Speaker

Professor Melissa O’Donnell
Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Child Protection
University of South Australia

Conference presentation, Day 1
Utilising evidence to inform child protection policy, prevention and practice

About

Professor Melissa O’Donnell is Deputy Director at the Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia. Melissa is an internationally recognised researcher in the area of child maltreatment and children and families facing adversity and she has utilised population-based linked administrative data for almost 20 years to contribute new knowledge and evidence. The main focus of her research program includes:

• risk and protective factors for vulnerability to child abuse and neglect
• outcomes for children in and leaving care
• infant removals by the child protection system.

Melissa collaborates with those with lived experience, government and non-government agencies to provide evidence to inform policy and practice to improve child and family outcomes.

Read more about Professor Melissa O’Donnell