Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts

Dr Ngum Chi Watts is a public health expert and academic in the College of Health & Biomedicine at Victoria University, Melbourne Australia. She is also the Course Leader for the Bachelor of Health Sciences.

Dr Chi Watts has significant roles within and outside the university. In October 2015 she was appointed one of six new Commissioners to the Victoria Multicultural Commission (VMC). She is interested in migrant health and the health of minority persons. Improving the health needs for women, providing better education for disadvantaged persons and increasing opportunities amongst disadvantaged groups are central to Dr Chi Watts work.

In 2014, Dr Chi Watts wrote the Bachelor of Health Science Course for VU which is currently being offered. Dr Chi Watts’ philosophy of teaching are drawn from the AVID Strategies in education that focus on the learner, the knowledge and skills the learner brings to the education environment and from her own national and international experiences.  

Publications

Refereed journal articles

Ngum Chi Watts, M, C., & Liamputtong & McMichael, C., Early motherhood: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of African Australian teenage mothers in greater Melbourne, Australia. BMC Public Health DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2215-2 

Ngum Chi Watts, M, C., McMichael, C., & Liamputtong, P. Factors Influencing Contraception Awareness and Use: The Experiences of Young African Australian Women, Journal of Refugee Studies

Harris A., & Spark, C. Ngum Chi, M. C., (2014) Gains and losses: African Australian women and higher education. Journal of Sociology (online 29 June 2014) DOI: 10.1177/1440783314536792

Ngum Chi Watts, M. C., Liamputtong P., Carolan, M. (2014) "Contraception Knowledge and Attitudes: Truths & Myths among African Australian Teenage Mothers in Greater Melbourne, Australia." Journal of Clinical Nursing, special edition on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Article first published online: 13 September 2013. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.12335

Ngum Chi, M, C., & Liamputtong, P., (2013) "Sensitive Research and Vulnerable Participants: Accessing and Conducting Research with African Australian Teenage Mothers in Greater Melbourne, Australia". JNHC Vol.1 (1) (Accepted 6th September 2013, online) DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC13.15

Harris A., Ngum Chi, M. C., & Spark, C. (2013) ‘Barriers that only You Can See’: African Australian Women Thriving in Tertiary Education Despite the Odds. Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies Vol. 2(2), June pp.182-202

Refereed conference papers

Chi, M N. University of the Sunshine Coast; (2008) In our own Voices: the Experience of Overseas-Trained Registered Nurses of Institutional Racism within Healthcare and Academic Institutions. Refereed conference proceedings, 2^nd International conference on Racisms in the New World Order

International & National Conference presentations

2015

• Ngum Chi Watts, M, C., A Clash of Cultures: Teenage Girls from Refugee Backgrounds.  Teenage Girls Conference, Melbourne 11th -12th May 2015 Invited speaker

2014

• Ngum Chi, M, C., Integration of Oral Health in Chronic Disease Prevention: The 46th Asia Pacific Conference for Public Health “Evolution of Public Health in the Asia Pacific Region”. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 17-19 October 2014.
• Ngum Chi, M, C., Education and training in Health Sector: 3rd  Africa Australia Association Conference, Doing Business in Africa - Opportunities in International Education and Training” .16-17 October 2014, Melbourne, Australia Invited speaker
• Ngum Chi, M, C., Contraception, Culture, and Knowledge of African Australian Teenagers/Women in  Melbourne,  Australia.  Mental  Health  Network,  17   September  2014. Invited speaker
• Ngum  Chi,  M,  C.,  Insights,  Social  and  Cultural  Contexts  of  Contraception  Attitudes  and Practices   of   African   Australian   Teenagers/Women   in   Melbourne,   Australia.   6th    African Conference  on  Sexual  Health  and  Rights,  “Eliminating  Women  and  Girls  Sexual  and Reproductive Health Vulnerabilities in Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon, 3-7 February  2014.

2013

• Ngum Chi, M, C., Liamputtong, P., Gender, Culture and Migration: The Experiences of African Australian Teenage Mothers in Greater Melbourne, Australia. A "fair go" for health: tackling physical, social and psychological inequality, Hilton on the Park, Melbourne, 16 -18 September 2013
• Ngum Chi, M, C., Liamputtong, P., Sensitive Research and Vulnerable Participants: Accessing and Conducting Research with African Australian Teenage Mothers in Greater Melbourne, Australia. 2nd Annual Global Health Care Conference, Singapore, Singapore 8-9 July 2013.

2012

• Ngum Chi, M, C., Liamputtong, P., McMichael, C., Mphande, C. Truths and Myths: African Australian  Teenagers  and  Women’s  Attitudes  towards  Contraceptive  Use  in  Melbourne, Australia. The 44th Asia Pacific Conference for Public Health “Millennium Development Goals Beyond 2015: The Challenge for Public Health”. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 13-18 October 2012.
• Ngum Chi Watts, M. C. Experiences Accessing Vulnerable Participants on a Sensitive Topic: Research with African Australian Refugees Teenagers in Greater Melbourne, Australia. Presented at the La Trobe Post Graduate Festival La Trobe University Bundoora, Australia. November 16th - 20th 2012.

2011

• Ngum Chi Watts, M. C. Contraception Uptake and use by African Australian teenagers in Melbourne Australia: Who decides? 43rd Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health Annual Conference Public Health Law and Ethics, Yonsei University, Seoul Korea.

Workshops & Seminars

2015

• Ngum Chi Watts, M, C., Childhood and growing up in Cameroon: Country Women’s Association of Victoria, Toorak, Melbourne 5th March 2015 Invited Guest speaker

2014

• Ngum Chi, M, C. Real Women, Real Role Models: Thornbury women’s Neighborhood House Annual Dinner: Thornbury, Melbourne 24th October 2014 Guest Speaker
• Ngum Chi, M, C. Families under Stress-Issues Facing Families, Monash University, Clayton, Australia 26th July 2014. Invited speaker
• Ngum Chi, M, C. African Youth Forum-Identity and Mental Health Wellbeing: University of Melbourne, Australia. 21 May 2014. Invited panelist member 

2013

• Ngum Chi, M, C. Cultural competence, the States of Africa and research with African Australian Teenage Mothers in Greater Melbourne, Australia. The Smith Family, Upper Metropolitan Area Managers, Collingwood, Australia 27 May 2013. Invited speaker
• Ngum Chi Watts, M C. Traditional Cutting: Service provider’s perceptions about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)/ “Cutting” and current discourses. FGM zero Tolerance Day, Western Health; Sunshine, Melbourne, Australia 6th Feb. 2013- Invited speaker

2010

• Ngum Chi Watts, M. C. Marie Stopes International Melbourne: Workshop-Teenage Pregnancy and Contraception issues among African Refugee teenagers in Melbourne-Invited speaker

2008

• Ngum Chi Watts, M. C. Side Walk Gallery Annual Cultural Exhibition, The art of Cameroon and its Neighbours Melbourne and Hobart, Australia: "Culture transmitted through arts" Invited speaker
• Ngum Chi Watts, M. C., Multicultural Centre for Women's Health: Addressing the rising incidence of diabetes in African-Australian Women: Raising Awareness and Responding to Communication Needs in Targeted Communities, Melbourne, Australia: "A community Health Perspective of Diabetes among African-Australian Women" Invited speaker.

Professional memberships

• Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH)
• Australian Health Professionals Registration Authority (AHPRA)
• Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA).

Industry experience

• Convener, International Health (SIG) Victoria, for the Public Health Association of Australia
• Editorial: Women’s Health Journal - Open Access
• Reviewer: International Journal of Public Health
• Director, Board of Directors Western Health, Melbourne, Australia
• Reviewer on several journals related to Sexual health, Women’s health, health promotion and migrant health.

Recognitions and Awards

• 2015 Commissioner in the Victorian Multicultural Commission (term runs until August 2019)
• 2015 Couchman Scholarship by the Liberal Women's Council Victoria, Australia
• 2014 UPF & WFWP Ambassador for Peace, Australia
• 2013 Australian African Recognition Awards-Finalist.

Appearances in the media

• VMC Commissioner report on African women's rights, 2016, Victorian Multicultural Commission
• New Appointments Embrace Diversity Of Victorian Multicultural Commission, Premier of Victoria, 2015, Premier of Victoria Media Release
• From a world away to the 'devastating' heart of Ebola, 2015, Star Weekly
• The Interconnected Layers Of Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts, kwesu.com, July 2014
• Researching African Australians, 2014, VU news
• Call for refugee sex education, 2013, The Examiner
• Celebrating our African Australians, 2013, VU news
• Top award for legend, 2013, Star Community
• West African Festival, 2011, Immigration Museum.