Dr Elissa Jane Elvidge
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
School of Medicine and Public Health
- Email:elissa.elvidge@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02)40420674
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Elissa Elvidge is a mixed methods researcher whose work focuses on improving clinical and public health outcomes through community-led research partnerships. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle and a member of the Research Faculty at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, she has published work of considerable clinical and strategic policy importance. Despite being an early career researcher, Dr Elvidge has already made significant contributions to the literature, including leading the development of validated cultural safety tools and training programs.
To date, Dr Elvidge has been awarded over $5 million in research funding related to improving health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Dr Elvidge has led independent research involving local and international collaborative networks, such as the analyses for a scholarship of teaching and learning study examining pedagogies of teaching qualitative research methods in medical sciences. She has collaborated with academics from Oxford University and the University of Southampton (UK) as well as First Nations researchers in New Zealand, America, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii and Spain.
Dr Elvidge's doctoral work led to the development of a novel cultural safety framework currently being used by NSW hospitals, including a cultural safety scale that presents an empirically validated tool for measuring cultural safety from the Aboriginal patient perspective. The tool and framework have had extensive research impact as they have been adopted locally, nationally, and internationally by organizations such as the NSW Health Bureau of Health Information, which have included elements of the framework in a state-wide patient survey to report the performance of the NSW healthcare system. Other organizations that have adopted the framework include the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (Prince of Wales and Tamworth hospitals) and St. Vincent's Private Hospital Network (NSW, QLD, and VIC). International organizations include an international consortium of researchers from the University of the Basque Country (the Indigenous Basque autonomous community located in Spain), researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (Canada) and the University of Massachusetts (USA). Corrections Canada and the Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia have indicated interest in adapting the framework for First Nations communities.
Dr Elvidge is currently a Chief Investigator on the 'Characterisation of Airways Disease in Aboriginal Adults' study in Moree and Narrabri (rural NSW), where she leads a team of clinical, biomedical, and Aboriginal health worker investigators. She also leads the 'Breathe for Bub' program, which aims to develop a culturally safe framework for the clinical care of Aboriginal women with asthma during pregnancy. Dr Elvidge's expertise is in high demand as she is regularly commissioned by national peak health bodies such as the McGrath Foundation and the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives to undertake research, workforce development projects and evaluate cultural safety and diversity training initiatives. More recently, Dr Elvidge has collaborated with the University of Newcastle industry partners Forsythes Training (a leading provider of workforce capability and skills development servicing Australia) to develop an online Equity and Cultural Capability course for staff and students.
Beginning with her work in public health (2007-2014), Dr Elvidge has considerable experience in leading complex cross-sectoral studies involving multidisciplinary teams, particularly in relation to Aboriginal health, cultural safety, and respiratory medicine. Dr Elvidge has over 16 years of experience working with diverse communities, and during this time, she has established strong regional collaborations and respectful relationships with GLTBQIA+ communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Aboriginal communities and national peak health bodies across Australia. Relationship building is essential to maintain the trust and connection to the communities whose knowledge, support and involvement make her research possible.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Aboriginal Health
- Anti-racism
- Asthma in Pregnancy
- Cultural Safety
- Health Consumer Research
- Health Equity
- Qualitative research methods
- Respiratory Research
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
450507 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based research | 50 |
320103 | Respiratory diseases | 30 |
450414 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies health and wellbeing | 20 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|
Post-doctoral Research Fellow | University of Newcastle School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
Casual Academic - NUPrep (Teaching) | University of Newcastle Learning and Teaching Australia |
Awards
Prize
Year | Award |
---|---|
2023 |
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award Academic Excellence, University of Newcastle |
Professional
Year | Award |
---|---|
2023 |
Public Health Association of Australia: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Emerging Leader Award Public Health Association of Australia |
Research Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2023 |
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing Indigenous Engagement Award College Health, Medicine and Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle (Australia) |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (5 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2020 |
Elvidge E, Paradies Y, Aldrich R, Holder C, 'Cultural safety in hospitals: Validating an empirical measurement tool to capture the Aboriginal patient experience', Australian Health Review, 44 205-211 (2020) [C1] The aim of the present study was to develop a scale to measure cultural safety in hospitals from an Aboriginal patient perspective. Methods: The Cultural Safety Survey was designe... [more] The aim of the present study was to develop a scale to measure cultural safety in hospitals from an Aboriginal patient perspective. Methods: The Cultural Safety Survey was designed to measure five key characteristics of cultural safety that contribute to positive hospital experiences among Aboriginal hospital patients. Investigators developed a range of different methods to assess the validity and reliability of the scale using a sample of 316 participants who had attended a New South Wales hospital in the past 12 months. Targeted recruitment was conducted at two hospital sites. Opportunistic recruitment took place through a local health district, discharge follow-up service and online via social media. Results: The Cultural Safety Survey Scale was a robust measurement tool that demonstrated a high level of content and construct validity. Conclusion: The Cultural Safety Survey Scale could be a useful tool for measuring cultural safety in hospitals from the Aboriginal patient perspective. What is known about the topic?: There are increasing calls by governments around the world for health institutions to enhance the cultural safety of their services as one way of removing access barriers and increasing health equity. However, currently there are no critical indicators or systematic methods of measuring cultural safety from the patient perspective. What does this paper add?: The cultural safety scale, an Australian first, presents the first empirically validated tool that measures cultural safety from the Aboriginal patient perspective. What are the implications for practitioners?: This measurement model will allow hospitals to measure the cultural safety of their services and ascertain whether current efforts aimed to improve cultural safety are resulting in Aboriginal patients reporting more culturally safe experiences. Over time it is hoped that the tool will be used to benchmark performance and eventually be adopted as a performance measure for hospitals across New South Wales.
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Nova | |||||||||
2015 |
Dalton CB, Carlson SJ, McCallum L, Butler MT, Fejsa J, Elvidge E, Durrheim DN, 'Flutracking weekly online community survey of influenza-like illness: 2013 and 2014.', Communicable diseases intelligence quarterly report, 39 E361-E368 (2015) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2014 |
Cashman P, Moberley S, Dalton C, Stephenson J, Elvidge E, Butler M, Durrheim DN, 'Vaxtracker: Active on-line surveillance for adverse events following inactivated influenza vaccine in children', Vaccine, 32 5503-5508 (2014) [C1] Vaxtracker is a web based survey for active post marketing surveillance of Adverse Events Following Immunisation. It is designed to efficiently monitor vaccine safety of new vacci... [more] Vaxtracker is a web based survey for active post marketing surveillance of Adverse Events Following Immunisation. It is designed to efficiently monitor vaccine safety of new vaccines by early signal detection of serious adverse events. The Vaxtracker system automates contact with the parents or carers of immunised children by email and/or sms message to their smart phone. A hyperlink on the email and text messages links to a web based survey exploring adverse events following the immunisation. The Vaxtracker concept was developed during 2011 (n= 21), and piloted during the 2012 (n= 200) and 2013 (n= 477) influenza seasons for children receiving inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in the Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales, Australia. Survey results were reviewed by surveillance staff to detect any safety signals and compare adverse event frequencies among the different influenza vaccines administered. In 2012, 57% (n= 113) of the 200 participants responded to the online survey and 61% (290/477) in 2013. Vaxtracker appears to be an effective method for actively monitoring adverse events following influenza vaccination in children.
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Nova | |||||||||
2013 |
Dalton CB, Carlson SJ, Butler MT, Elvidge E, Durrheim DN, 'Building Influenza Surveillance Pyramids in Near Real Time, Australia', Emerging Infectious Diseases, 19 1863-1865 (2013) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2013 |
Carlson SJ, Dalton CB, Butler MT, Fejsa J, Elvidge E, Durrheim DN, 'Flutracking weekly online community survey of influenza-like illness annual report 2011 and 2012', Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report, 37 E398-E406 (2013) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
Show 2 more journal articles |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 15 |
---|---|
Total funding | $5,231,291 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20242 grants / $2,592,882
Breathe for bub: Treatable traits asthma care for Aboriginal women during pregnancy$1,994,723
Funding body: Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF)
Funding body | Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) |
---|---|
Project Team | Elissa Elvidge, Juanita Sherwood, Amy Creighton, Yeena Thompson, Geraint Rogers, Alistair Cook, Steven Taylor, Guy Cameron, Peter O’Mara, Karen Baker, Louise Morris, Tameka McFadyen |
Scheme | 2021 MRFF Chronic Respiratory Conditions |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2024 |
Funding Finish | 2029 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C1300 - Aust Competitive - Medical Research Future Fund |
Category | 1300 |
UON | N |
From community priority to delivery of care: Co-designing effective treatment models for Aboriginal women with asthma during pregnancy$598,159
Funding body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
Funding body | NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council) |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Elissa Jane Elvidge, Karen Baker, Doctor Guy Cameron, Doctor Tameka McFadyen, Kim Morey, Louise Morris, Associate Professor Vanessa Murphy, Professor Peter O'Mara, Ms Shanthi Ramanathan, Associate Professor Geraint Rogers, Professor Juanita Sherwood, Doctor Meredith Tavener, Dr Steven Taylor, Ms Yeena Thompson, Professor Peter Wark |
Scheme | MRFF - PPHRI - Consumer-Led Research |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2024 |
Funding Finish | 2026 |
GNo | G2300814 |
Type Of Funding | C1300 - Aust Competitive - Medical Research Future Fund |
Category | 1300 |
UON | Y |
20233 grants / $2,542,255
A treatable traits framework for chronic respiratory disease in rural and regional Aboriginal communities study$1,900,000
Dr Elvidge will lead a multidisciplinary research team to undertake this study which utilises the cultural safety framework developed during her PhD. The five year study will be conducted in sites located in rural NSW and South Australia. This research is a collaboration with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Research unit.
Funding body: Medical Research Future Fund
Funding body | Medical Research Future Fund |
---|---|
Scheme | Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative – 2021 Chronic Respiratory Conditions |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2027 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C1300 - Aust Competitive - Medical Research Future Fund |
Category | 1300 |
UON | N |
An Australian Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy informed Racism Reduction Model$627,255
Racism affects physical and mental health. Health systems reflect and perpetuate racial discrimination and inequities of the societies in which they operate. A new approach using evidence-based psychological principles will be implemented with hospital staff and medical students with the aim of evaluating the Program’s acceptability and feasibility within real-world settings. Over 2 years, continual evaluation and refinement will prepare the Program for broader delivery. Dr Elvidge's Cultural Safety Framework (developed during her PhD will form part of the evaluation measures.
Funding body: Australian Commonwealth Government
Funding body | Australian Commonwealth Government |
---|---|
Project Team | Odette Pearson (CIA), Anna Chur-Hansen, Steven Larkin, Michael Larkin, Kim Morey, Rachel Reilly, Tina Brodie, Yvonne Clark, Leda Sivak, Matt Pedler, Ngara Keeler, Elissa Elvidge, Judith Lovegrove and Katina D'Onise. |
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2025 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C1300 - Aust Competitive - Medical Research Future Fund |
Category | 1300 |
UON | N |
Moving From Awareness to Action: Advancing Cultural Safety and Indigenous Student Access in Medical Education$15,000
Nationally UoN has graduated the highest number of Indigenous doctors. Much of this success is due to the Miroma Bunbilla program, cultural and academic support provided by Thurru. Despite the success of this program there has been no research investigating what the key factors are that contribute to the high graduate success rate. This study will investigate what the key factors are in providing CS support for students from the Indigenous staff and student perspective
Funding body: Faculty of Healthy and Medicine, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Healthy and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | lissa Elvidge, Tameka McFayden, Karen Nichols, Darren Nolan, Katie Gandy, Kirsty Jennings and Peter O'Mara |
Scheme | Joint Medical Program ACHIEVE |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2024 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20226 grants / $59,154
CRE Treatable Traits INNOVATE Workshop - Breathe for Bub: Asthma in Pregnancy study.$20,000
Funding body: Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits - The University of Newcastle, Australia
Funding body | Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits - The University of Newcastle, Australia |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits INNOVATE Workshop |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
CHMW Equipment Grant to Support Research & Education$17,908
Funding body: College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | CHMW Equipment Grant to Support Research & Education. |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
CHMW Strategic Research Pilot Grant$10,000
Funding body: College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | CHMW Strategic Research Pilot Grant Scheme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
EMCR BOLDE Program Grant$4,336
Funding body: College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | EMCR Building Our Leaders: Development and Empowerment (BOLDE) Program |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Characterisation of Airways Disease in Aboriginal Adults study Aboriginal health worker training$3,620
Funding body: School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle
Funding body | School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | School of Medicine and Public Health Additional Research funds |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
School of Medicine and Public Health Travel Grant $3,290
Funding body: School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle
Funding body | School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | School of Medicine and Public Health Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20213 grants / $35,000
TSANZ Rob Pierce Grant-In-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health$15,000
Funding body: Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
Funding body | Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand |
---|---|
Project Team | Conjoint Professor Peter Wark, Professor Jodie Simpson, Doctor Elissa Jane Elvidge, Associate Professor Geraint Rogers, Dr Steven Taylor |
Scheme | TSANZ Rob Pierce Grant-In-Aid for Indigenous Lung Health |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | G2100817 |
Type Of Funding | C3200 – Aust Not-for Profit |
Category | 3200 |
UON | Y |
CHMW Strategic Research Pilot Grant$15,000
Funding body: College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | Strategic Research Pilot Grant Scheme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Characterisation of Chronic lung disease in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: An ENCOMPASS study$5,000
Funding body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
Funding body | Hunter Medical Research Institute |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Elissa Jane Elvidge |
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | G2101039 |
Type Of Funding | C3300 – Aust Philanthropy |
Category | 3300 |
UON | Y |
20201 grants / $2,000
Embedding cultural safety into Pathways pedagogy.$2,000
Funding body: The University of Newcastle - Academic Division
Funding body | The University of Newcastle - Academic Division |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Elissa Elvidge |
Scheme | Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre Small Grant Scheme 2020 |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
News
News • 20 Feb 2024
$10.6m MRFF funding boosts researchers’ mission to improve Australia’s health
Seven University of Newcastle teams have secured more than $10.6m in Australian government funding to help solve some of the nation’s most pressing health issues.
Dr Elissa Jane Elvidge
Positions
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
School of Medicine and Public Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Casual Academic - NUPrep (Teaching)
Learning and Teaching
Academic Division
Contact Details
elissa.elvidge@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02)40420674 |
Mobile | 0404689285 |
Office
Room | HMRI, Level 2 West Wing |
---|---|
Building | Hunter Medical Research Institute |
Location | The University of Newcastle Hunter Medical Research Institute Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights NSW , |