Melissa O’Donnell is Professor and Deputy Director, Research at the Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia. Melissa is an internationally recognised researcher in the area of child maltreatment and vulnerable children and families and has utilised population-based linked administrative data for over 15 years to contribute new knowledge and evidence. The main focus of her research program includes: i) risk and protective factors for vulnerability to child abuse and neglect; ii) outcomes for children in care; and iii) infant removals by the child protection system. Melissa collaborates with government and non-government partners to ensure research addresses areas of policy and practice and to enable ... Read more
About me
Melissa O’Donnell is Professor and Deputy Director, Research at the Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia. Melissa is an internationally recognised researcher in the area of child maltreatment and vulnerable children and families and has utilised population-based linked administrative data for over 15 years to contribute new knowledge and evidence. The main focus of her research program includes: i) risk and protective factors for vulnerability to child abuse and neglect; ii) outcomes for children in care; and iii) infant removals by the child protection system. Melissa collaborates with government and non-government partners to ensure research addresses areas of policy and practice and to enable effective translation.
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The University of Western Australia
Master of Psychology The University of Western Australia
Graduate Diploma in Education The University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Arts with Second Class Honours in Psychology (Division B) The University of Western Australia
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Relighting the firesticks: Accelerating diffusion and progressing to sustainability of innovative care to foster a healthy start to life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant, 01/03/2024 - 28/02/2029
Supporting the mental health of Aboriginal children in care and leaving care, Department of Communities and Justice - NSW, 31/03/2024 - 31/12/2024
Infants removed by child protection: nature, extent and impact, ARC - Discovery Projects, 01/01/2017 - 06/07/2021
Linking for Life: Enhancing pathways to well-being for all Australians. ARC Linkage Grant
Improving practice when child protection intervenes with pregnant mothers and newborns: co-design and evaluation of evidence informed guidelines. Perron Foundation Grant.
Navigating through Life: Young people transitioning from out-of-home care. ARC Linkage Grant
Connecting the dots: understanding the DFV experiences of children and young people with disability within and across sectors. ANROWS Grant
Investigating the mental health of children exposed to family and domestic violence through the use of linked Police and Health records. ANROWS Grant
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
Open access
6
6
2
|
2019 |
Open access
19
18
5
|
2019 |
78
78
70
|
2018 |
Open access
|
2012 |
260
237
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2019 |
2
|
2015 |
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
50
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
|
2024 |
Open access
1
1
6
|
2024 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
2
2
2
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
1
1
|
2024 |
Open access
1
|
2024 |
Open access
1
6
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
1
|
2024 |
Open access
2
|
2023 |
Open access
1
1
6
|
2023 |
Open access
3
4
12
|
2023 |
6
4
3
|
2023 |
Open access
2
1
5
|
2023 |
10
|
2023 |
Open access
8
8
14
|
2023 |
Open access
4
4
20
|
2022 |
Open access
30
26
47
|
2022 |
Open access
8
7
1
|
2022 |
Open access
3
3
8
|
2022 |
Open access
1
1
|
2022 |
12
8
1
|
2022 |
Open access
|
2022 |
Open access
4
4
11
|
2022 |
Open access
1
|
2022 |
Open access
6
6
2
|
2022 |
Open access
1
1
1
|
2021 |
Open access
10
9
13
|
2021 |
Open access
17
17
|
2021 |
3
1
3
|
2021 |
Open access
15
12
1
|
2021 |
Open access
5
6
2
|
2020 |
9
9
3
|
2020 |
Open access
27
24
10
|
2020 |
23
18
7
|
2020 |
Open access
12
10
5
|
2020 |
Open access
5
4
3
|
2020 |
Open access
9
10
4
|
2019 |
Open access
22
20
2
|
2019 |
18
11
37
|
2019 |
16
12
2
|
2019 |
Open access
12
14
7
|
2019 |
Open access
19
18
5
|
2019 |
78
78
70
|
2019 |
9
9
|
2018 |
15
15
1
|
2017 |
Open access
28
27
4
|
2017 |
Open access
96
89
95
|
2017 |
Open access
36
33
1
|
2017 |
Open access
|
2017 |
Open access
15
14
9
|
2017 |
4
2
2
|
2016 |
64
55
|
2016 |
64
55
6
|
2016 |
Open access
51
49
7
|
2016 |
Open access
43
40
1
|
2016 |
Open access
36
34
1
|
2015 |
Open access
71
69
1
|
2015 |
Open access
9
9
|
2013 |
Open access
11
11
|
2013 |
14
|
2013 |
Open access
14
16
|
2012 |
74
62
|
2012 |
260
237
|
2012 |
2
|
2012 |
26
22
|
2011 |
Open access
16
|
2010 |
Open access
43
42
|
2010 |
26
25
|
2010 |
31
28
|
2010 |
6
6
|
2009 |
94
87
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
Open access
76
72
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
|
2022 |
Open access
|
2018 |
Open access
|
2018 |
Open access
|
2010 |
|
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
American Humane Association | UNITED STATES |
Anglicare WA | AUSTRALIA |
Australian Catholic University | AUSTRALIA |
Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
Barwon Health | AUSTRALIA |
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario | CANADA |
Centre for Cerebral Palsy | AUSTRALIA |
Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
Department for Education | UNITED KINGDOM |
East Metropolitan Health Service | AUSTRALIA |
Edith Cowan University | AUSTRALIA |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Government of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences | CANADA |
Karlstad University | SWEDEN |
La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
Lancaster University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | UNITED KINGDOM |
Lowitja Institute | AUSTRALIA |
Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
Murdoch University | AUSTRALIA |
niversity of Notre Dame | UNITED STATES |
Northumbria University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Norwegian Institute of Public Health | NORWAY |
NTNU Social Research | NORWAY |
Ontario Tech University | CANADA |
Oregon State University | UNITED STATES |
Relationships Australia | AUSTRALIA |
Royal Perth Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
SA Department for Child Protection | AUSTRALIA |
South Australian Department for Child Protection | AUSTRALIA |
Telethon Kids Institute | AUSTRALIA |
The University of Notre Dame Australia | AUSTRALIA |
UCL Institute of Child Health | UNITED KINGDOM |
University College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Canberra | AUSTRALIA |
University of Derby | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Gothenburg | SWEDEN |
University of Manitoba | CANADA |
University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
University of Northumbria | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Otago | NEW ZEALAND |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
University of Warwick | UNITED KINGDOM |
University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
WA Department of Health | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
Engagement/recognition | Year |
---|---|
Merit AwardDepartment of Health, Western Australia |
2019 |
Western Australian Premiers Award for Early Career Scientist of the YearGovernment of Western Australia |
2018 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
46- Families with multiple and complex needs: refocusing on early intervention | Current |
Aboriginal Parenting: Challenging misconceptions and strengthening practice | Current |
Improving the Process and Long-Term Outcomes of Reunification for Families. Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators for Successful and Safe Reunification. | Current |