Ms Shannen Vallesi

Research Associate
BHlthSci

shannen.vallesi@nd.edu.au

• Biography

  Shannen is a mixed-methods researcher based at the Institute for Health Research at the University of Notre Dame who has been working in the field of homelessness and health since 2016. She is currently undertaking her PhD exploring the impact that chronic homelessness has on an individual's health outcomes, health needs, and health care accessibility. Shannen commenced at the University of Notre Dame in 2022.

• Teaching areas

  • Research methods
  • Social determinants of health

• Research expertise and supervision

  • Homelessness
  • Housing First
  • Mixed-method
  • Healthcare access
  • Health service utilisation
  • Mental health
  • Trauma informed practice
  • Social determinants of health
  • Health promotion

• Journal articles and proceedings

  • Tuson M, Vallesi S, Wood L. (2024). Tracking deaths of people who have experienced homelessness: a dynamic cohort study in an Australian city. BMJ Open.
  • Vallesi S, Tuson M, Davies A, Wood L. Multimorbidity among People Experiencing Homelessness—Insights from Primary Care Data. Int J enviro research and public health. 2021;18(12):6498.
  • Vallesi S, Tighe E, Bropho H, Potangaroa M, Watkins L. Wongee Mia: an innovative Family-Centred approach to addressing Aboriginal housing needs and preventing eviction in Australia. Int J Enviro Research and Public Health. 2020;17(15):5501
  • Wood L, Wood N, Vallesi S, Stafford A, Davies A, Cumming C. (2019). Hospital collaboration with a Housing First program to improve health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Housing, Care and Support 22(1), 27-39.
  • Miller JP, Hutton J, Doherty C, Vallesi S, Currie J, Rushworth K, Larkin M, Scott M, Morrow J, Wood L. (2024). A scoping review examining patient experience and what matters to people experiencing homelessness when seeking healthcare. BMC Health Services Research.

• Conference papers

  • Vallesi S, Wood L. (2022). Harnessing public health strategies to accelerate action on preventable homeless deaths. PHAA Prevention Conference. Brisbane Convention Centre. 12 May 2022.
  • Vallesi S, Ahlers K. (2021). “There’s nowhere else to go” Pathways out of psychiatric inpatient care for people experiencing homelessness. TheMHS Conference. Online. 14 October 2021.
  • Vallesi S, Stafford A, Watkins L (2020). What can a real time “By Name List” of Perth’s rough sleeping population do? Pathways from Homelessness 2020: A Decade for Inclusion Health, Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge, London, UK. 12 March 2020.
  • Vallesi S, Wood L (2019). Housing First as a pathway to improved health; learnings from Australia. Pathways from Homelessness: Rethinking Housing and Health. Millennium Gloucester, London, UK. 14 March 2019.
  • Vallesi S, Wood L. (2018). Accelerating Evidence into policy and practice: lessons from homelessness and health. Australian Public Health Conference, Pullman Cairns International, Cairns. 27 September 2018.

• In the media

  • Shock Home Truths: Study finds Aboriginal people on housing list for twice as long. Annabel Hennessy. The West. 27/06/2021.
  • The cost of homelessness in WA’s public hospitals and how the state could save millions. Marta Pascual Juanola. WA Today. 08/07/2021.
  • Evictions of Aboriginal families in Perth under scrutiny, as FOI documents released. Claire Moodie & Alex Mann. ABC News. 03/07/2021.
  • Could a moth save our oceans? Perth university students tackling some crazy questions. Holly Thompson. WA Today. 17/11/2023.
  • Homeless Aboriginal mother found dead on Wellington Street near Perth train station. Annabel Hennessy. The West Australian. 14/08/2021.

• Professional affiliations

  • HDR Representative, UNDA Faculty Research Committee
  • HDR Representative, UNDA Faculty HDR Training and Supervision Committee
  • Member, Australian Health, Housing and Homelessness Network, Australian Alliance to End Homelessness
  • Member, Homelessness Research Network (Centre for Homelessness Impact - UK)

• Community engagement

  • Undertaking interviews with people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Surveying of rough sleepers for Midland Connections Week
  • Facilitating focus groups
  • Government policy submissions
  • Running industry workshops
  • Participation in interview panels

• Awards

  • 2023 Finalist - Excellence in Research and Innovation (For the Medical Respite Centre). WA Health Excellence Awards.
  • 2023 Recognition in Consumer & Community Involvement in Health Research. WAHTN, UNDA Research Symposium.
  • 2020 Emerald Literati Award – Outstanding Paper 2020. For the paper 'The Cottage: providing medical respite care in a home-like environment for people experiencing homelessness'.
  • 2018 Policy and Research Translation Award. Public Health Association Australia (WA Branch). Investigators: Wood L, Vallesi S, Cumming C, Gazey A, Wood N, Chapple N.

• Others

  Shannen has been a Chief Investigator on 16 competitive research grants totalling above $800k, and 18 commissioned research & consultancy projects totalling $1.8million.