Liesel Hool
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‘Double Stigma: Examining the Lived Experiences of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups (CALD) in Australia ‘
University of New South Wales, NSW
Awarded 2026
Co-funded with Lorraine and Bruce McKenzie PhD Scholarship
“ Consequences of ADHD can result in significant burdens on an individual’s quality of life and therefore, there is a need to conduct a research study which aims to prevent the social, educational and societal costs associated with ADHD in Australia. ”
Researcher Profile
Liesel Hool is planning to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of New South Wales to commence in June 2026 and has recently been awarded the following Australian Rotary Health PhD Scholarship to examine the lived experiences of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups (CALD) in Australia.
She is passionate about pursuing a career in population mental health research and advocating for those with lived experiences of mental health conditions and has
recently completed a dissertation as a component of the Master of Public Health at the University of Western Australia which investigated the predictors of treatment response for the application for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in May 2025.
Liesel has been involved in pursuing an opportunity as a Crisis Support Worker at Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland and participating in the Family and Friends
Reference Support Group at Headspace Bondi Junction since July 2025. Finally, she is thankful for the opportunity to be awarded the Australian Rotary Health PhD Scholarship and is looking forward to conducting mental health research which will influence the process of receiving an ADHD diagnosis for CALD in Australia.
Project Summary
The following research project will aim to explore the lived experience of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD in CALD in Australia, and their parents. In addition, these research aims will be achieved through the following research objectives; to explore the lived experiences of children and their caregivers who are diagnosed with ADHD from community, health and education facilities in South Western Sydney, New South Wales and to identify the enablers and barriers to health service engagement which influence the process of receiving an ADHD diagnosis in children from CALD populations in South Western Sydney, New South Wales.
The proposed research project will specifically utilise the research design of hermeneutical phenomenology which will involve examining the lived experience of
individuals and their caregivers with a diagnosis of ADHD from CALD in Australia. The participants for the proposed research study will be children who have been diagnosed with ADHD from community, health, and education facilities in South Western Sydney, New South Wales.
In addition, the research project will involve recruiting families with a child diagnosed with ADHD in CALD in Australia. The data collection method which will be used in this research study involves the use of in-depth interviews. Furthermore, the process of data analysis will specifically explore the barriers and enablers for ADHD diagnosis in CALD in Australia. Therefore, the lived experiences of ADHD diagnosis of CALD in Australia will inform the development of targeted awareness of ADHD in children and caregivers in CALD in Australia.
Supervisors: A/Professor Jane Kohlhoff, Professor Alexandra Martiniuk and Professor Valsamma Eapen.