Professor Janya McCalman
BA (Hons), MPH, PhDCo-Director Jawun, Professorial Research Fellow
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
Jawun Research Centre
Cairns Square - Room 2.03
Cnr Abbott and Shields St, Cairns
Dr Janya McCalman is a Professorial Research Fellow at CQUniversity at the Jawun Research Centre and a public health researcher. She is recognised for her extensive research on the interactions between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with schools, workplaces, health services and other community contexts which enable resilience, empowerment and wellbeing. Papers have focused on Aboriginal mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, youth health, maternal and child health, health services research, health promotion and implementation research. Her PhD was conferral in 2013; for this she won the Dean’s Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence. Her methodological expertise lies particularly in participatory and action-oriented quality improvement research approaches; grounded theory; systematic literature reviews; and research transfer and implementation. She supervises and mentors several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and non-Indigenous research students.
Background
Dr Janya McCalman is a public health researcher with a background in health promotion practice. She has a Masters of Public Health and a PhD, conferred in 2013 with a Deans Excellence Award. She conducts multi-method research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders partners, including in service systems that support mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, youth health, and maternal and child health. She has led systematic literature reviews, participatory action research, grounded theory and impact evaluation research projects which seek to inform improvements in resilience, empowerment-based health and wellbeing and the implementation of health programs and services. Her ability to report and publish research is prolific. She has received performance awards for research excellence, external income and publication outputs.
Universities Studied At
Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
University of NSW
University of Sydney
James Cook University
Universities Worked At
University of Queensland
James Cook University
University of NSW
CQUniversity
Awards
| 2023 Vice Chancellor's Award for excellence in research. 2018 Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Researchers (Early Career Researcher). 2015 James Cook University College of Arts Society and Education award in recognition of grant income more than $100,000 in 2014 2015 James Cook University College of Arts Society and Education award in recognition of 5 or more HERDC publications in 2014 2013 James Cook University Dean’s Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence (nominated by Professor of Indigenous Australian Studies) 2012 James Cook University Faculty Staff Awards for 17 Publications during PhD Candidature 2010 James Cook University Research Performance Award, external research income (2007-2009) 2010 James Cook University Graduate Research School Grant 2009 James Cook University Staff Awards for Excellence 2009 James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarship Queensland 2002 Benjamin Award for achievement in drug abuse prevention |
Professional Experience
| CATEGORY 1 | |
| 2016 | Centre for Research Excellence in Integrated Quality Improvement: seed funding grant: Social and emotional wellbeing indicators across the lifespan. K Tsey, A Shakeshaft, J McCalman, R Bainbridge, I Kinchin, A Searles, A Clifford, C Doran . |
| 2016-2019 | National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship. APP1113392 Developing a Service Integration Toolkit to improve the quality of adolescent mental health promotion services in Cape York: A program of mixed methods research. J Mccalman. |
| 2015-16 | Centre for Research Excellence in Integrated Quality Improvement: Post doc fellowship: Piloting the application of CQI approaches to the implementation of social and emotional wellbeing approaches across primary healthcare and partner services J McCalman. |
| 2015-2016 | Centre for Research Excellence in the Improvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Services: Evaluation of social and emotional wellbeing integration within the implementation of the Baby One Program. |
| 2015-2015 | Centre for Research Excellence in the Improvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Services: Systematic review: family-centred approaches for early childhood health and wellbeing care. |
| 2015-19 | National Health and Medical Research Council 1076774: Mental Health Targeted Call for Research into Indigenous Youth Suicide. ‘Psycho-social resilience and vulnerability and suicide prevention: A mentoring approach to modifying suicide risk for remote Indigenous students at boarding school’. R Bainbridge, CIB and PSP J McCalman, K Tsey, E Hunter, P McGorry, M Wenitong, Y Cadet-James, A Shakeshaft, C Doran & C Lalonde. |
| 2015-17 | Australian Research Council: Discovery Indigenous. Developing a framework for measuring Indigenous research benefit. Project ID: IN150100011. F Watkin Lui, R Bainbridge, Y Cadet-James, K Tsey, CIE J McCalman. |
| 2015-19 | National Health and Medical Research Council: APP 1078927: Centre of Research Excellence – An Innovation Platform for Systems-Wide Improvement in Indigenous Primary Health Care. CIs: R Bailie, D Peiris, F Cunningham, S Larkins, C Doran, A Cass, L O’Donoghue, C Nelson, P Burgess, K Tsey; AIs: M Tynan, K Copley, A Brown, L Clark, A Searles, M Wenitong, D Askew, A Hollins, R Kwedza, J McCalman. |
| 2014 | National Health and Medical Research Council: APP 1048069: Intervention trial to reduce alcohol related harms among high risk young Indigenous Australians. |
| OTHER | |
| 2015-2016 | Lowitja Institute: Pathways to resilience: The role of cultural connectedness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents. |
| 2015-2016 | Lowitja Institute: Sustainable implementation of Indigenous early childhood family support programs that work: a Family Wellbeing case-study. |
| 2015 | Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Headline Indicators Project. |
| 2014 | Australian Defence Force: Evaluation of Australian Defence Indigenous Entry Programs. |
| 2014 | Researchers in Business/Apunipima Cape York Health Council. Improving the implementation of social and emotional wellbeing services in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare. |
| 2014 | Menzies School of Health Research: National headline indicators project. |
| 2014 | University of NSW. Inspiring Indigenous youth to build resilience and sustain participation with education and employment: Yarrabah and Mt Isa trials. |
| 2014 | Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service.Evaluation of the Culture Rebound Project, Yarrabah. |
| 2013-2014 | Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. An evidence-informed best practice model for integrating cultural competency into program development and implementation. |
| 2013 | Closing the Gap Clearinghouse.Applying what works. |
| 2012-2014 | Lowitja Institute. Health Promotion Capacity Building: Tools, resources and to strengthen health promotion outcomes (Stages 2-4). N Percival, J McCalman, K. Tsey, C Brown, K Rowley, R Reilly, L O’Donoghue, J Brands, M Whiteside, Y Cadet-James, R Bainbridge, R Wargent, A Shakeshaft, J Hains, R Baillie, A Gall. |
| 2013-2014 | Lowitja Institute. Baby Basket evaluation, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, McCalman J.; Searles, A., Brown, C; Tsey, K. |
| 2013 | The Cairns Institute. Impact Evaluation of a Participatory Empowerment Mental Health and Wellbeing Promotion Program Among Indigenous Australians: A Prospective Multi-Centre Intervention Study Using a Mixed-Methods Approach. K Tsey, Y Cadet James, J McCalman, M Whiteside, R Bainbridge, C Brown, R Wargent, S Jacups, et al. |
| 2012-2013 | Family Planning Queensland, Cairns Sexual Assault Service. A systematic literature search of responses to Indigenous sexual assault. McCalman, J.; Tsey, K. |
| 2012 | The Sax Institute, NSW Ministry of Health. A systematic literature search of cultural competence indicators and interventions targeting Indigenous peoples in Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada. McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., Clifford, A., Tsey, K. |
| 2011 | Queensland Centre for Social Science Innovation. Examining what works for Indigenous health and wellbeing a systematic literature review of Child and Maternal Health Services and Programs K Tsey, A Wilson, J McCalman, R Bainbridge, Y Cadet James. |
| 2011 | Queensland Health. Evaluation framework and indicators for the Cape York Indigenous family-centred project Tsey, K., McCalman, J. |
| 2011 | ACT for Kids: Evaluation across five remote safe houses: a multiple baseline design study, Tsey, K., McCalman, J. |
| 2010 | 1. Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service: Scoping project - developing a community social and emotional wellbeing action plan; Tsey, K.; Bainbridge R., McCalman J. |
| 2010 | Gindaja Treatment and Healing Centre: Evaluation of Beat da Binge Project. Tsey, K., McCalman, J. |
| 2008 | Queensland Health Family Wellbeing Training. Tsey K, McCalman J. |
| 2007-2008 | 2. National Suicide Prevention Strategy via the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health. Learning from the experts: Building bridges to implement successful life promotion and suicide prevention expertise across Aboriginal communities. Tsey, K., McCalman, J., Cadet-James Y., and Wallace, V. |
| 2006 | 3. Desert Knowledges Cooperative Research Centre core project 4 – Family empowerment and sustainable desert settlements. Tsey K. and McCalman, J. |
| 2006 | 4. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Family Violence Research with young people. Tsey, K., McCalman, J., Baird, L., Baird, B. |
| 2006 | 5. CRC for Aboriginal Health Discussion paper on university/community research partnerships. Tsey, K., Mayo, K., McCalman, J. |
Professional Memberships
Australian Health Promotion Association
International Society for Third Sector Research
AIATSIS
Lowitja Institute
Responsibilities
Co-Director, Jawun Research Centre, CQU
Professional Interests
Indigenous self-determination
Key Achievements
2022
ARC Linkage. LP210301323. Testing for the scale up of a Social and Emotional Learning curriculum for remote-dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary school students: A mixed methods inquiry. Prof Janya McCalman, Prof Adrian Miller, Dr Marlene Longbottom, Prof Gary Robinson, Adj/Prof Ernest Hunter, Prof Zoltan Sarnyai, Prof Suzanne McGinty, Dr William Mude, Dr David Mander, Mrs Candace Angelo, Prof Christopher Lalonde Mrs Shirlee Gallo, Ms Helen Travers, Ms Danielle Williams, Miss Kirstie Ireland, Ms Veronica Graham, Mr Dan Tonon, Miss Helga Scott, Miss Rebecca Godfrey, Mrs Janelle Knack. ARC $457,440; partners $200,000 cash.
2021
ARC Indigenous Discovery and DAATSIA - Navigating the Carceral interface GNT IN220100009. Dr Marlene Longbottom; Professor Kathleen Clapham; Professor Bronwyn Fredericks; Dr Amanda Porter; Professor Valerie Harwood; Professor Janya McCalman; Professor Rebecca Ivers $1,287,000, 2022-26.
2020
MRFF GNT1200630. Our Wisdom Leading (OWL): The First Nations Collective for Community-Empowered Health Research. National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Limited $35,000, Associate Investigator.
2019
Australia Research Council Indigenous Discovery Grant: Strengthening Indigenous adolescent mental health and wellbeing.IN200100057. Bainbridge, R; McCalman, J., Cadet-James, Y., Tsey, K., McGorry, P., Bailie, R., Dudgeon, P., Matthews, V., Ungar, M., McMillan, F., Doran, C., Spurling, G., Hirvonen, T., Askew, D., Langham, E., Kinchin, I. $700,000 over three years.
2019
Centre for Research Excellence– STRengthening systems for InDigenous health care Equity (CRE-STRIDE) GNTID:1170882. Matthews, V., Bailie, R., Bainbridge, R., Larkins, S., Passey, M., McCalman, J., Williams, M., Percival, N., Felton-Busch, C., Cadet-James, Y. $2,500,000.
2018
NHMRC Project grant: GNT1164251. System-level Integration to promote the mental health of Indigenous Children: A community-driven mixed methods approach. McCalman, J.; Bainbridge, R., Bailie, R., Tsey, K., Cadet-James, Y., Ungar, M., Matthews, V., Askew, D., Percival, N., Blignault, I. $1,031,575.70.
National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship. APP1113392 Developing a Service Integration Toolkit to improve the quality of adolescent mental health promotion services in Cape York: A program of mixed methods research. J McCalman $314,000.
National Health and Medical Research Council 1076774: Mental Health Targeted Call for Research into Indigenous Youth Suicide. ‘Psycho-social resilience and vulnerability and suicide prevention: A mentoring approach to modifying suicide risk for remote Indigenous students at boarding school’. R Bainbridge, CIB and PSP J McCalman, K Tsey, E Hunter, P McGorry, M Wenitong, Y Cadet-James, A Shakeshaft, C Doran & C Lalonde. $824,876.
Australian Research Council: Discovery Indigenous.
Developing a framework for measuring Indigenous research benefit. Project ID: IN150100011. F Watkin Lui, R Bainbridge, Y Cadet-James, K Tsey, CIE J McCalman. $612,845.
National Health and Medical Research Council: APP 1078927: Centre of Research Excellence – An Innovation Platform for Systems-Wide Improvement in Indigenous Primary Health Care. CIs: R Bailie, D Peiris, F Cunningham, S Larkins, C Doran, A Cass, L O’Donoghue, C Nelson, P Burgess, K Tsey; AIs: M Tynan, K Copley, A Brown, L Clark, A Searles, M Wenitong, D Askew, A Hollins, R Kwedza, J McCalman $2.5 mill.
Computer Software
Microsoft suite
NVIVO
Endnote
Industry Reports
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Heyeres, M., McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., & Tsey, K. (2015) Culture Rebound Evaluation: Connecting Yarrabah Youth. Cairns: The Cairns Institute, James Cook University. McCalman, J., & Jones, G. (2015) Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Evaluation Report 2014-15. Cairns: The Cairns Institute, James Cook University. McCalman, J., Ham, R., Wenitong, M,, David, B., Livingstone, L., Bainbridge, R., Tsey, K. (2015) Improving the implementation of social and emotional wellbeing promotion: Apunipima Cape York Health Council, 2015. McCalman, J., Searles, A., Edmunds, K., Jongen, C., Wargent, R., Bainbridge, R., . . Doran, C. (2014). Evaluating the Baby Basket program in north Queensland: As delivered by Apunipima Cape York Health Council, 2009 to 2013: The Lowitja Institute and Apunipima Cape York Health Council. |
| Bainbridge, R., Tsey, K. & McCalman, J. (2013). Pathways to Excellence: The quantity, quality, nature and characteristics of mentoring practices for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing and education and employment outcomes: A systematic review. Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs. James Cook University, Cairns. |
| Jongen, C., McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., & Tsey, K. (2013). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child and Maternal Health Programs and Services: A Systematic Review. Queensland Centre for Social Science Innovation: The Cairns Institute, James Cook University. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Bainbridge, R. (2013). Discussion paper 2. How Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion tools can support the capacity enhancement of health promotion officers. Report for the Lowitja Institute Program 2, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., Clifford, A., & Tsey, K. (2013). A systematic literature search of cultural competence indicators and interventions targeting Indigenous peoples in Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada: Sax Institute, NSW Ministry of Health. |
| McCalman, J., Bridge, F., Tsey, K., Bainbridge, R., & Whiteside, M. (2013). A systematic literature search of responses to Indigenous sexual assault: Family Planning Qld, Cairns Sexual Assault Service. |
| Searles, A., Whiteside, M., McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Doran, C. (2012). ACT for Kids: Evaluation of the family wellbeing initiative delivered to Safe-House staff. Report commissioned by ACT for Kids, Newcastle and Cairns. |
| Searles, A., McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Doran, C., Shakeshaft, A. (2012). Evaluating health initiatives in Cape York Indigenous communities: Report commissioned by Queensland Health, Cape York Health and Hospital Service, Newcastle and Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K. (2012). Discussion paper: The levels of evidence for health promotion tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Report for the Lowitja Institute Program 2, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., McEwan, A., Tsey, K., and the project team. (2009). National Suicide Prevention Strategy project – Building Bridges report: Knowledge sharing between men’s groups and the Family Well Being Empowerment Program: Their role in community-based suicide prevention strategies. May 2009, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, James Cook University, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J. (2009). Family empowerment towards sustainable desert settlements: The Family Wellbeing Empowerment Program in Alice Springs. The Working Paper Series 68. http://www.nintione.com.au/publication/dkcrc-0677. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Baird, L., Baird, B. (2008). “Dancing back our spiritual identity”: Evaluation of the Yaba Bimbie cultural dance troupe project, Yarrabah, 2006 – 2007, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, James Cook University, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Jackson, R., Connolly, B., Baird, B., Costello, C., Bulmer, M. (March 2008). Yarrabah Family Violence Report, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, James Cook University, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Wenitong, M., Whiteside, M., Haswell, M., Cadet James, Y., Wilson, A. (2006). A literature review for Indigenous Men’s Groups. School of Indigenous Australian Studies and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, January 2006, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Wenitong, M., Ahkee, D., Jia, A., Ambrum, D., Wilson, A. (June 2006). Doing good things for men: Ma’Ddaimba Balas Indigenous men’s group evaluation report. 2004-05, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, James Cook University, Cairns. |
| McCalman, J., Tsey, K., Wenitong, M., Patterson, D., Baird, B., Warta, D., Wilson, A. (August 2006). “No more bandaid solution”: Yaba Bimbie Indigenous men’s support group evaluation report. January 2004 - June 2005, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, James Cook University, Cairns. |
| OTHER COMMISSIONED WORKS – PEER-REVIEWED |
| Bainbridge, R., McCalman, J., Tsey, K. (2014) Improving Indigenous Australian governance: the how and what of capacity strengthening. International Society for Third Sector Research, Eleventh International Conference Working Papers Series, www.istr.org. Bainbridge, R., McCalman, J., Clifford A. & Tsey, K. (2014). Cultural competency approaches in the delivery of health services for Indigenous people (Issues Paper). Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. |
| McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., Tsey, K., & Brands, J. (2014). Applying what works: The effective implementation of Indigenous health services and programs (Resource Sheet). Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. |
| Tsey, K., McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., & Brown, C. (2012). Improving Indigenous community governance through strengthening Indigenous and government organisational capacity (Resource Sheet). (10). From Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
Preventing secondary harm: Scaffolding healthcare capacity to promote Indigenous adolescent's mental health
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships Program (2020)
Total Funding: $150,000.00
Strengthening Indigenous Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing (IN2000100057 )
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Scheme: ARC Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2020
Total Funding: $699,000.00
Providing financial information, support and advocacy services to counter Indigenous consumer detriment: a grounded theory study of Indigenous led financial counselling
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Scheme: Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network
Total Funding: $82,623.00
System-level integration to promote the mental health of Indigenous children: A community-driven mixed methods approach - NHMRC Project Grant GNT1164251
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants for funding commencing in 2019
Total Funding: $1,031,575.70
GNT1076774 - Psycho-social resilience, vulnerability and suicide prevention: A mentoring approach to modify suicide risk for remote Indigenous students who are compelled to relocate to boarding schools
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Scheme: NHMRC Mental Health Targeted Call for Research
Total Funding: $671,723.37
Evidence Check: Improving social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Grant: Contract Research (Category 3)
Funding Scheme: The Sax Institute
Total Funding: $0.00
Working well: Tailoring a workforce development model to deliver sustained improvements in community controlled healthcare (Short Title: Developing a workforce model) 017-SW-022
Grant: Competitive Grant (CRC)
Funding Scheme: The Lowitja Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health CRC
Total Funding: $135,191.00
Review of primary healthcare services for the Yarrabah community - the enablers of support for transition to community control, components of the service model, and its healthcare and health outcomes
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3)
Funding Scheme: Queensland Health
Total Funding: $193,543.75
Evaluating the impacts of boarding schools' social and emotional learning strategies on the resilience and learning engagement of remote Indigenous students: A mixed methods study
Grant: Competitive Grant (Public)
Funding Scheme: DET - 2017 Education Horizon Research Grants
Total Funding: $71,040.17
Social and emotional wellbeing indicators for youth health
Grant: Competitive Grant (Not Specified )
Funding Scheme: Menzies School of Health Research
Total Funding: $6,363.64
Developing a Service Integration Toolkit to improve the quality of adolescent mental health promotion services in Cape York: A program of mixed methods research (GNT1113392)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Scheme: NHMRC Early Career Fellowships, for funding commencing in 2016
Total Funding: $318,769.00
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
- 4502 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education
- 4505 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, society and community
