My name is Michelle Redman-MacLaren. I am an Anglo-Celt born on Gubbi Gubbi country, with most of my childhood spent on a farm on Gamilaroi Country (near what is now known as Narrabri). I have a professional background as a social worker, and continue to enact my commitment to inclusive, developmental and decolonising processes developed during my Undergraduate and Master of Social Work studies at the University of Queensland.

Since 2006, I have contributed to higher education as an Associate Dean, Research Education, supervisor of higher degree by research candidates, researcher, lecturer and field educator.

In my role as a public health researcher, I facilitate qualitative and mixed methods research in partnership with groups and communities to promote health. Specifically, I co-research with Pacific Islander and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to:

• Improve sexual and reproductive health,

• Reduce transmission of infectious diseases, and

• Strengthen health systems.

My NHMRC-funded PhD research, undertaken in the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University, was a transformational grounded theory study focused on HIV prevention with women in Papua New Guinea.

Current applied research I co-lead with Pacific partners includes:

• Strengthening the role of women leaders in Papua New Guinea for improved sexual health and wellbeing,
• Culturally situating menstrual health and hygiene responses for girls in schools in Solomon Islands, 
• Exploring women's experience of menopause in Solomon Islands,
• Developing culturally relevant strategies for tuberculosis prevention, detection and treatment in Solomon Islands, and
• Documenting traditional knowledge about climate and food Security in Kwaio Solomon Islands Project, especially with women. 

My work using arts-based research methods, specifically poetic inquiry, explores the potential of arts-based approaches for improved health. My poetic inquiry work has been recognised internationally, as evidenced by my recent TEDx talk, international collaborations with poets/poet- researchers, international conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. In 2021, I co-founded the Deadly Poets Society where Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers within a collaborative Primary Health Care researcher network (CRE-STRIDE) meet fortnightly to reflect on and write poetry. Through this group, we enact core values of Indigenous research and our committment to the ‘all teach-all learn’ principle.  

I currently serve as the Associate Dean, Research Education in the College of Medicine and Dentistry, where I strive to create spaces that support successful outcomes for higher degree by research candidates and their advisors. I also facilitate research capacity strengthening activities in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. 

I have contributed to the development of both social science and public health disciplines, having previously served as an Associate Editor of the SAGE journal, Action Research (edited by Professor Hilary Bradbury) and have peer-reviewed for almost 20 journals, including the American Journal of Tropical Health and Medicine, CSIRO Sexual Health, Culture, Health and Sexuality Journal, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, and a number of BMC and international social work journals.  

For more details on my scholarly work please visit my JCU Publications page, my Google Scholar page or my OrcidID.

Teaching

• RM8301: Research Planning in Tropical Health and Medicine (Level 8; CNS & TSV)
• RM8302: Research Project in Tropical Health and Medicine (Level 8; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

• Participatory approaches to research
• Social and cultural determinants of health
• Decolonising research
• Sexual and reproductive health of peoples in the Pacific
• Health of people in Papua New Guinea
• Health of people in Solomon Islands
• Research capacity strengthening
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
• Poetic inquiry
• Transformational Grounded Theory

Experience

• 2020 to present - Associate Dean Research Education, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2018 to present - Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2017 to 2018 - Research Fellow, Central Queensland University (Cairns)
• 2008 to 2016 - Research Officer/Fellow, James Cook University (Cairns)
• 2006 to 2009 - Casual Lecturer/Tutor, James Cook University (Cairns)

Research Disciplines

• Pacific Peoples health and wellbeing (4516)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing (4504)
• Public health (4206)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Pacific Peoples health (2111)

Awards

• 2020 - Winner, Early Career Researcher category, 3MT College of Medicine and Dentistry, JCU.
• 2016 - Distinguished Friend of Pacific Adventist University, Papua New Guinea.
• 2016 - Dean’s List for Excellence, Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) 2015
• 2013 - PhD Category Award winner (awarded $2,500). ‘So you think you can research?’ North Queensland Festival of Life Sciences

Fellowships

• 2020 - Adjunct Senior Lecturer/Senior Research Fellow, School of Health Science, Pacific Adventist University
• 2019 - Fellow of ALARA (Action Learning Action Research Association)
• 2018 - Fellow, The Cairns Institute
• 2017 - Adjunct Academic, Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research, CQUniversity Australia

Memberships

• 2019 - Pacific Society for Reproductive Health
• 2017 - Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• 2016 - Australian Association for the Advancement of Pacific Studies
• 2010 - International Association for Community Development
• 2009 - Reconciliation Queensland Inc
• 2006 - Action Learning & Research Association, Australia and New Zealand
• 2004 - Australian Association of Social Workers
• 2017 to 2020 - Health Systems Global
• 2012 to 2016 - Australasian Society for HIV Medicine
• 2012 to 2015 - Tropical Research Network
• 2009 to 2015 - Public Health Association Australia

Other

• 2012 to 2015 - Doctor of Philosophy: Implications of male circumcision for women in Papua New Guinea, including for HIV prevention. College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University
• 2002 to 2007 - Master of Social Work (Community Development and Human Service Management), University of Queensland
• 1990 to 1993 - Bachelor of Social Work (Major: Community Work), University of Queensland

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Canuto K, Preston R, Rannard S, Felton-Busch C, Geia L, Yeomans L, Turner N, Thompson Q, Carlisle K, Evans R, Passey M, Larkins S, Redman-MacLaren M, Farmer J, Muscat M and Taylor J (2022) How and why do women’s groups (WGs) improve the quality of maternal and child health (MCH) care? A systematic review of the literature. BMJ Open, 12 (2).
• Quigley R, Russell S, Larkins S, Taylor S, Sagigi B, Strivens E and Redman-MacLaren R (2022) Aging well for Indigenous peoples: a scoping review. Frontiers in Public Health, 10.
• Carlisle K, Matthews (Quandamooka) V, Redman-MacLaren M, Vine K, Turner N, Felton-Busch (Yangkaal/Gangalidda) C, Taylor J, Thompson S, Whaleboat (Meriam Le) D, Larkins S and LEAP Learning Community (2021) A qualitative exploration of priorities for quality improvement amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services. BMC Health Services Research, 21.
• Harrington R, Harvey N, Larkins S and Redman-MacLaren M (2021) Family planning in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs): a scoping review. PLoS ONE, 16 (8).
• Kelly-Hanku A, Worth H, Redman-MacLaren M, Nosi S, Boli-Neo R, Ase S, Hou P, Aeno H, Kupul M, Amos A, Badman S, Vallely A and Hakim A (2021) Perpetration of violence by female sex workers in Papua New Guinea: 'We will crush their bones'. The British Journal of Criminology, 61 (1). pp. 104-122
• Maulingin?Gumbaketi E, Larkins S, Gunnarsson R, Rembeck G, Whittaker M and Redman-MacLaren M (2021) ‘Making of a strong woman’: a constructivist grounded theory of the experiences of young women around menarche in Papua New Guinea. BMC Women's Health, 21.
• Mitchell E, Hakim A, Nosi S, Kupul M, Boli-Neo R, Aeno H, Redman-MacLaren M, Ase S, Amos A, Hou P, Narokobi R, Willie B, Vallely A, Kaldor J, Badman S and Kelly-Hanku A (2021) A socio-ecological analysis of factors influencing HIV treatment initiation and adherence among key populations in Papua New Guinea. BMC Public Health, 21.
• Neuendorf N, Cheer K, Tommbe R, Kokinai C, Simeon L, Browne K, MacLaren D and Redman-MacLaren M (2021) Sexual health and wellbeing training with women in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: a scoping review. Global Health Action, 14 (1).
• Redman-Maclaren M, Turner N, Taylor J, Laycock A, Vine K, Thompson Q, Larkins S, Carlisle K, Thompson S, Bailie R and Matthews V (2021) Respect is central: a critical review of implementation frameworks for continuous quality improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services. Frontiers in Public Health, 9.
• Redman-MacLaren M (2021) Pacific women, HIV, and me: a positioned critical poetic inquiry. Qualitative Inquiry, 27 (6). pp. 700-705
• Britton A, Redman-MacLaren M, Ham M and Bainbridge R (2020) What attributes make an alternate model of education for remote Indigenous adolescents: a systematic literature review. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 30 (3).

Book Chapters

• Madsen W, Redman-Maclaren M, Saunders V, O'Mullan C and Judd J (2021) Reframing health promotion research and practice in Australia and the Pacific: the value of arts-based practices. In: Arts and Health Promotion: tools and bridges for practice, research and training. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 179-196

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Dying To Talk: A narrative exploration of social workers?? stories of existential experiences while working in the end-of-life care context (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Failing Feminism: Culture, Female Empowerment and Agricultural Development (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Family planning service provision in Solomon Islands: A Case Study Approach (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Healthy Ageing in the Torres Strait: Developing and Implementing a Framework for Best-Practice Aged Care within Primary Health Care Centres (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Perception and Practives of Utilizing Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services among Young People in Papua New Guinea (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• 'Making of a strong woman': a constructivist grounded theory on young women's experiences at menarche in Papua New Guinea (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.