About

Qualifications

• 2005-2008     Doctor of Philosophy (PhD – Sociology)
• 2003               Master of Social Health (MSocHlth – Psychology)
• 2002               Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health (PgDPH)
• 2000               Bachelor of Arts (BA -Sociology)

Other Qualifications

• Diploma in Social Work (DipSw) and Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling (UK)
  

Research

Refereed Journal Articles

Boursnell, M. S., & Prosser, S. (2009).  Putting children in the Picture: Improving Responses to Domestic Violence in the Emergency Department. Developing Practice (In press)

Boursnell, M S, Lee, T & Chung, D (2008). Tell us what you know: Surveying university students’ attitudes about sexual assault.  ACSSA Aware, 16 (2008), 5-15.

Boursnell, M S (2007).  Giving Voice to the Vulnerable:  The Silent Roles of the Guardian Ad Litem.  Practice XChange Journal, 4, Nov 2007.

Boursnell, M S (2007).  The Silent Parent: Developing Knowledge about the Experiences of Parents with Mental Illness. Journal of Child Care in Practice, 13, 3, 251-260.

Boursnell, M S (2006). ‘The Silent Parent: A Critical Sociological Analysis of the Experiences of Parents with Mental Illness’, TASA 2006 Refereed Conference Proceedings,  December 2006, Perth, Australia

Boursnell, M S (2006) ‘Entering Parenthood and reliving journeys through parenting’, Practice XChange Journal, 3, Dec 2006.

Conference Papers

Boursnell, M. S. (2008). Creating a safe place for parents with mental illness: Challenging the risk discourse. ACWA Conference, September 2008, Sydney, Australia.

Boursnell, M.S. (2007).  The Silent Links – Parents, Mental Illness and Violence, Abuse and Neglect.  ConneXions Conference, 2007, Sydney, Australia.

Boursnell, M. S. (2007).  Parent’s journeys through Mental Illness: Where are they now?  University of Newcastle Faculty of Education and Arts Symposium, Newcastle.

Boursnell, M. S. (2007).  Parents, Mental Illness and the Workplace. Gender Work and Organisation Conference, Keele University, UK June 2007.

Boursnell, M. S. (2006). The Silent Parent: A Critical Sociological Analysis of the Experiences of Parents with Mental Illness.  Sociology for a Mobile World, TASA Conference 2006.  December 2006, Perth, Australia

Boursnell, M. S. (2006).  Parent’s journeys through Mental Illness: PhD thesis journey.  University of Newcastle Winter Symposium, Newcastle.

Boursnell, M. S. (2006).  Whose business is parenting?  Who wants to know and who parents the parentless?  International Council of Women's Health Issues Conference, November 2006

Boursnell, M. S. (2005).  Linking Parents and Services.  10th National Conference of the Association for the Welfare of Child Health (AWCH).  April 2005, Parramatta, Sydney, Australia.

Boursnell, M. S. (2005).  Partnerships, Propagation's and Prevention: Nurturing sexually health relationships.  ConneXions Conference, 2005, Sydney, Australia.

Boursnell, M. S. & Kenyon, A. (2004).  The Development of Parent Link.  4th International Practice Development Conference, Sydney, Australia.  September 2004.

Boursnell, M. S. (2004).  The Challenge of Parent Link.  2nd Research and Evaluation in Clinical Practice Conference, Newcastle, Australia. November 2004.

Boursnell, M. S. (2004).  The Intake Journey: An evaluation of the intake continuum at an indigenous drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.  Australasian Professionals Society for Alcohol and Drug Workers Conference, November 2004, Perth Australia.

Articles currently under review

Boursnell, M. S. (2009). Parents with Mental Illness:  Working Generously with Families.  International Journal of Social Work. Return for edit changes June 2009.

Boursnell, M. S., & Prosser, S. (2008).  Improving the recognition and identification of domestic violence in an emergency department.  The Contemporary Nurse. Edited Changes May 2009

Boursnell, M. S. (2008). The Risky Parent:  Parental Mental Illness – risk or reality? Qualitative Health Research.

Boursnell, M. S. (2009). Parenthood, Mental Illness and Employment: Trifector or tragedy?  International Journal of Gender, Work and Organisation. Submitted January 2009.

Boursnell, M.S. (2009). Parents with Mental Illness:  The Cycle of Intergenerational Mental Illness.  Journal of Family Studies.

Significant Reports

Boursnell, M. S. & Prosser, S. (2008) Putting Children in the Picture:  Improving Responsiveness to Domestic Violence in the Emergency Department. NSW Health:  Northern Sydney Central Coast Health (VAN Services)

Boursnell, M. S., Lee, L. & Phelan, R. (2005). Prioritsing the Needs of Families with Mental Illness: Parent Link Evaluation Report.  Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service, Central Coast Mental Health Services, NSW Health.

Other media publications

22nd June 2009 – Grazia Magazine Dr M S Boursnell – Issues related to the pregnant 12 year old child

17th June 2009 PM Radio Show   Interview with Dr M S Boursnell about the case of the pregnant 12 year old.

September 2007  Parents with Mental Illness by Kylie Ladd & Melanie Boursnell – Child Group of Magazines (Sydney’s Child, Melbourne’s Child, Brisbane’s Child, Perth’s Child).

Boursnell, M. S. (2005) ‘Parent Link: Sharing the findings of an innovative prevention model for families living with mental illness in Australia’, SCIEdrive, October 2005.

Boursnell, M. S. (2004) ‘Drug Proofing your Kids: A critical evaluation of the program’, Queensland Police Drug and Alcohol Bulletin, December 2004.

Contribution to papers published

Daniels, K., Thorn, P., & Westerbrooke, R. (2007).  Confidence in the use of donor insemination:  an evaluation of the impact of participating in a group preparation programme.  Human Fertility, 10 (1):13-20 – contributed towards data analysis.

Grants and Funding

2005–2008 University of Newcastle Postgraduate PhD Research Scholarship
2004-2005 AER Foundation Ltd, Master of Social Health Thesis Research Grant, $15, 000 Aboriginal Fathers with Alcohol and Other Drugs Issues
2004 Northern Sydney Central Coast Health, Research Grant for Sexual Assault Research Project, $2,000
2000 University of Canterbury, Summer Research Scholarship for Research into Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology $5, 000.

Research Supervision

Kellie Andrews 2009 Debates and public opinion regarding the medically induced abortion drug.

Other

Membership of Societies and Professional Bodies

• Member of the Australian Sociological Association (TASA)
• Member of Professional Association of Alcohol and Drug Workers (APSAD)
• Accredited Health and Safety Officer (CCTW trained)
• Member of Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network, UK
  

Appointments

• 2009 
  • TASA - Sociology at Work thematic group - involved in website development and resources for applied sociologists. 
  • Editor of forthcoming Sociology At Work twice yearly publication.
  • Health Sociology Review - Reviewer
• 2007  Member of the SCIE (UK) Social Care Institute for Excellence
• 2006  Guardian Ad Litem, Attorney General's Department, NSW Children's' Court
  

Governance

Course Coordination for NURS2162, PSYC3505 & SOCS3200
Course rewrite for NURS2162   
Research Higher Degree Supervision: BA (Hons) student researching impact of abortion drugs on Australian women’s choices.

Lecturing experience

2007 – Current Lecturer (fixed term) Department of Sociology, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
   Courses taught:

• SOCS3200 Applied Social Research Project
• SOCS2400 Applied Social Research
• PSYC3505 Sociology & Psychology of Mental Health
• SOCS2490 Sociology & Psychology for Occupational Therapists
• PUBH610 Qualitative research methods for Public Health
• NURS2162 Health, Social Disadvantage and Drug Use
• NURS2182 Prudence in Nursing
• SOC1040 Sociology of Children & Families
• SPSW1401 Working in Human Services Organisations
• EPHUMA310 Social Inquiry
• EPHUMA254 Australian Culture & Society
• EPHUMA135 Directed Studies