Biography

Biostatistics, quantitative social science, data science. There’s a lot of names to describe what I do, which, fundamentally, is things with data. I love thinking about data in the real-world - how our worldview impacts data collection decisions, how data are used in a research context, and how I can best use data to help people answer the questions they have. At the end of the day, I want to contribute to research that ends up improving the lives of others.

I also think it’s important that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are leading the research agenda, my place as a non-Indigenous person is to listen, collaborate, and support that agenda as best I can with the skills that I have.

Interests

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
  • Indigenous Data Sovereignty
  • Data collection and survey design
  • Statistical consulting
  • Data literacy

Education

  • PhD in Indigenous Epidemiology and Health, submitted

    The University of Melbourne

  • Master of Biostatistics, 2018

    The University of Melbourne

  • Bachelor of Arts, 2015

    The University of Western Australia

Skills

R, SQL, Stata

R is my preferred language and I’m proficient with SQL and Stata

Consulting

There are a lot of good questions out there being asked, I like helping figure out how to answer them

Reproducible research

From start to finish I like my make sure my reports are reproducible and as automated as possible

Data cleaning

Who doesn’t like taking some dirty data and giving it a good scrub

Data Visualisation

Sure, pictures speak a thousand words, but they might take a thousand lines of code too

Googling

The majority of my R knowledge is self-taught, so I’d say my Google-Fu is pretty good

Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Research Fellow

Australian National University

October 2023 – Present Canberra, Australia
Currently I work at Yardhura Walani on the Mayi Kuwayu study, helping out with all things data - from survey design and data management to data cleaning and documentation. Prior to this I was at the Centre for Indigenous Policy Research, where I developed a structural equation model of social and emotional wellbeing using the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children, and co-authored a review of how Closing the Gap targets are measured - proposing an alternative, simulation-based method of assessing progress.
 
 
 
 
 

Clinical Trials Biostatistician

Deakin University

August 2022 – October 2023 Ballarat, Australia
I provided study design and statistical oversight for a randomised trial investigating the effectiveness of a low-intensity mental health support service in reducing diabetes distress. This included sample size calculation, developing a statistical analysis plan and randomisation scheme, advising on technical challenges arising over the course of the trial, and analysing research data.
 
 
 
 
 

Consultant Biostatistician

Grampians Health

September 2021 – November 2023 Ballarat, Australia
I consulted with clinicians engaged in research to support their study design and statistical analyses. This ranged from helping develop research questions and writing protocols to performing statistical analysis and interpreting results. I also developed educational materials and delivered seminars for clinicians on the topic of good research practices.
 
 
 
 
 

Biostatistician

The Peter Doherty Institute

November 2019 – January 2023 Melbourne, Australia
As part of the International and Immigrant Health Group I provided statistical support to the research team. Major achievements include a systematic review of type 2 diabetes in resettled refugee and asylum seeker populations, and the development of a REDCap database and provision of on-site research training for local staff for a randomised pragmatic trial a dietary and lifestyle intervention in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory.

Featured Publications

Benjamin Harrap, Alison Gibberd, Melissa O'Donnell, Koen Simons, Jocelyn Jones, Fernando Lima, Daniel McAullay, Kathleen Falster, Emily Banks, Sandra Eades
June 2023 Child Abuse & Neglect

Cumulative incidence of child protection system contacts among a cohort of Western Australian Aboriginal children born 2000 to 2013

Background: Reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system is a key target for the Australian government.

Objective: We aimed to provide more recent evidence on the population-level cumulative incidence of contacts for Aboriginal children with child protective services (CPS) in Western Australia (WA).

Participants and Setting: Linked administrative data was provided for WA CPS between 2000 and 2015 for 33,709 Aboriginal children born in WA between 2000 and 2013.

Methods: Descriptive summaries and cumulative incidence estimates were used to examine changes in CPS contact trends over time and within sibling groups.

Results: There was an increase in early-childhood contacts for children born more recently, with 7.6% and 2.3% of children born in 2000–2001 having a notification and placement in out-of-home care by age one, respectively, compared to 15.1% and 4.3% of children born in 2012–2013. Among sibling groups where at least one sibling had a CPS contact, approximately half of children had their first contacts on the same date as another sibling. For children born after one of their siblings had been placed in out-of-home care, 31.9% had themselves been placed in out-of-home care by age one.

Conclusions: Multiple children tend to be placed into out-of-home care when at least one sibling is, which is likely to have a significant impact on families affected. The additional risk of placement also carries over to children born after the first removal in a sibling group, highlighting the need for further support to prevent future removals.

Volunteering

Wearer of Many Hats

Statistical Society of Australia

Dec 2018 – Present Melbourne, Australia
I’ve had many different roles volunteering for the SSA, including Secretary then President of the Victorian & Tasmanian branch, organiser of the Early Career and Student Statistician 2021 conference, and member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee. I also helped with the transition to the new website, conducted a survey of our members on equity, diversity, and inclusion issues, and developed policies, procedures, and strategic plans.
 
 
 
 
 

Contact

  • Centre for Indigenous Policy Research, Acton, ACT 2601
  • My office is on the 2nd floor of the Copland building
  • Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00
  • DM Me