ProfessorMelissa O'Shea
Professor
Faculty of Health/School of Psychology/Deakin Lifespan Institute
Orcid identifier0000-0003-0230-3729 (opens in a new tab)
- ProfessorFaculty of Health/School of Psychology/Deakin Lifespan Institute
- +61 3 524 79486 (Work)
- Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr Melissa O’Shea’s research expertise is in pilot study designs adopting mixed methods, qualitative analysis, and review methods. She is an active member of the Mind-Body Research in Health Laboratory (MiRth) at Deakin.
Her research interest’s include Integrative Psychology where she is exploring the adjunctive benefit of mind-body interventions when delivered alongside current psychological therapies, including yoga and Forest Therapy. Her work is supported by her own training in yoga philosophy and teaching which she completed in 2019 (YTT-500 hours). She has led innovative pilot research including the complementary use of yoga in treatment models for depression and anxiety and eating disorders; and is currently working towards the development of guidelines for the use of yoga in psychological practice.
Her work with Aboriginal organisation, Wayapa Wuurrk, has explored the cultural interface between CBT and Indigenous wellbeing practice and her ongoing work with Wayapa aims to promote the role of Indigenous knowledges in mental health and wellbeing practice in Australia for children, adults, and families. Alongside, she has a research interest in innovation in clinical psychology training designed to graduate capable, culturally responsive psychologists. She is also recognised for her work in service and academic partnerships for research translation and supports various local community and mental health services to build research capability and outputs.
She welcomes interest from organisations and students for collaborative work and supervision.
Her research interest’s include Integrative Psychology where she is exploring the adjunctive benefit of mind-body interventions when delivered alongside current psychological therapies, including yoga and Forest Therapy. Her work is supported by her own training in yoga philosophy and teaching which she completed in 2019 (YTT-500 hours). She has led innovative pilot research including the complementary use of yoga in treatment models for depression and anxiety and eating disorders; and is currently working towards the development of guidelines for the use of yoga in psychological practice.
Her work with Aboriginal organisation, Wayapa Wuurrk, has explored the cultural interface between CBT and Indigenous wellbeing practice and her ongoing work with Wayapa aims to promote the role of Indigenous knowledges in mental health and wellbeing practice in Australia for children, adults, and families. Alongside, she has a research interest in innovation in clinical psychology training designed to graduate capable, culturally responsive psychologists. She is also recognised for her work in service and academic partnerships for research translation and supports various local community and mental health services to build research capability and outputs.
She welcomes interest from organisations and students for collaborative work and supervision.
GRANTS
- GRANTCo-Designing, Evaluating, and Implementing Supportive Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Crohns and Colitis and their Carers (CAYAC)1 Mar 2027 - 29 Feb 2032People funded by this grant:
- Mikocka-Walus A,
- Evans S,
- Knowles S,
- Giles E,
- Orellana L
- CONTRACT RESEARCHTop-up Research Scholarship 2024a (Meli) Examining and evaluating novel approaches to reduce adolescent family violence24 Jun 2024 - 25 Jun 2026People funded by this grant:
- O'Shea M,
- Shapiro J
- CONTRACT RESEARCHTop-up Research Scholarship 2024b (Meli) Examining and evaluating novel approaches to support parents with an intellectual disability24 Jun 2024 - 25 Jun 2026People funded by this grant:
- O'Shea M,
- Toumbourou J
- CONTRACT RESEARCHIndustry Partnership: Deakin University and Barwon Child Youth and Families.11 Jun 2024 - 10 Jun 2027People funded by this grant:
- O'Shea M,
- McGillivray J,
- Morrissey K,
- Moody LJ
- COLLABORATIVE GRANTGreen spaces in primary education settings31 May 2024 - 3 Sep 2027People funded by this grant:
- CONTRACT RESEARCHYoga as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of eating disorders.1 Oct 2023 - 31 Dec 2025People funded by this grant:
- Melissa O'Shea
- CONTRACT RESEARCHA mixed methods study to inform a co-designed evaluation and enhancements of Hospital in the Home (HITH) for young people accessing Eating Disorder Services in the Barwon South-West region.6 Jul 2023 - 30 Jun 2024People funded by this grant:
- Pepin G,
- O'Shea M,
- Hitch D,
- Forrester-Bowling T
- CONTRACT RESEARCHA mixed methods study to inform a co-designed evaluation and enhancements of Hospital in the Home (HITH) for young people accessing Eating Disorder Services in the Barwon South-West region.1 May 2023 - 31 Dec 2023People funded by this grant:
- Pepin G,
- O'Shea M,
- Hitch D,
- Forrester-Bowling T
- GRANTImproving parent and child emotion regulation in early childhood to reduce population rates of child mental illness1 Apr 2023 - 31 Mar 2028People funded by this grant:
- Westrupp E,
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M,
- Thomas J,
- Turkedjieva MA,
- Havighurst S
- CONTRACT RESEARCHA Listening and Learning Healthcare System approach to improve outcomes for acute-care mental health consumers in the Barwon-Southwest Victoria Region.1 Jun 2021 - 31 Dec 2023People funded by this grant:
- Peeters A,
- Allender S,
- Brennan-Olsen S,
- Berk M,
- Dean O
- CONTRACT RESEARCHEstablishment of a Translational Mental Health Research Program.23 Sep 2020 - 30 Jun 2025People funded by this grant:
- Carolin R,
- O'Shea M
- CONTRACT RESEARCHAn examination of an interprofessional models and partnership between headspace Geelong and Deakin University for the youth mental health workforce.1 Sep 2020 - 31 Dec 2021People funded by this grant:
- O'Shea M,
- Pepin G
- CONTRACT RESEARCHIndustry Partnership: Deakin University and Barwon Child Youth and Families.1 Apr 2018 - 10 Jun 2027People funded by this grant:
- O'Shea M,
- McGillivray J,
- Morrissey K,
- Moody LJ
- CONTRACT RESEARCHImproving physical and mental health and wellbeing24 Oct 2017 - 22 Oct 2018People funded by this grant:
- Evans S,
- O'Shea M
- GRANTDeakin Family Options: A randomized controlled trial of enhanced cognitive therapy and family education for youth depression, anxiety and substance abuse.1 Jan 2011 - 31 Jan 2012People funded by this grant:
- Lewis A,
- Toumbourou J,
- Ricciardelli L,
- Knight T,
- Bertino M