JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Michelle Redman-MacLaren

About

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 Gamilaraay country (near what is now known as Narrabri). I have a professional background as a social worker, and continue to draw on my passion for inclusive, developmental and decolonising processes developed during my undergraduate and Master of Social Work studies at the University of Queensland.

Since 2005, I have contributed to higher education as a tutor, lecturer, field educator, public health researcher and more recently, as a supervisor for higher degree students.

I am currently the Associate Dean, Research Education in the College of Medicine and Dentistry, where I strive to create spaces that support successful higher degree students and their advisors. I am also a public health researcher who facilitates qualitative and mixed methods research. I co-research with Indigenous peoples, especially 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. I also facilitate community-based research and research capacity strengthening activities in Solomon Islands.

More recently I have been exploring arts-based approaches to research through poetic inquiry, as I presented in a TEDx talk. For more details on my scholarly work please visit my JCU Publications page, my Google Scholar page or my OrcidID.

Teaching

HS5102: Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals (Level 5; TSV)
HS7405: Research Methodologies for Health Professionals (Level 7; TSV)
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

Honours

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

Publications

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

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, DOI:10.1093/bjc/azaa058.
Redman-MacLaren M (in press) Pacific women, HIV, and me: a positioned critical poetic inquiry. Qualitative Inquiry, , DOI:10.1177/1077800420934141.
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).
Guenther J, Benveniste T, Redman-MacLaren M, Mander D, McCalman J, O’Bryan M, Osborne S and Stewart R (2020) Thinking with theory as a policy evaluation tool: the case of boarding schools for remote First Nations students. Evaluation Journal of Australasia, 20 (1), pp. 34-52, DOI:10.1177/1035719X20905056.
Harrington R, Redman-MacLaren M, Harvey N, Puia M, Carlisle K and Larkins S (2020) Barriers and enablers to using contraceptives for family planning at Atoifi Hospital, East Kwaio, Solomon Islands. Pacific Journal of Reproductive Health, 1 (10), pp. 586-597, DOI:10.18313/pjrh.2020.003.
Kelly-Hanku A, Redman-MacLaren M, Boli-Neo R, Nos S, Ase S, Aeno H, Nembari J, Amos A, Gabuzzi J, Kupu M, Williie B, Narokobi R, Hou P, Pekon S, Kaldor J, Badman S, Vallely A and Hakim A (2020) Confidential, accessible point-of-care sexual health services to support the participation of key populations in biobehavioural surveys: lessons for Papua New Guinea and other settings where reach of key populations is limited. PLoS ONE, 15 (5), Article: e0233026, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0233026.
Marks M, Gwyn S, Toloka H, Kositz C, Asugeni J, Asugeni R, Diau J, Kaldor J, Romani L, Redman-Maclaren M, MacLaren D, Solomon A, Mabey D, Steer A and Martin D (2020) Impact of community treatment with ivermectin for the control of scabies on the prevalence of antibodies to Strongyloides stercoralis in children. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 71 (12), pp. 3226-3228, DOI:10.1093/cid/ciaa584.
Asugeni R, Redman-MacLaren M, Asugeni J, Esau T, Timothy F, Massey P and Maclaren D (2019) A community builds a “bridge”: an example of community-led adaptation to sea-level rise in East Kwaio, Solomon Islands. Climate and Development Journal, 11 (1), pp. 91-96, DOI:10.1080/17565529.2017.1411239.
Marks M, Toloka H, Baker C, Kositz C, Asugeni J, Puiahi E, Asugeni R, Azzopardi K, Diau J, Kaldor J, Romani L, Redman-MacLaren M, MacLaren D, Solomon A, Mabey D and Steer A (2019) Randomized trial of community treatment with azithromycin and ivermectin mass drug administration for control of scabies and impetigo. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 68 (6), pp. 927-933, DOI:10.1093/cid/ciy574.
Marks M, Toloka H, Baker C, Kositz C, Asugeni J, Puiahi E, Asugeni R, Azzopardi K, Diau J, Kaldor J, Romani L, Redman-MacLaren M, MacLaren D, Solomon A, Mabey D and Steer A (2019) Randomised trial of community treatment with azithromycin and ivermectin mass drug administration for control of scabies and impetigo. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 68 (6), pp. 927-933, DOI:10.1093/cid/ciy574.
McPhail-Bell K and Redman-MacLaren M (2019) A co/autoethnography of peer support and PhDs: being, doing, and sharing in academia. The Qualitative Report, 24 (5), Article: 12.

Book Chapters

Bainbridge R, McCalman J, Redman-MacLaren M and Whiteside M (2019) Grounded theory as systems science: working with Indigenous nations for social justice. In: The SAGE Handbook of Current Developments in Grounded Theory. Sage, London, UK, pp. 611-629

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 62+ research outputs authored by Dr Michelle Redman-MacLaren from 2010 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Palladium Pty Ltd - Australia Pacific Climate Partnership

Traditional Knowledge about Climate and Food Security in Kwaio, Malaita, Solomon Islands

Indicative Funding: $95,000 over 1 year
Summary: This project will be implemented in conjunction with Baru Conservation Alliance in Malaita, Solomon Islands. Traditional Knowledge and exoperience of weather, the seasonal interaction of plants, animals and people will be explored and documented. The use of tradiitional 'disaster food' after natural disasters will also be documented. The local scale production of flour from locally grown fuits and vegetables will be piloted; usage and spoilage monitored, and dishes made from flour trialled for acceptability and feasibility with Kwaio tribal groups. The project links food security, health and ecological sustainability to inform local level disaster and climate resilience measures in Malaita, Solomon Islands.
Investigators: David MacLaren, Karen Cheer, Michelle Redman-MacLaren, Colin MacGregor and Darren Crayn in collaboration with Tommy Esau, Esau Kekeubata, Dorothy Esau, Maasafi Alabai, Paul Flemons, Tyrone Lavery and Rebecca Johnson (College of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Science & Engineering, Australian Tropical Herbarium, Baru Conservation Alliance, Australian Museum, Australian National University and Smithsonian Institute)
Keywords: Solomon Islands; Baru Conservation Alliance; Climate Resilience; Food Security; Disaster Preparedness; Traditional Knowledge

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) - DFAT Administered (aid) Simple Grant Agreement

Community led development, climate resilience and conservation in East Malaita

Indicative Funding: $400,000 over 2 years
Summary: Baru Conservation Alliance (BCA) was established a registered Non-Government Organisation in 2019 by leaders from East Kwaio, Malaita, Solomon Islands to coordinate ecological and cultural conservation in their tribal lands. This includes the holistic health and wellbeing of plants, animals and people living in prescribed conservation areas. This project, funded by the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands allows JCU and the Australian Museum to build sustainable scientific and management capacities with the fledgling organisation. The project will support a series of local JCU supported projects within conservation areas that include TB, water and sanitation, reproductive health, community education and reforestation.
Investigators: David MacLaren, Michelle Redman-MacLaren and Tommy Esau in collaboration with Paul Flemmons, Dorothy Esau and Esau Kekeubata (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Museum and Baru Conservation Alliance)
Keywords: Conservation; Kwaio; Solomon Islands; Community Health; Tuberculosis

Massey University - contract research - Contract Research

Review of Tokelau's Clinical Health Services and Patient Referrals Sceme

Indicative Funding: $6,903 over 2 years (administered by Massey University)
Summary: The Tokelau Government has asked for an independent review of the Tokelau Patient Referrals Scheme (TPRS) and clinical health services. In partnership with the Tokelau Government, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has engaged a Massey University-led team to do the review. Our proposal is distinguished by three features in particular: the team is Pacific-led, the review design is bottom up, participatory and solutions-focussed, and our approach is grounded in a Tokelauan world view of health and wellbeing. This approach will allow for the co-creation of knowledge, will ensure that the review is inclusive of a diversity of views, including marginalised groups, and will enable us to undertake an in-depth review which reflects the social, economic, cultural and spiritual context. Methodological innovations such as use of the Systems Assessment Tool and particpatory co-design workshops will enable us to generate robust findings combining quantitative and qualitative data.
Investigators: Tracie Mafileo, Sunia Foliaki, Tanya Koro, Helen Leslie, Michelle Redman-MacLaren and Caryn West (Massey University, Pasifika Health Service, Central Public Health Organisation, College of Medicine & Dentistry and College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: Health services, Pacific people's health

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund - Grant

Documenting Indigenous Plant Knowledge to Strengthen Conservation Management in Kwaio, Solomon Islands

Indicative Funding: $26,184 over 3 years
Summary: The project is designed to deliver ongoing capacity-strengthening activities and training in project management, organizational governance and financial management to enhance local conservation efforts in the central mountains of the island of Malaita, Solomon Islands. Our larger goals include setting up a Kwaio CSO to manage conservation activities in the area (see ?Project Objectives? below), protect and conserve priority species on Malaita, and in the longer-term, work toward creating Protected Areas to protect globally threatened species. We also hope the project will serve as a conservation model for other Malaitan and Solomon Islands communities. The project is taking place with people of the Kwaio language group. The mountain Kwaio people are the largest Solomon Islands group still practicing their indigenous ancestral religion. The biodiversity conservation project is documenting the deep local knowledge of medicinal plants and bush foods found in the rainforest of Malaita, and building capacity to undertake similar projects in the future.
Investigators: David MacLaren, Esau Kekeubata, John Laete?esafi, Jackson Waneagea, David Akin, Humpress Harrington, James Asugeni, Tommy Esau, Peter Massey, Michelle Redman-MacLaren, Ben Speare, Darren Crayn and Frank Zich (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Kwainaa Cultural Centre, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Pacific Adventist University (Atoifi Campus), Atoifi Adventist Hospital, New South Wales Health, Tropical Health Solutions Pty Ltd, College of Science & Engineering and Australian Tropical Herbarium)
Keywords: Kwaio; Traditional Medicine; Solomon Islands; Medicinal Plants; Traditional Knowledge; Biodiversity Conservation

Supervision

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

Social Workers' Lived Experience of Working within the End-of-Life Care Context (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Family planning service provision in Solomon Islands: A Case Study Approach (PhD , Primary Advisor)
‘Making of a Strong Woman’: A Constructivist Grounded Theory on Young Women’s Experiences at Menarche in Papua New Guinea (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)
Healthy Ageing in the Torres Strait: Developing and Implementing a Framework for Best-Practice Aged Care within Primary Health Care Centres (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Collaboration

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.