, 14(7), e086999.
Rice, L. J., Agu, J., Carter, C. S., Cho, Y. H., Harris, J., Heilman, K., ... & Einfeld, S. L. (2024). The relationship between cardiac activity, behaviour and endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin in Prader-Willi Syndrome: An exploratory study. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 112429
Pickard, A., Stubbs, T., Carter, E., Rice, L., Thomas, S., Davies, J., Pickard A, Stubbs T, Carter E, Rice L, Thomas S, Davies J, Oscar J, Martiniuk A, & Elliott, E. J. (2025). Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Leading the Way in Child Health Research. Journal of Community Health, 1-19.
Rice, L.J., Carter, E., Bear, E., Bedford, M., Carter, C., Davies, J., Rice, N., Thomas, S., Wells, F., Elliott, E.J. (2025). Aboriginal Participatory Action Research: Learnings From The Bigiswun Kid (adolescent) Project. Accepted in First Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal, 3, 1-27.
Cannon, L., Davies, J., Thomas, S., Elliott, E., Rice, L., and Carter, E. The health and wellbeing of children and adolescents living in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia: a scoping review protocol. Accepted in BMJ Open.
Stubbs, T., Bedford, M., Bear, E., Carter, E., Pickard, A., Davies, J., Thomas, S., Martinuik, A., Elliott, E.J., and Rice, L.J. (2025). What are the Aboriginal worldviews of disability in the Fitzroy Valley? Aboriginal Participatory Action Research to develop strategies for decolonising disability services. BMJ Open, 15(9), e093608.
Rice, L.J., Carter, E., Bear, E., Bedford, M., Carter, C., Davies, J., Rice, N., Thomas, S., Wells, F., Elliott, E.J. (2025). Raising the voices of young people in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia to identify place-based support needs: The Bigiswun Kid Project. First Nations Health and Wellbeing – The Lowitja, 3, 1-24.
Carter, C., Rice, L.J., Bear, E., Bedford, M., Carter, C., Davies, J., Rice, N., Thomas, S., Wells, F., Elliott, E.J. (2025). Co-designing a place-based social and emotional wellbeing service model with young Aboriginal people in the remote Fitzroy Valley of Western Australia: the Bigiswun Kid project. Australian Journal of Psychology, 77:1, 2538509.

Conference papers

Rice, L. & Burnham, D. Speech to 6- and 9- month old infants with degraded input. The 37th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference. Melbourne, Australia, 17-19 April 2010.
Einfeld, S., Smith, E., McGregor, I., Steinbeck, K., Horstead, S., Rice, L., Guastella, A. Can oxytocin help in Prader-Willi syndrome? International Prader Willi Syndrome Organisation, IPWSO's 8th International PWS Conference, Cambridge, United Kingdom, July 2013.
Rice, L. J., Einfeld, S. L. (2017). Reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid is associated with emotional and behavioural problems in Prader Willi syndrome. Presented at the Inter-University Neuroscience and Mental Health Conference, Campbelltown, Australia, 14-15 September 2017.
Rice. L. J and Einfeld, S. L. (2018). Invited Speaker. An update of oxytocin research in PWS. Presented at the 4th Asia Pacific Prader Willi syndrome Conference, Brisbane, 19-20 October 2018.
Einfeld, S.L and Rice, L. J. (2018). Invited Speaker. Psychiatric and behaviour problems in PWS. Presented at the 4th Asia Pacific Prader Willi syndrome Conference, Brisbane, 19-20 October 2018.
Einfeld. SL and Rice, LJ. (2018). Invited Speaker. A mindfulness-based intervention for managing temper outbursts in PWS. Presented at the 4th Asia Pacific Prader Willi syndrome Conference, Brisbane, 19-20 October 2018.
Rice, LJ, Elliott, E, Tsang, T. (2019). The Bigiswun Kid Project: A longitudinal study of remote Indigenous children. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Forum, Broome, 20th June 2019
Rice, LJ. (2019). Invited Speaker. A PWS Research Update. Department of Endocrinology, The Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney, 6th August 2019.
Rice, L.J. (2021). Invited Speaker. Prader-Willi Research Foundation Australia Research update, Virtual, 10th February 2021.
Einfeld, S., Andersson, E., Mcllduff, C., Davies, J., Cox, E., Thomas, S., Hand, M., Carter, E., Oscar, J., Turner, K.M.T., Elliott, E. and Rice, L. 2021. Pat Howlin Lecture. An Intervention to support families affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in a remote Australian indigenous community. Society of the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes, Virtual, e 9-10th September 2021.
Carter, E., Thomas, S., Davies, J., Rice, L., Elliott, E. Innovative approaches to FASD care in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. The Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Interest Group. Virtual, Nov 6th, 2021.
Rice, L.J., Carter, E., Thomas, S., Rice, N., Cannon, L., Davies, J., Carter, C., Bedford, M., Bear, E., and Elliott, E.J. Lililwan to Bigiswun. Weaving, Beading, Braiding - Sharing Stories focused on Indigenous-led research in the field of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Australia and Canada. Virtual. 16th November 2021.
Elliott, E., Rice, L.J. The Bigiswun Kid Project. Poche Indigenous Health Network 10th Annual Research Showcase. Virtual 17th-18th November 2021.
Rice, L.J., Bear, E., Bedford, E., Carter, C., Rice, N.,The Bigiswun Kid Project. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference, Virtual, 6th December 2021
Rice, L.J., Bear, E., Bedford, E., Carter, C., Rice, N., Invited speaker. Longitudinal study of remote Indigenous children: the Bigiswun Kid Project. 16th Rural and Remote Health Conference, Brisbane 3rd – 4th August 2022.
Rice, L.J., Bear, E., Bedford, E., Carter, C., Rice, Thomas, S., N., Wells, F., Elliott, E. Invited speaker. The experience of adolescents with FASD in remote communities. The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol & other Drugs Special Interest Group. Darwin, 10th October, 2022.
Rice, L. J., Agu, J., Carter, C. S., Harris, J. C., Nazarloo, H. P., Naanai, H., & Einfeld, S. L. The relationship between endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin levels and the Prader-Willi syndrome behaviour phenotype. Presented at the Prader Willi Research Foundation of Australia Research Symposium, 2023
Rice, L. J., Agu, J., Carter, C. S., Cho, Y. H., Harris, J., Heilman, K., ... & Einfeld, S. L. 2024. Invited Speaker. The relationship between cardiac activity, behaviour and endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin in Prader-Willi Syndrome: An exploratory study. Presented at the 6th Australasian Prader Willi Research Conference, Sydney, 30th August 2024
Naanai, H., Rice, L.J., Einfeld, S.L. 2024 Supporting Families Affected by Developmental Disabilities in Low and Middle-Income Countries. Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes Conference, Bali 7th September 2024.
Stubbs, T., Cannon, L., Carter, E., Naanai, H., Okurame, J. C., Martiniuk, A. L., ... & Rice, L. J. (2024). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals: a scoping review. Presented at the 2024 London & Region FASD Conference, 23 October, 2024.
Rice, L.J., Carter, E., Bear, E., Bedford, M., Carter, C., Davies, J., Rice, N., Thomas, S., Wells, F., Elliott, E.J. The Bigiswun Kid (adolescent) Project: Supports young people (16-19 years) living in the Fitzroy Valley need to thrive. The 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, Adelaide, June 16-19, 2025.
Rice, L.J., Carter, E., Bear, E., Bedford, M., Carter, C., Davies, J., Rice, N., Thomas, S., Wells, F., Elliott, E.J. Protection from and predictors of mental illness in a cohort of young Aboriginal people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder living in very remote communities: The Bigiswun Kid (adolescent) Project. The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs, Sydney, 9th-12th November 2025.

Awards

Tarrn-doon-nonin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Ethics Award, 2025
Foundation for Prader-Willi Research Trainee Publication Award, 2016
Society of the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes Bursary Award, 2015
Dean’s Merit Award for High-Level Undergraduate Performance, Western Sydney University, 2009, 2010, 2011

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