My Expertise
Many of the most pressing health problems that are challenging Australians have multiple causes. My expertise lies in identifying these and planning for the development and implementation of effective, evidence-informed responses.
Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Health PromotionBiography
I have long experience as a practitioner, service director, teacher, research and advisor in health promotion, with a particular emphasis on reducing inequities in health in the population - and on contributing to the achievement of population health equity. I have had extensive experience in the review and revision of national public health policies and strategies, and have contributed to expanding the evidence base informing health promotion...view more
I have long experience as a practitioner, service director, teacher, research and advisor in health promotion, with a particular emphasis on reducing inequities in health in the population - and on contributing to the achievement of population health equity. I have had extensive experience in the review and revision of national public health policies and strategies, and have contributed to expanding the evidence base informing health promotion theory and practice. I have also had extensive experience in identifying health infrastructure and capacity necessary to design and deliver effective public health interventions. And I in collaboration with AIDA and UNSW colleagues I contributed to the conduct of Health Impact Assessments of the Northern Territory Emergency Response in 2010. I obtained my PhD at Western Sydney University in 2020, using a critical realist approach to investigate reasons for the persistence of inequities in the average life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians.
My Grants
2011-12. Harris E., Baum, F., Furler, J., Wise, M., Lawless, A., Harris-Roxas, B., Harris, P., Dennis, S. The impact of a Rapid Equity Focussed Health Impact Assessment (EFHIA) on local planning for after hours care to better meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute. $149,000
2011-12. Wise, M., Harris, E., Angus, S. National appraisal of CQI initiatives in Aboriginal and Torres Strait primary health care. The Lowitja Institute. $120,000
My Qualifications
B.A. University of Canterbury, NZ. 1969
MHP. UNSW Sydney, 1981
PhD. Western Sydney University, 2000
My Awards
Postgraduate Teacher of the Year, University of Sydney, 1998
Fellow, Australian Health Promotion Association, 2000
Ray James Memorial Award - for excellence and innovation in health promotion research published in the HPJA in the previous year. (M. Wise, P. Harris, B. Harris-Roxas, E. Harris), 2010.
My Research Activities
In collaboration with colleagues from a variety of population health colleagues I have contributed to the identification of core elements of effective interventions to promote the health of the population and/or to reduce inequities in health in the population. For example, a framework to guide intersectoral and inter-organisational collaboration for health; the identification of core elements of an effective statewide Aboriginal smoking cessation intervention; the appraisal of continuous quality improvement initiatives in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care, and strengthening the capacity of the health system and other agencies to deliver population health services.
My Teaching
For more than a decade my teaching has focused on the theory and practice of health promotion, and on theory and practice in reducing inequities in the health of populations. I believe that teaching is one of the most effective methods to translate research into practice, and, in addition to teaching in degree programs (primarily, Master of Public Health programs), I have designed and taught multiple short courses for particular groups within the health workforce. The transformative power of education is, in my view, a vital determinant of the health and wellbeing of individuals and the population.
Currently I am contributing to the design and teaching of the Inequalities and Health elective that is part of the MPH offered by UNSW School of Public Health.
Publications
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0068-3721