| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | MacDonald, F., Lanyon, C., Munnery, L., Ryan, D., Ellis, K., & Champion, S. (230301). Agents of change in bushfire recovery: Young people's acts of citizenship in a youth-focused, animal-welfare and environmental program. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 87 |
| 2021 | MacDonald, F., & Smith, D. (210101). Educating the children of returning foreign fighters: fear as the antithesis of inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 25(2), (224-238). |
| 2017 | MacDonald, F. (171102). Positioning young refugees in Australia: media discourse and social exclusion. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(11), (1182-1195). |
Key details
Areas of expertise
- Sociology of childhood and youth studies
- Young people and disasters
- Social Justice
- Youth justice and early crime intervention
- Sociology of education
Available to supervise research students
Available for media queries
About Fiona MacDonald
Associate Professor Fiona MacDonald is Principal Research Fellow in the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities.
Fiona’s research sits within the sociology discipline, focused on children and young people. Her research focuses on the social and cultural influences in contemporary society and their impact on children and young people’s:
- identities
- connectedness
- health and wellbeing.
Fiona takes a social justice, equity and inclusion viewpoint that aims to address social rights, inequity and disadvantage. She has a particular interest in understanding how children and young people make sense of global challenges and issues within their local spaces and places.
Fiona takes a multidisciplinary, applied approach to research, working with community and industry partners to address contemporary issues and challenges. Fiona is lead researcher on the Future Proof: young people, disaster recovery and (re)building communities project. The VU research team are partners in this Federal Government funded project alongside Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) and 12 regional partners. The research aims to investigate how young people and youth workers can be trained and upskilled to take active and meaningful roles in disaster management and community resilience building in their local communities.
Fiona is also researching early prevention programs in youth justice, youth crime, adolescent family violence and an animal empathy program in youth alcohol and drug intervention. Other areas of focus include:
- education in youth justice
- inclusive education
- bullying and cyberbullying
- social determinants of health and wellbeing.
Qualifications
- PhD, Monash University, Australia, 2014
- BA (Hons), Monash University, Australia, 2007
- Foundations in Recovery: Understanding impacts to people and communities, The University of Melbourne, Short Course, May 2023
Key publications
Book (showing 1 of 2)
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | te, Riele., Corcoran, T., MacDonald, F., Baker, A., & White, J. (230101). Incarcerated Young People, Education and Social Justice. |
Commissioned research report (showing 3)
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Macdonald, F. (210701). Evidence from Experience: young people's perspectives on the effectiveness of bushfire relief and recovery. Melbourne Victoria: Inspector General For Emergency Management. |
| 2021 | Young, C., Roger, J., Bruce, R., & Fiona, M. (210301). Diversity and inclusion: building strength and capability - final project report. Melbourne: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. |
| 2021 |
MacDonald, F. (210101). Young People and the Emergency Services: Working Towards Inclusive Partnerships. Melbourne, Australia: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. doi: 10.26196/enwx-dn60 |
Journal article (showing 3 of 11)
Research funding for the past 5 years
Please note:
- Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
- Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
- The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.
2022
|
Youth Behavioural Change Program: Youth Junction
From: The Youth Junction Inc.,
Other investigators: Ms Ruth Liston
For period: 2022-2024
|
$51,008 |
|
North West Safe Youth Project
From: The Youth Junction Inc.
For period: 2022-2024
|
$50,608 |
|
Black summer bushfire grant YACVic Collective Impact Proposal
From: Youth Affairs Council of Victoria
Other investigators: Aspr Timothy Corney
For period: 2022-2024
|
$469,800 |
|
eSmart Schools Framework
Outcomes Evaluation Stage 2
From: The Alannah and Madeline Foundation
Other investigators: Dr Melinda Van dyke
For period: 2022-2022
|
Not disclosed |
2021
|
Apprentice Transitions – Mentoring as Social Support. Proof of Concept
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Aspr Timothy Corney
For period: 2021-2022
|
$90,000 |
2019
|
Educational Transition from Custody
From: Department of Education and Training, Victoria
Other investigators: Aspr Julie White, Dr Alison Baker
For period: 2019-2020
|
Not disclosed |
2017
|
Building Strength and Capability through Diversity
From: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Ltd, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies
Other investigators: Prof Bruce Rasmussen, Ms Celeste Young, Dr Joanne Pyke
For period: 2017-2021
|
Not disclosed |
2016
|
Evaluation of School Breakfast Club Program
From: Foodbank Victoria Grant
Other investigators: Dr Claire Brown
For period: 2016-2018
|
Not disclosed |
Supervision of research students at VU
Available to supervise research students
Available for media queries
Currently supervised research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PhD Integrated | Principal supervisor |
| 2 | PhD | Principal supervisor |
Currently supervised research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD Integrated (2) | Principal supervisor |
| PhD (2) | Principal supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
| 1 | PhD | Principal supervisor |
| 1 | PhD Integrated | Principal supervisor |
| 1 | Master of Research | Principal supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (1) | Associate supervisor |
| PhD (1) | Principal supervisor |
| PhD Integrated (1) | Principal supervisor |
| Master of Research (1) | Principal supervisor |
Careers
Details of this Researcher's career are currently unavailable.
