Professor Michelle Banfield

Michelle’s early research experience was in biological anthropology, focusing on the behaviour and social systems of primates. When she returned to research in 2004 following a period of ill health, she entered the world of consumer-led research. Her PhD explored mental health consumers’ priorities for research on depression and bipolar disorder in Australia.

Michelle's research interest is improving health systems and policy, with a particular focus on relational care and lived experience.  She heads the Lived Experience Research Unit at the Centre for Mental Health Research, incorporating ACACIA: The ACT Consumer & Carer Mental Health Research Unit. The Lived Experience Research Unit aims to increase the involvement of people with lived experience in the research process and conduct research relevant to their needs.

Michelle completed an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) fellowship looking at service access and navigation for people with serious mental illness. She also completed an MRFF Translating Research into Practice Fellowship to explore the implementation of mental health peer work and two projects focused on non-clinical safe spaces for people experiencing distress and crisis.

Michelle is Co-Director and Lived Experience Research Lead for the ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation. In this role she is co-leading several large projects focused on relational systems, safe policy and holistic wellbeing.