Laura Bahnisch

Research Associate

College of Medicine and Public Health

place Health Sciences
GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE, SA, 5001

Ms Laura Bahnisch is a Research Associate for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health team, in the College of Medicine and Public Health. She is a non-Indigenous woman, working and living on the unceded lands of the Kaurna people. Laura is currently working part-time on a range of projects for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health team, including: leading the First Nation peoples and Borderline Personality Disorder: a decolonising approach to service development collaborative SA Health project; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers' and Liaison Officers' role in quality acute health care services NHMRC project; Child Protection Services in Health MRFF project, and other topics related to Aboriginal public health, child protection, anti-racism and decolonisation.

Laura has a passion for working in the area of social justice and public health and has a research background in women's health, trauma, domestic and family violence, disaster preparedness, veterans' health and health promotion. She has worked in research at Flinders University and the University of South Australia in various positions since 2006. Her previous work has included research project support, working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, women's health counselling and arts and health peer projects with a focus on mental health and trauma. Prior to that Laura's experience has included working as a research librarian in Hobart and Adelaide, teaching English in Japan and administrative and hospitality work in England.

Laura is very interested in the areas of Indigneous research methodology, women’s health, public health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and health inequities.

Qualifications

BArts (University of Queensland)

GDipLibInfStud (University of Tasmania)

GDipWomStud (University of Adelaide)

MSocWk (Flinders University)

Honours, awards and grants
  • Award - presented a conference paper at the CENA Conference in Sept 2011, for which she was awarded Highly Commended Novice Presenter.

Key responsibilities

Project support on projects including: Decolonising Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care NHMRC project; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers' and Liaison Officers' role in quality acute health care services NHMRC project; Models of Care for First Nations peoples and Borderline Personality Disorder collaborative SA Health project.