Dr Michelle Fitts

Senior Research Fellow

Qualifications:

PhD, Queensland University of Technology, 2015 Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology, The University Melbourne, 2008 Graduate Diploma in Criminology, The University of Melbourne, 2007 Bachelor of Science (Psychology), Deakin University, 2005

Location:

Alice Springs

Biography:

Michelle is a Senior Research Fellow at Menzies School of Health Research, who lives and works in Mparntwe Alice Springs. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at La Trobe University and James Cook University. Michelle started her career in alcohol research in Far North Queensland in 2010.  Since 2015, Michelle has committed her research energy to traumatic brain injury, with a focus on rehabilitation and recovery for women after traumatic brain injury from violence. Michelle has previously held an ARC DECRA Fellowship (2021-24) focused on understanding the needs and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women living with traumatic brain injury from family violence.  


Michelle and her colleagues are currently working with First Nations communities in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada to co-design, pilot and implement violence-related traumatic brain injury training modules and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, families and frontline services. The team’s program of work with First Nations women living with traumatic brain injury from family violence, their families and the services who support them seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice and help inform the service delivery of disability, prison, legal, health and family violence services.  Michelle’s work has attracted national and international attention, with her publications leading to policy changes in clinical guidelines and informing government reviews. As Chief Investigator, Michelle has played a key role in grants totalling >$10m, including $3m as CIA. 

Dr Michelle Fitts
Email
Research Themes
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Family violence
  • Disability
  • Remote health workforce
  • Research translation

  1. Fitts, M.S., Cullen, J., Montgomery, R., & Duffy, G. It's been like a spiritual awakening for me": The impacts of traumatic brain injury education with Indigenous women in the Australian correctional system. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1406413

  2. Wills, E, & Fitts, M.S. (2024). Listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in regional and remote Australia about traumatic brain injury from family violence: A qualitative study. Health Expectations. 

  3. Fitts, M., & Soldatic, K. (2024). Global healthcare systems and violence against women and girls.Health Sociology Review, 1-6.  https://doi.org/10.1080/14461242.2024.2366037

  4. Fitts, M.S., & Soldatic, K. (2024). Temporalities of emergency: The experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with traumatic brain injury from violence waiting for healthcare and service supports. Health Sociology Review, 1-15.

  5. Fitts, M.S., Johnson, Y. & Soldatic, K. (2024). The Emergency Department Response to Indigenous Women Experiencing Traumatic Brain Injury from Family Violence: Insights from Interviews with Hospital Staff in Regional Australia. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00678-5

  6. Fitts, M.S., Cullen, J., & Barney, J. (2023). Barriers Preventing Indigenous Women with Violence-Related Head Injuries from Accessing Services in Australia. Australian Social Work. 76(3), 406–419, DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2023.2210115

  7. Fitts, M.S., Cullen, J., Kingston, G., Johnson, Y., Wills, E., & Soldatic, K. (2023). Using research feedback loops to implement a disability case study with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and service providers in regional and remote Australia, Health Sociology Review, 32:1, 94-109, DOI: 10.1080/14461242.2023.2173018

  8. Fitts, M.S., Cullen, J., Kingston, G., Wills, E., & Soldatic, K. (2022). “I Don’t Think It’s on Anyone’s Radar”: The Workforce and System Barriers to Healthcare for Indigenous Women Following a Traumatic Brain Injury Acquired through Violence in Remote Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,19, 14744. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214744

  9. Fitts, M.S., Bird, K., Gilroy, J., Fleming, J., Clough, A., Esterman, A., Maruff P., Fatima, Y. & Bohanna, I. (2019). The Transition Support Needs of Indigenous Australians Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain Impairment, 20 (2), 137-159.

  10. Bohanna, I., Fitts, M.S., Bird, K., Fleming, J., Gilroy, J., Clough, A., Esterman, A., Maruff P. & Potter, M. (2019). The Potential of a Narrative and Creative Arts Approach to Enhance Transition Outcomes for Indigenous Australians Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain Impairment, 20(2), 1-11.