Colleen Fisher

• B.A (SocSci) Hons. PhD
• The University of Western Australia

This open access article is publicly available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107960 Background: Nationally and internationally, researchers and practitioners are increasingly expressing concerns regarding the number of babies removed by child protection systems soon after birth and how child protection processes in the perinatal per...

Background: Existing research has acknowledged a correlation between stress in pregnancy and poorer respiratory health in offspring. However, research focusing on stress caused by family and domestic violence in the prenatal period is missing. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included children born 1987-2010 who were identified as being exp...

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 pers...

Introduction: This study describes the experiences of eight mothers from the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia who shared their stories of travelling and/or temporarily relocating for birth. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe rural and remote Western Australian mothers' experiences of travelling long distances and/or relocating...

This chapter provides an overview of the ways in which technology-facilitated abuse has been defined and explored in the literature and framed in relation to intimate partner violence. It enables the reader to understand the range of behaviours that constitute technology-facilitated abuse, including the different technologies utilised and varied st...

Background There is a dearth of research investigating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children exposed to family and domestic violence (FDV). Further, there is no research on terminations of pregnancy in children exposed to FDV. Methods This retrospective cohort study used linked administrative data from Western Australia to investigate...

This research explored adults’ perceptions of how sexualized images typically found on social media might influence adolescent girls’ mental health, what support girls might need should they experience mental health difficulties, and how such difficulties could be prevented or reduced. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured in-depth...

Background People living with rare disease often have protracted journeys towards diagnosis. In the last decade, programs have arisen around the world that are dedicated to ending this ‘diagnostic odyssey’, including the Undiagnosed Diseases Program Western Australia (UDP-WA), which has a focus on finding diagnoses for children and young adults. To...

Purpose The rates of family and domestic violence (FDV) remain significantly high in Australia, and to address this, we need to ensure that victim-survivors of FDV are at the centre of these efforts. The research objective was to determine priority issues for future research and policy in FDV as determined by victim-survivors of FDV, providers of F...

This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to explore adolescent girls’ perceptions of sexualized images they typically find when using social media. Twenty-four participants aged 14–17 years described sexualized images of females as normalized on social media. The interplay between gendered and social norms that endorsed and rewarded girls fo...

Objectives To compare the health of neonates born to women who experienced family and domestic violence (FDV) 12 months prior to birth, with the health of neonates born to women with an earlier history of FDV and women with no history of FDV. Methods A retrospective cohort of women who experienced FDV within 12 months of birth (antenatal FDV [AFDV...

Background Adolescent girls appear more vulnerable to experiencing mental health difficulties from social media use than boys. The presence of sexualized images online is thought to contribute, through increasing body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls. Sexual objectification through images may reinforce to adolescent girls that their value is...

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...

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) is a significant, harmful phenomenon and emerging trend in intimate partner violence. TFA encompasses a range of behaviours and is facilitated in online spaces (on social media and networking platforms) and through the misuse of everyday technology (e.g. mobile phone misuse, surveillance apps, spyware, surveillanc...

Background Exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) in childhood can have a detrimental effect on children's health and social outcomes. However, research on the school outcomes of children exposed to FDV is scant. Objectives To investigate the impact of FDV exposure on school attendance and suspension in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal childr...

Background Adolescent girls appear more vulnerable to experiencing mental health difficulties from social media use than boys. The presence of sexualized images online is thought to contribute, through increasing body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls. Sexual objectification through images may reinforce to adolescent girls that their value is...

Children have a universal right to live free from exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV). Children exposed to FDV can experience long-term effects on their physical and psychological health and their social competencies including social, emotional, and cognitive skills and behaviours that underpin successful social adaptation and academic a...

Identify the perceived benefit of mental health service use for two adolescent populations: (i) those who had considered getting help from a mental health service but had not yet done so, and (ii) those who had previously contacted or accessed a mental health service but not continued with care. Cross-sectional online survey of adolescents aged 14–...

Inspired by Auckland City Mission’s Family 100 project, the 100 Families WA project sought to gain a deep understanding of the lived experience of entrenched disadvantage in Perth, Western Australia. This report outlines the research findings. Key findings: - Entrenched disadvantage is complex—each pathway into, through, and out of disadvantage is...

Background: It is not well understood what occupations public health graduates have after graduation, nor is it well known whether their education provides them with the relevant knowledge and skills to feel well matched to their occupations. Furthermore, it is commonly presumed that public health graduates work in government, and investments in e...

Background As people from the African continent continue to settle in Australia, exposure of men from African refugee backgrounds to potentially traumatic events not only impact negatively on their settlement but have also been linked to increased mental health issues and family and domestic violence. This study aims to describe the prevalence and...

This 100 Families WA Bulletin focuses on what we are learning from the qualitative research component of the project. Researchers asked family members how they wanted their stories told. People in entrenched disadvantage do not want to be treated as bystanders but as active agents in their own lives and stories. They do not want to be blamed and wr...

Background Tailoring for local needs enhances the efficacy of educational interventions to mitigate the drivers of family and domestic violence (FDV). In Australia, non-metropolitan areas have distinctive demographic profiles and patterns of FDV. As part of a multifaceted FDV primary prevention project in a regional centre with high reported rates...

Background Rates of family and gender-based violence (FV) are high, particularly in rural and remote areas in Australia. The City of Greater Geraldton, a local government area in the Midwest region of Western Australia, has developed a FV primary prevention strategic action plan. Local data are needed to measure the impact of community based preven...

Objectives: To describe the numbers of degree completions, variety of available courses and demographics of students who study public health in Australia. Methods: We utilised national completions data from universities between 2001 and 2018 and analysed data for students who had completed degrees labelled as public health at the bachelor's and mas...

Introduction Children have a universal right to live free from exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV). Young children (

Aim To explore the health workforce responses to COVID‐19. Design Analysis of job advertisements. Methods We collected advertisements for healthcare jobs which were caused by and in response to COVID‐19 between 4 March–17 April 2020 for the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. We collected information on the date of...

The delivery and coordination of public health functions is essential to national and global health, however, there are considerable problems in defining the people who work in public health, as well as estimating their number. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify and explore research which has defined and enumerated public...

The aim of this study is to identify factors that stopped, discouraged or delayed mental health help-seeking in adolescents. An Online survey of 113 adolescents aged 14–18 years old, living in Perth, Western Australia, was conducted. For participants who had not yet accessed a mental health service, the top barrier was ‘Having no-one who could help...

Background Children’s exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) is a global public health concern and is considered one of the most common and severe stressors children can experience. While it is acknowledged that children who are exposed to FDV have poorer general health, there is a lack of data on the outcomes of children exposed to FDV. Th...

The aim of this study was to examine the key sociodemographic characteristics of Australian mothers and their children who were victims of family and domestic violence (FDV) that resulted in the male perpetrator being criminally charged for the offense or the mother being hospitalized. A population-based retrospective cohort study using de-identifi...

Background The rates of young people reporting psychological distress in Australia is increasing but service access by this group remains poor. Many young people are not seeking help for mental health concerns despite often being aware that they may need to. This issue is compounded by the complex nature of barriers that adolescents face when acces...

Issues addressed: To explore adolescents' experiences of access to and continued use of mental health services, and identify factors influencing their perceived satisfaction with their care. This paper focusses on the role of organisational and policy-level factors in the mental health system. Method: Qualitative semi-structured face-to-face int...

Background: Pregnant women attending the Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service in Perth use methamphetamine as their primary drug of choice. This is the only tertiary service for pregnant and postnatal women with complex Alcohol and Other Drug Use in Western Australia. It is a midwifery-led multidisciplinary team. Many of the women struggle with add...

Aim: To describe neurodevelopmental outcomes among a cohort of Western Australian infants exposed to maternal methamphetamine use during pregnancy and to determine whether the Ages and Stages Questionnaire is a reliable screening tool for this population. Methods: Methamphetamine-using women were approached for participation when referred to the...

Objective: To describe available public health jobs in Australia and New Zealand by comparing recent job advertisements. Methods: We screened vacancies from 14 online job boards for public health jobs in late 2018. Data collected included information on job titles, sector, contract tenure, location and salary. We compared our findings with those...

Background: Previous research shows a co-occurrence between children's exposure to violence and child maltreatment. Objective: This study examined the risk of maltreatment allegations in children whose mothers had been hospitalised due to an assault. Participants and setting: The study used a retrospective cohort of children born in Western Austral...

Purpose Children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) face a wide array of issues that can impact their mental health and well-being. This study aimed to explore the role of schools and classroom teachers in supporting the mental health and well-being of DHH children. Method A qualitative study comprising telephone and semistructured interviews...

This study aims to determine the prevalence, and trends over time, of Western Australian (WA) mothers who were victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) requiring hospital admission. The study investigated the prevalence of all mothers and the specific prevalence of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers. A population-based cohort study using de-id...

Objective (i) identify principles underpinning optimal mental health service provision for adolescents as identified by mental health service professionals; (ii) identify mental health service practice- and policy-level factors which act as facilitators and barriers to providing optimal care for adolescents. Method qualitative approach utilising s...

Introduction Almost half of Australian women assaulted by their partner have children in their care. Evidence suggests a link between children’s exposure to violence, and subsequent maltreatment allegations. However, this evidence is limited by small sample sizes. Linked administrative data present an opportunity to further investigate this sensiti...

There is a growing body of literature identifying the benefits for families from accessing information and communicating online. What is less investigated and reported is the potential downside of online information, support and networks for parents of young children. Parents with at least one child 0–5 years of age (n = 487) were asked if they fe...

Background and objectives: Street-based clinics provide general practice services to marginalised and homeless persons. The objective of this study was to examine prevalence, patterns and severity of multimorbidity in patients attending one such service. Method: A retrospective cohort study (2006–15), comprising medical record review of patients...

Discussion: People who are homeless or marginalised have poor engagement with mainstream healthcare services. The aim of this study was to explore patient and staff perspectives of a street-based, primary health service, to help identify factors influencing patient access and management. A qualitative study was undertaken from April to September 2...

Service learning is an educational methodology that facilitates transformation of students’ knowledge, attitudes and attitudes around holistic care through work with community organizations. To implement academically, defensible service learning requires faculty endorsement, consideration of course credit, an enthusiastic champion able to negotiate...

Background Asthma management in Australia is suboptimal. The “Guidelines for provision of a Pharmacist Only medicine: short acting beta agonists” (SABA guidelines) and a novel West Australian “Asthma Action Plan card” (AAP card) were concurrently developed to improve asthma management. The aim of this qualitative research was to evaluate the collab...

Background Practice-based data collection can offer insight into the nature of chiropractic practice and contribute to resolving the conundrum of the chiropractic profession’s role in contemporary healthcare, subsequently informing care service policy. However, there is little formal data available about chiropractic practice to inform decision-mak...

Background This paper reports the quantitative outcomes of a mixed-methods pilot study of the characteristics and demographics of chiropractic practices and patients in Western Australia. Methods This was a mixed-methods data transformation model (qualitative to quantitative) pilot study. A non-random sample of chiropractic practices across Western...

Issue addressed The study aim was to investigate the relationships between social capital measures and playgroup participation in a local residential area for parents with children of playgroup age (1–4 years) compared with non‐participation and participation in a playgroup outside the local residential area. Research indicates playgroup participat...

The Republic of Maldives (Maldives) is an island nation in the Indian Ocean with a population of 344, 023. Studies show that Maldives has one of the world’s highest thalassemia carrier rates. It is estimated that 16–18 % of the Maldivians are β-thalassemia carriers, and approximately 28 new β-thal cases are recorded annually. Poor uptake of screeni...

Background: Research has shown that the current practice of pharmacy staff when providing self-medication consultations in Indonesia is suboptimal. To improve the performance of pharmacy staff when providing self-medication consultations in community pharmacies, the factors that influence current practice need to be understood. The aim of this stu...

Background The use of stimulant medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to improve classroom behaviour and sustained concentration is well known. Achieving a better academic grade has been reported as the prime motivation for stimulant use and is an increasingly discussed topic. The proliferation of stimulant use for ADHD has...

Domestic Violence (DV) remains a significant global health problem for women in contemporary society. Existing literature on midlife women’s experiences of domestic violence is limited and focuses on health implications. Leaving a violent relationship is a dynamic process that often requires multiple attempts and separations prior to final terminat...

Informed choice is an expectation of today’s parents. Concern is evident around whether education models are evolving to ensure flexibility for parents to access options perceived as meeting their needs. Historical and current evidence around childbirth education models including the introduction of mindfulness to parent education will be presented...

Aims/Objectives: 1) Offer a narrative critique of research design and methodology as recommendations for future studies. 2) Gain preliminary insights and understanding of the characteristics of chiropractic patients. Methods: A select non-random sample of independent private chiropractic practices were recruited, with consecutive adult patients sel...

AimTo investigate the relationships between participation in mothers’ groups and social capital, social support and mental well-being measures for mothers whose oldest child was 0-5 years.Background Evaluations of facilitated mothers’ groups have found positive benefits for information sharing and support. Mothers’ groups often continue as parent-l...

Physical health promotion for people with mental illness is vital if the life expectancy of this population group is to be improved. While there is promising evidence of physical health promotion initiatives in the literature in this population group, it is unclear whether these have resulted in long-term gains and actually reduced morbidity and mo...

Local communities with good stocks of social capital nurture and support the families residing within. This qualitative study explored through the perspectives of mothers, how families with children aged 0–5 years build social capital in newer residential areas in Perth, Western Australia. Parenthood generally increased the desire to connect to one...

This study explored women’s experiences of their responses from health professionals following disclosure of domestic violence within a health setting. The existence of health-based policies guiding professionals in the provision of appropriate support following disclosure of domestic violence is only effective if health professionals understand th...

It has been established that people with mental illness experience mortality and morbidity from all the major health conditions at 2–3 times the rate of those without mental illness. One way to overcome this problem is to encourage consumers of mental health services to self-manage their physical health. The purpose of the study was to investigate...

In order to identify factors affecting the quality of life of mothers of children with both autism and intellectual disability, the first author interviewed 16 mothers of affected 11-24 year olds and transcribed audio recordings of the interviews. The first two authors analysed the resulting texts using a hermeneutical phenomenological approach. Mo...

Background: Research has identified that mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (autism) and intellectual disability (ID) have a lower Quality of Life (QoL) than other mothers. Objectives: We aimed to: * explore QoL in mothers of children with autism and ID * identify the factors which impacted their QoL * document the mothers su...

AimThe aim of this study was to explore the ways that mothers' groups and playgroups support families with children aged 0–5 years and foster community connectedness in newer residential communities in Perth, Western Australia.Background The transition to parenthood is a time of increased support need. Changing community demography has resulted in...

Parenthood is a significant life transition and a time of increased social support need. In newer residential areas, a lag in social infrastructure and family relocation can influence potential isolation of families with young children. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of being connected to local communities for mothers with ch...

Study purpose: This study raises the hypothesis that the additional demands of parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may lead to behavioural and personality changes consistent with the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP). Background: In a previous study, 16 mothers of children with ASD were interviewed about their quality of life. A numb...

This pilot study tested the feasibility and effectiveness of using Mindfulness-Based Childbirth Education (MBCE), a novel integration of mindfulness meditation and skills-based childbirth education, for mental health promotion with pregnant women. The MBCE protocol aimed to reduce fear of birth, anxiety, and stress and improve maternal self-efficac...

Comorbidity among mood, anxiety, and alcohol disorders is common and burdensome, affecting individuals, families, and public health. A systematic and integrative review of the literature across disciplines and research methodologies was performed. Supradisciplinary approaches were applied to the review and the ensuing critical appraisal. Definition...

A constructivist grounded theory study utilising the lived experience of consumers is in progress. Participants self-identify as being in prolonged recovery from comorbidity involving an alcohol disorder and mood or anxiety disorders. There has been little prior research in the area exploring what may be gleaned from lived experience. Preliminary...

In this study, domestic violence (DV) in five African refugee background communities post-settlement in Perth, Australia, is investigated-specifically, the interrelationship between experiences of DV, and changed and changing gender and family roles and responsibilities. The participatory qualitative design utilized in-depth interviews with 54 memb...

Background: Men experience localized prostate cancer (PCa) as aversive and distressing. Little research has studied the distress men experience as a normal response to PCa, or how they manage this distress during the early stages of the illness. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the experience of men diagnosed with localized...

Background Childbirth is an important transitional life event, but one in which many women are dissatisfied stemming in part from a sense that labour is something that happens to them rather than with them. Promoting maternal satisfaction with childbirth means equipping women with communication and decision making skills that will enhance their abi...

Background: Currently, no review has been completed regarding the information-gathering process for the provision of medicines for self-medication in community pharmacies in developing countries. Objective: To review the rate of information gathering and the types of information gathered when patients present for self-medication requests. Metho...

Many perpetrators of domestic violence engage in a perpetual cycle of forming sequential relationships while repeating violent behavior. Their methods of manipulation successfully dominate a partner, the outcome of the relationship being control and violence. This research study was influenced by a feminist standpoint epistemology, and was focused...

Women in developing countries experience postnatal depression at rates that are comparable with or higher than those in developed countries. However, their personal experiences during pregnancy and childbirth have received little attention in relation to postnatal depression. In particular, the contribution of obstetric complications to their emoti...

Contemporary health promotion is underpinned by a philosophy of participation and working with communities to build strength and capacity. This article adds to literature, describing how this is operationalised in health promotion research. The operationalisation of participation and equality in a participatory action research (PAR) project examini...

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Western Australia, with negative psychological impacts exacerbated for younger women. Many women survive 5 years following diagnosis, suggesting more young women and their families will be living with its ongoing effects for longer periods. Diagnosis and treatment impact a woman's i...

The shortage of nurses worldwide has taken its toll on the Australian healthcare system and, as a result, there is an increased migration of overseas-qualified nurses, some of them with a non-English-speaking background. Despite Australia's regulations that assess the eligibility for nursing registration, many migrant nurses who have been successfu...

In developed countries, perinatal death is known to cause major emotional and social effects on mothers. However, little is known about these effects in low income countries which bear the brunt of perinatal mortality burden. This paper reports the impact of perinatal death on psychological status and social consequences among mothers in a rural ar...

Changes in health care provision have led to an emphasis on providing end of life care within the home. community pharmacists are well positioned to provide services to community-based palliative care patients and carers. A multiple qualitative case study design was adopted. A total of 16 focus groups and 19 interviews with pharmacists, nurses, gen...

There has recently been a call for an analysis of the way in which professionals see their role and status in the context of palliative care and the interdisciplinary team. This is particularly salient in the provision of psychosocial care. This study qualitatively explored team members' perceptions and experiences of team dynamics. An in-depth qua...

Palliative care emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to care to improve quality of life and relieve symptoms. Palliative care is provided in many ways; in hospices, hospital units, and the community. However, the greatest proportion of palliative care is in the community. In hospice and palliative care units in hospitals, clinical pharmacists a...

Depression during pregnancy is a significant public health problem because of its negative effects on the health of both mother and infant. Data on its prevalence and determinants are lacking in Bangladesh. To estimate the prevalence of depression during pregnancy and to identify potential contributory factors among rural Bangladeshi women, a commu...

Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) is highest in low-income developing countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PND and its associated risk factors among Bangladeshi women. The study was conducted in the Matlab subdistrict of rural Bangladesh. A cohort of 346 women was followed up from late p...

Standardized questionnaires for screening common health problems in the community often need to be translated for use in non-English speaking countries. There is a lack of literature documenting the process of translation of such questionnaire/scale that would enable their application in cross-cultural settings and standardization of the procedure....

The work of palliative day care extends the philosophy and practice of palliative care to patients in the community. It supports the needs of patients who have a diminished ability to fulfil their family and societal roles. The extent to which these aims reflect current practice, however, has not been fully assessed, particularly in Australia. Ther...

Supporting carers is a key part of the Australian Federal Government's aged care policy. If novel ways of supporting carers can be found, then the financial and social benefits flowing from terminally ill people being able to be cared for at home will benefit not only the particular individuals involved, but health and social institutions Australia...

In developing countries, postnatal depression (PND) is estimated to affect a high proportion of women following childbirth. There are no reliable estimates for the magnitude of the problem in Bangladesh, a country of 140 million people. The lack of a validated Bangla version of screening scale such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)...

This paper reports on the relationships between quality of life, spiritual well-being, and psychological adjustment styles for people living with leukaemia. Participants were 40 adults (26 women and 14 men) aged between 22 and 80 years living with acute or chronic leukaemia in Western Australia. Participants completed three scales measuring spiritu...

This paper reports on the Australian component of a five nation study undertaken in Australia, Canada, Thailand, Bangladesh and Afghanistan examining policy networks that address women's health and domestic violence. It examines the relationship between health and domestic violence in Western Australia and analyses the secondary role assumed by hea...

This paper addresses the limited sociological understanding of the phenomena of childbirth fear using data from a qualitative research project conducted in Western Australia. This qualitative study used an exploratory descriptive design, with 22 women identified as being fearful of birth participating in an in-depth interview. Data analysis using t...

The notion of the interdisciplinary team as integral to the delivery of palliative care emerges clearly and consistently in palliative care philosophy and practice discourses. Many studies have found clear benefits of interdisciplinary palliative care teams. The empirical evidence supporting such teams, however, is not all positive. It is perhaps t...