معرفی
Dr. Michelle Townsend is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong's School of Psychology and a Senior Lecturer in the Public Health Discipline within the School of Health and Society. With over two decades of expertise in responding to adverse childhood experiences, her research bridges psychology and public health, focusing on child maltreatment, mental health disorders, self-harm, suicide prevention, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
Her work emphasizes collaboration with clinicians, educators, government agencies, and communities to develop impactful interventions and policies. Notable contributions include the Project Air Strategy for Schools and research on child-to-parent violence, caregiver experiences, and e-therapy for adolescents with borderline personality disorder. Dr. Townsend holds dual roles, combining research leadership with teaching in public health and psychology, and actively supervises PhD students in areas like narrative therapy and suicide risk assessment.
Her funding includes grants from NSW Department of Education and the Mental Health Commission of NSW, supporting initiatives such as early intervention in schools and peer support programs for personality disorders. She also contributes to editorial roles and peer review for journals like BMC Psychology and Clinical Psychologist. Through co-design approaches, her research prioritizes ethical principles and community impact, addressing critical societal challenges in mental health and child welfare.
