Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Associate Professor Melissa Petrakis is Group Director of Social Work Innovation, Transformation and Collaboration in Health (SWITCH) Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University. She has worked in mental health services for over 30 years, as a clinician, service manager, then practice-based researcher. She has authored over 100 publications and is sought after to mentor projects internationally. In 2016 she was awarded The Tom Trauer Evaluation and Research Award, at Australian and New Zealand TheMHS Awards, acknowledging excellence in her approach to research, championing co-design, co-production and co-authorship, with clinicians, people with lived experience of mental illness and families. A/Prof Petrakis is editor of textbook: Petrakis, M. (2023). Social Work Practice in Health: An introduction to contexts, theories and skills. She brought together 27 clinicians, sharing expertise to enhance student knowledge/preparedness for practice. The second edition (Routledge) includes new chapters/focus on equity, diversity and courageous practice in neoliberal contexts.
Associate Professor Petrakis was Chair of the Board of Tandem, the Victorian state mental health carers peak body, during the pandemic years. She was a member of Mental Health Carers Australia (MHCA) when, as a collective of state board chairs of peaks, they advocated for the Commonwealth Government to fund a national carer peak, in addition to funding a consumer peak, for people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges and psychosocial distress.
In Victoria, the advocacy of Associate Professor Petrakis contributed to Recommendation 31 in the final report of Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System – the establishment of eight Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centres across Victoria. Associate Professor Petrakis facilitated opportunities for carers across the state to speak with commissioners during the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, and outline their own wellbeing needs beyond their caring roles. Her commitment to making sure that carers and families were respected as partners in the support they provide mental health consumers was instrumental to the Commission’s rethink of how information and support are delivered, moving from providing support to carers via the consumer’s service provider only, to establishing carer wellbeing centres that provide support and information to carers in their own right.
Associate Professor Petrakis holds 3 ministerial appointments: Interdisciplinary Clinical Advisory Group (ICAG), DoH, MHWB, Victorian Government; Lived Experience Strategic Partnership (LESP), DoH, MHWB, Victorian Government; Loddon-Mallee Interim Regional Body (IRB), DoH, MHWB, Victorian Government. She is a member of the ALIVE International Scientific Advisory Committee, and the ALIVE Lived-Experience Research Collective. She is a founding member of the Australian Family Carer Research Advocacy Network (FaCRAN), a member of Prato International Research Collaborative for Change in Parent and Child Mental Health. She is on the Editorial Board for both Research on Social Work Practice journal and Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development.
Through a grant from the National Mental Health Commission, the National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum commissioned Associate Professor Petrakis and Caroline Walters of SWITCH to co-create an evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences and mental health and wellbeing of family, carers and supporters of people with mental health challenges – one of ten vulnerable populations identified in the National Mental Health Pandemic Plan. In conjunction with representatives of national and state mental health organisations, they conducted co-designed and co-produced online focus groups with 73 family carers, and a survey with 101 family carers and supporters, representing diverse communities and ages. The researchers made 10 recommendations to government as a result, including a short-term recommendation to fund available and responsive carer respite, and longer-term recommendations to establish carer hubs and suicide prevention services in recognition of the acute and cumulative stress and distress that carers can experience. The research has since been recognised with two awards, including an Australia and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research award in 2023 and a TheMHS Learning Network Mental Health Services Award in 2024.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
Senior Research Fellow, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Jul 2007 → …
Research area keywords
- recovery
- recovery-oriented practice
- Mental Health Services
- Mental health
- Family caregiving
- Program evaluation
- solution focused brief therapy
- Psychosis
- Psychosocial Therapy
- Social Work
- Social attitudes toward people with a disability
- Social dimensions of health and illness
- Suicide
- carepath
- clinical practice guidelines
- early psychosis
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Development of Co-designed Digital Exemplars to Enhance Health Profession Readiness for Safe and Effective Care of People with Disability
Lalor, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Brand, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Farlie, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gosling, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Morgan, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Petrakis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lazarus, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Archer, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Lindley, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/24 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Reaching out: A new pipeline for Australian mental health workforce training and development.
Haines, T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Maloney, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Morphet, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Najm, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harvey, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bullock, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lawrence, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wilson Rajaratnam, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Shlonsky, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fossey, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kent, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brown, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Petrakis, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bevilacqua, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Gullifer, J. (Associate Investigator (AI))
12/06/23 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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Evaluation of the MCM Youth Housing Initiative: A User-Centred, Hybrid Design
Shlonsky, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mendes, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Petrakis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Baidawi, S. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/22 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Carer payments assessment process
Badji, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Petrakis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Petrie, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Chen, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zhu, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Li, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Walters, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hassan, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Leber, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
28/05/24 → 6/01/25
Project: Research
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Consumer and Community Involvement in Health Professions Education
Bonnamy, J. (Project Manager), Fossey, E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Ayton, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brand, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Soh, S.-E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Diug, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Petrakis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Buus, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Dart, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
21/07/22 → 28/02/23
Project: Research
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Co-operative inquiry: Qualitative methodology transforming research ‘about’ to research ‘with’ people
Russ, E., Petrakis, M., Whitaker, L., Fitzroy, R. & Short, M., Feb 2025, In: Qualitative Research. 25, 1, p. 43-64 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access7 Citations (Scopus) -
Variations in definitions used for describing restrictive care practices (seclusion and restraint) in adult mental health inpatient units: a systematic review and content analysis
Muluneh, Z. B., Chavulak, J., Lee, D. C. A., Petrakis, M. & Haines, T. P., Jan 2025, In: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 60, 1, p. 1–24 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus) -
Healthcare professionals' experiences and perceptions about LGBTIQA+1 safety and responsiveness in a mainstream Australian health service: Qualitative findings
Kilicaslan, J., Lewis, J., Kennon, T., Lane, R. & Petrakis, M., Feb 2024, In: Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 48, p. 85-92 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus) -
Improving family social and mental wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: the case for deep listening
Walters, C., Lambert, C., Pankhurst, J., Irving, S., Alvarez, A. & Petrakis, M., 2024, In: Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development. 34, 2, p. 114–127 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Knowledge Families Hold: Co-Production and Co-Research With Mental Health Family Carers in Understanding Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Walters, C., McDonald, E., Sheers, C., Hawkins, K., Solich, H., Anderson, J. A., Simic, N., Moore, D., Stevenson, T., Lawn, S., Goodyear, M., Maghidman, M. & Petrakis, M., Dec 2024, In: Health Expectations. 27, 6, 15 p., e70093.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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Achievement in Community Services/Human Services/Social Work Adult Education Award
Petrakis, M. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Achievement in Research about Community Education, Community Development and/or Social Action
Walters, C. (Recipient), Petrakis, M. (Recipient) & NMHCCF (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Internet Award for Excellence in Education
Evans, S. (Recipient), Swain, P. (Recipient) & Petrakis, M. (Recipient), 2000
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Leaders in Catholic Healthcare and service to the poor and vulnerable
Petrakis, M. (Recipient), 13 Oct 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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MNHS Faculty Early Career Researcher (ECR) Publication Prize
Petrakis, M. (Recipient), 1 Jan 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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ALIVE Lived-Experience Research Collective member
Petrakis, M. (Fellow)
Mar 2021 → Mar 2026Activity: External Academic Engagement › External research and teaching
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Meeting of the International Open Dialogue Research Collaboration 2021
Petrakis, M. (Organiser)
21 Jun 2021 → 23 Jun 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Views of Peer Workers on the Implementation of Recovery-Oriented Practice in a Public Mental Health Service
Petrakis, M. (Supervisor) & Chisholm, J. (Discussant)
2017 → 2020Activity: Other Teaching Engagements and non-HDR Supervisions › Non-HDR Supervisions
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Society, Policy and Practice Seminars series
Petrakis, M. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
Apr 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Review of uses of strength-based interventions for people with serious mental illness
Tsoi, E. W. S. (Fellow), Hamilton, B. E. (Fellow), O'Hagan, M. (Fellow), Shepherd, G. (Fellow), Slade, M. (Fellow), Whitley, R. (Fellow) & Petrakis, M. (Fellow)
2015 → 2017Activity: External Academic Engagement › External research and teaching
Press/Media
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Mental Health: MHU: Consumer and carer peer work in mental health
4/02/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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I didn't think 'lonely' could apply to me. I was wrong
5/01/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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I didn't think 'lonely' could apply to me. I was wrong
5/01/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The best gift this festive season is kindness to yourself and to others
17/12/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY – CELEBRATE WITH TANDEM AND PANEL
10/03/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities