Melissa O’donnell
Biographic Data
| ID | 3886213 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa O’donnell |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa |
| FAMILY NAME | O’donnell |
| SIGNATURE | O’DONNELL M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of South Australia |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2440-3667 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 30 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 37 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 30 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
“The Other One Was Half and Half, Half-Caste”
Since colonisation in Australia, dominant western narratives have continually undermined the identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through a lens of subaltern theory, this article explores how Aboriginal children, their families, and their communities are spoken for and about as members of subaltern communities by non-Indigenous foster carers. The findings reveal how the narratives of foster carers can continue to perpetuate …
What happens after a child protection report during pregnancy? Using administrative data to explore 12-month outcomes
Despite the increasing use of prenatal reporting to child protection in Australia and elsewhere, few large studies have examined the consequences of prenatal reporting. This paper explores the association between prenatal reporting and subsequent child protection involvement in a large Australian jurisdiction, focusing on the timing, incidence and nature of this involvement. Administrative data were obtained for the population of pregnant women/i…
Our babies are our gold’
Keeping Ourselves Safe From the System’
It is the priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and Australian governments, to provide infants with enriching environments in which they may thrive. This is particularly critical during the perinatal period. Yet, an increasing number of notifications and interventions by child protection authorities are occurring in the first year of life. This research reports parent, service provider and researcher perspectives about sy…
‘I have to jump like a kangaroo … I have to slither like a snake’. A qualitative evaluation of elder-led art workshops in the child protection sector
People don't trust those pieces of paper that are provided’
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be removed at high rates from their families by child protection services, placing them at elevated risk of adverse long-term life outcomes. Cultural connection in out-of-home care is essential for mitigating the impacts of trauma from removal, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that cultural planning is rigorously undertaken. This article explores the provision of cultural plans in a…
It’s not a normal upbringing
The Introduction of Extended Out‐of‐Home Care (Oohc) Until 21 Years in Australia
It is increasingly recognised by global research that extending out‐of‐home care (OOHC) until at least 21 years of age is the policy reform most likely to advance improved outcomes for care leavers. In recent years, all eight Australian jurisdictions (States and Territories) have introduced forms of extended care programs. Yet, major variations remain between these jurisdictions in terms of the placement types covered, the levels of support and f…
The Physical and Mental Health of Mothers of Aboriginal Children in Out‐of‐Home Care in Western Australia
There is a need to better understand the physical and mental health of mothers of Aboriginal children who enter out‐of‐home care to prevent removals. Evidence suggests that families involved in child protection systems often experience significant needs that may culminate in child removals. For Aboriginal families, these are compounded by the inter‐generational trauma from colonisation which has resulted in health issues, poverty and family viole…
Culture, Connection and Care
Ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children removed from their families by child protection services remain connected to their kin, Country and culture is a priority to begin to redress the intergenerational trauma and harm caused by colonisation. This article describes the views of staff working in three mainstream out‐of‐home care organisations, where children are cared for by non‐Indigenous foster carers. Through the lenses of…
Intersectoral collaboration for supporting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal families and children in out-of-home care
Introduction: Western Australia has one of the highest rates of Aboriginal children entering out-of-home care in Australia. Kinship care is the preferred culturally safe out-of-home care option for Aboriginal children, yet all jurisdictions, including Western Australia, are far from meeting best-practice national standards. Intersectoral collaboration is a key primary healthcare principle and internationally recognized for improving health system…
Hospital-Based Healthcare Workers’ Experiences of Involvement in Perinatal Child Protection Processes
As the number of infants entering Out-of-Home Care at birth internationally continues to rise, Hospital-based healthcare workers (HBHCWs) are increasingly likely to become involved in ethically, morally, and legally complex child protection processes. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize qualitative literature pertaining to the perspectives of HBHCWs with experiences of involvement in child protection processes occurring in the pe…
The hidden impact of alcohol on young victims
There is a noteworthy disparity between the quantity of hospital admissions attributed to alcohol-related incidents and the number of cases that are formally classified as ARH in the hospital system. This disparity highlights a more profound issue of substantial under-ascertainment or inadequate identification of ARH than previously acknowledged. Our findings justify the prioritisation of prevention strategies, beyond improvement in the documenta…
Parents’ experiences of perinatal child protection processes
Aboriginal Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care
The overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (respectfully referred to hereafter as "Aboriginal") children in the child protection system is a concern in Australia, with Aboriginal children placed in out-of-home care at a rate 11 times that of non-Aboriginal children. This study utilised linked administrative data to determine the longitudinal child protection pathways from birth to age 10 years for a cohort of 15,815 Aborigina…
Investigating positive reading trajectories among children who experienced out-of-home care
Children who experience out-of-home care (OOHC) often have low academic achievement which subsequently negatively affects their adult life outcomes, yet a smaller proportion succeed in spite of adversity. Scant research has examined the trajectories of children who achieve well in school and factors associated with positive educational outcomes. 1) Describe the reading trajectories from Year 3 to Year 7 of school of children who experienced OOHC,…
Prioritising Children and Young People with Disability in Research About Domestic and Family Violence
Children and young people with disability experiencing domestic and family violence hold an expert and unique vantage point on what happens to them. Amplifying their priorities for directing policy and organisational change requires more of researchers in terms of methods, but also more flexibility in how projects are funded to enable creativity and innovation. We call for collective attention to frameworks for supported decision-making and child…
Young people with prior health service contacts have increased risk of repeated alcohol‐related harm hospitalisations
Parents' experiences with child protection during pregnancy and post‐birth
Limited research has directly sought the input of parents involved in the child protection system during pregnancy and with their infants. As the focus of these policies and practices, parents have a unique and important insight not available to others, so it is vital to obtain their input. As part of a larger Australian study, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 13 parents asking about their views and experiences. Parents predominantly b…
Understanding the dynamics of support seeking in women with lived experience of non‐physical intimate partner violence ( IPV ) and the service responses—A qualitative study
Non‐physical abuse is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV), which negatively impacts physical and mental well‐being. The study objectives were to understand the process of support seeking amongst women who experience non‐physical IPV. Interviews were conducted with women who have experience of non‐physical IPV and support workers. The findings of this study suggest that women generally delay support seeking for non‐physical IPV as they are u…
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families to Stay Together from the Start (SAFeST Start)
Reducing the rate of over‐representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out‐of‐home care (OOHC) is a key Closing the Gap target committed to by all Australian governments. Current strategies are failing. The “gap” is widening, with the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in OOHC at 30 June 2020 being 11 times that of non‐Indigenous children. Approximately, one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander …
Research protocol of a multifaceted prospective mixed-method longitudinal study
Navigating Through Life exemplifies a novel utilisation of multiple data sources to research outcomes for vulnerable and difficult to reach populations, and offers insights for other complex mixed-methods longitudinal studies. Results will provide new and more comprehensive data about specific pathways that may be influential to a range of post-care outcomes. Findings will extend evidence to inform better service-delivery models that improve outc…
That thing in his head’
Little is known about the significance of cultural differences to how caregivers receive a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disability. As part of a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevalence study among sentenced, detained youth, our qualitative study explored the experiences of diagnostic assessment among detained young people and their caregivers. We present findings from the perspectives of caregivers. In conversation with the sociology of dia…
"Disability "In-Justice
Undertaking research with young people presents an array of methodological challenges. We report the findings from a qualitative study that took place alongside a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevalence study among detainees in Australia. Of 38 participants, 27 were Aboriginal youth. Interviews were conducted using "social yarning" and "research topic yarning," an Indigenous research method which allows for data collection in an explora…
Infant removals
Maternal mental health and risk of child protection involvement
BACKGROUND: Previous research shows that maternal mental illness is an important risk factor for child maltreatment. This study aims to quantify the relationship between maternal mental health and risk of child maltreatment according to the different types of mental health diagnoses. METHODS: The study used a retrospective cohort of children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2005, with deidentified linked data from routine health and chi…
The Introduction of Extended Out‐of‐Home Care (Oohc) Until 21 Years in Australia
It is increasingly recognised by global research that extending out‐of‐home care (OOHC) until at least 21 years of age is the policy reform most likely to advance improved outcomes for care leavers. In recent years, all eight Australian jurisdictions (States and Territories) have introduced forms of extended care programs. Yet, major variations remain between these jurisdictions in terms of the placement types covered, the levels of support and f…
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families to Stay Together from the Start (SAFeST Start)
Reducing the rate of over‐representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out‐of‐home care (OOHC) is a key Closing the Gap target committed to by all Australian governments. Current strategies are failing. The “gap” is widening, with the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in OOHC at 30 June 2020 being 11 times that of non‐Indigenous children. Approximately, one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander …
Aboriginal Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care
The overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (respectfully referred to hereafter as "Aboriginal") children in the child protection system is a concern in Australia, with Aboriginal children placed in out-of-home care at a rate 11 times that of non-Aboriginal children. This study utilised linked administrative data to determine the longitudinal child protection pathways from birth to age 10 years for a cohort of 15,815 Aborigina…
"Disability "In-Justice
Undertaking research with young people presents an array of methodological challenges. We report the findings from a qualitative study that took place alongside a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevalence study among detainees in Australia. Of 38 participants, 27 were Aboriginal youth. Interviews were conducted using "social yarning" and "research topic yarning," an Indigenous research method which allows for data collection in an explora…
Culture, Connection and Care
Ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children removed from their families by child protection services remain connected to their kin, Country and culture is a priority to begin to redress the intergenerational trauma and harm caused by colonisation. This article describes the views of staff working in three mainstream out‐of‐home care organisations, where children are cared for by non‐Indigenous foster carers. Through the lenses of…
Prioritising Children and Young People with Disability in Research About Domestic and Family Violence
Children and young people with disability experiencing domestic and family violence hold an expert and unique vantage point on what happens to them. Amplifying their priorities for directing policy and organisational change requires more of researchers in terms of methods, but also more flexibility in how projects are funded to enable creativity and innovation. We call for collective attention to frameworks for supported decision-making and child…
Parents' experiences with child protection during pregnancy and post‐birth
Limited research has directly sought the input of parents involved in the child protection system during pregnancy and with their infants. As the focus of these policies and practices, parents have a unique and important insight not available to others, so it is vital to obtain their input. As part of a larger Australian study, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 13 parents asking about their views and experiences. Parents predominantly b…
The Physical and Mental Health of Mothers of Aboriginal Children in Out‐of‐Home Care in Western Australia
There is a need to better understand the physical and mental health of mothers of Aboriginal children who enter out‐of‐home care to prevent removals. Evidence suggests that families involved in child protection systems often experience significant needs that may culminate in child removals. For Aboriginal families, these are compounded by the inter‐generational trauma from colonisation which has resulted in health issues, poverty and family viole…
Identifying families most likely to have missing paternal details in birth registrations using linked data
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of missing paternal data in birth registrations and the characteristics of families most likely to have missing data. We used a retrospective cohort of children born in Western Australia between 1980 and 2005. Results revealed that the characteristics of families associated with missing paternal information included: living in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage; young single mothers; ch…
To Feel Belonged
Rates and types of hospitalisations for children who have subsequent contact with the child protection system
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether children who have child maltreatment allegation or substantiation have a higher rate of general hospital admissions and injury related admissions when compared to other children and to investigate other types of admissions, such as mental health, infections and admissions due to external causes. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective matched case-control study of children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2005 using…
Rates and types of hospitalisations for children who have subsequent contact with the child protection system
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether children who have child maltreatment allegation or substantiation have a higher rate of general hospital admissions and injury related admissions when compared to other children and to investigate other types of admissions, such as mental health, infections and admissions due to external causes. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective matched case-control study of children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2005 using…
Child maltreatment
To Feel Belonged
Identifying families most likely to have missing paternal details in birth registrations using linked data
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of missing paternal data in birth registrations and the characteristics of families most likely to have missing data. We used a retrospective cohort of children born in Western Australia between 1980 and 2005. Results revealed that the characteristics of families associated with missing paternal information included: living in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage; young single mothers; ch…
Maternal mental health and risk of child protection involvement
BACKGROUND: Previous research shows that maternal mental illness is an important risk factor for child maltreatment. This study aims to quantify the relationship between maternal mental health and risk of child maltreatment according to the different types of mental health diagnoses. METHODS: The study used a retrospective cohort of children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2005, with deidentified linked data from routine health and chi…
Infant removals
Research protocol of a multifaceted prospective mixed-method longitudinal study
Navigating Through Life exemplifies a novel utilisation of multiple data sources to research outcomes for vulnerable and difficult to reach populations, and offers insights for other complex mixed-methods longitudinal studies. Results will provide new and more comprehensive data about specific pathways that may be influential to a range of post-care outcomes. Findings will extend evidence to inform better service-delivery models that improve outc…
That thing in his head’
Little is known about the significance of cultural differences to how caregivers receive a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disability. As part of a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevalence study among sentenced, detained youth, our qualitative study explored the experiences of diagnostic assessment among detained young people and their caregivers. We present findings from the perspectives of caregivers. In conversation with the sociology of dia…
"Disability "In-Justice
Undertaking research with young people presents an array of methodological challenges. We report the findings from a qualitative study that took place alongside a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevalence study among detainees in Australia. Of 38 participants, 27 were Aboriginal youth. Interviews were conducted using "social yarning" and "research topic yarning," an Indigenous research method which allows for data collection in an explora…
Young people with prior health service contacts have increased risk of repeated alcohol‐related harm hospitalisations
Parents' experiences with child protection during pregnancy and post‐birth
Limited research has directly sought the input of parents involved in the child protection system during pregnancy and with their infants. As the focus of these policies and practices, parents have a unique and important insight not available to others, so it is vital to obtain their input. As part of a larger Australian study, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 13 parents asking about their views and experiences. Parents predominantly b…
Understanding the dynamics of support seeking in women with lived experience of non‐physical intimate partner violence ( IPV ) and the service responses—A qualitative study
Non‐physical abuse is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV), which negatively impacts physical and mental well‐being. The study objectives were to understand the process of support seeking amongst women who experience non‐physical IPV. Interviews were conducted with women who have experience of non‐physical IPV and support workers. The findings of this study suggest that women generally delay support seeking for non‐physical IPV as they are u…
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families to Stay Together from the Start (SAFeST Start)
Reducing the rate of over‐representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out‐of‐home care (OOHC) is a key Closing the Gap target committed to by all Australian governments. Current strategies are failing. The “gap” is widening, with the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in OOHC at 30 June 2020 being 11 times that of non‐Indigenous children. Approximately, one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander …
Prioritising Children and Young People with Disability in Research About Domestic and Family Violence
Children and young people with disability experiencing domestic and family violence hold an expert and unique vantage point on what happens to them. Amplifying their priorities for directing policy and organisational change requires more of researchers in terms of methods, but also more flexibility in how projects are funded to enable creativity and innovation. We call for collective attention to frameworks for supported decision-making and child…
Intersectoral collaboration for supporting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal families and children in out-of-home care
Introduction: Western Australia has one of the highest rates of Aboriginal children entering out-of-home care in Australia. Kinship care is the preferred culturally safe out-of-home care option for Aboriginal children, yet all jurisdictions, including Western Australia, are far from meeting best-practice national standards. Intersectoral collaboration is a key primary healthcare principle and internationally recognized for improving health system…
Hospital-Based Healthcare Workers’ Experiences of Involvement in Perinatal Child Protection Processes
As the number of infants entering Out-of-Home Care at birth internationally continues to rise, Hospital-based healthcare workers (HBHCWs) are increasingly likely to become involved in ethically, morally, and legally complex child protection processes. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize qualitative literature pertaining to the perspectives of HBHCWs with experiences of involvement in child protection processes occurring in the pe…
The hidden impact of alcohol on young victims
There is a noteworthy disparity between the quantity of hospital admissions attributed to alcohol-related incidents and the number of cases that are formally classified as ARH in the hospital system. This disparity highlights a more profound issue of substantial under-ascertainment or inadequate identification of ARH than previously acknowledged. Our findings justify the prioritisation of prevention strategies, beyond improvement in the documenta…
Parents’ experiences of perinatal child protection processes
Aboriginal Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care
The overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (respectfully referred to hereafter as "Aboriginal") children in the child protection system is a concern in Australia, with Aboriginal children placed in out-of-home care at a rate 11 times that of non-Aboriginal children. This study utilised linked administrative data to determine the longitudinal child protection pathways from birth to age 10 years for a cohort of 15,815 Aborigina…
Investigating positive reading trajectories among children who experienced out-of-home care
Children who experience out-of-home care (OOHC) often have low academic achievement which subsequently negatively affects their adult life outcomes, yet a smaller proportion succeed in spite of adversity. Scant research has examined the trajectories of children who achieve well in school and factors associated with positive educational outcomes. 1) Describe the reading trajectories from Year 3 to Year 7 of school of children who experienced OOHC,…
‘I have to jump like a kangaroo … I have to slither like a snake’. A qualitative evaluation of elder-led art workshops in the child protection sector
People don't trust those pieces of paper that are provided’
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be removed at high rates from their families by child protection services, placing them at elevated risk of adverse long-term life outcomes. Cultural connection in out-of-home care is essential for mitigating the impacts of trauma from removal, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that cultural planning is rigorously undertaken. This article explores the provision of cultural plans in a…
It’s not a normal upbringing
The Introduction of Extended Out‐of‐Home Care (Oohc) Until 21 Years in Australia
It is increasingly recognised by global research that extending out‐of‐home care (OOHC) until at least 21 years of age is the policy reform most likely to advance improved outcomes for care leavers. In recent years, all eight Australian jurisdictions (States and Territories) have introduced forms of extended care programs. Yet, major variations remain between these jurisdictions in terms of the placement types covered, the levels of support and f…
The Physical and Mental Health of Mothers of Aboriginal Children in Out‐of‐Home Care in Western Australia
There is a need to better understand the physical and mental health of mothers of Aboriginal children who enter out‐of‐home care to prevent removals. Evidence suggests that families involved in child protection systems often experience significant needs that may culminate in child removals. For Aboriginal families, these are compounded by the inter‐generational trauma from colonisation which has resulted in health issues, poverty and family viole…
Medicine (20 works) · Child Abuse and Trauma (17 works) · Political science (14 works) · Child Welfare and Adoption (11 works) · Psychology (11 works) · Sociology (10 works) · Qualitative research (9 works) · Child protection (8 works) · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights (8 works) · Nursing (8 works)