Dr Michael Curtis
Postdoctoral Research Officer
Working groups
Background
Michael is a Postdoctoral Research Officer at the Burnet Institute and a Research Associate at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University. Michael’s research interests include the use of prospective survey and linked administrative data to improve the health and well-being of marginalised groups, with a particular focus on people in prison and people who inject drugs.
Michael completed a PhD in 2023 under the supervision of Professor Mark Stoové and Professor Paul Dietze with Monash University and Burnet Institute. Michael’s PhD examined the impact of retention in opioid agonist treatment on substance use, health and health service use among men recently released from prison. Between 2014-2022, Michael worked at the Burnet Institute as a Research Assistant, primarily collecting data for substance-use related prospective cohort studies.
Before joining Burnet, Michael worked as a social worker in in adult intensive case management, homelessness, and youth out-of-home care.
Qualifications
- 2023: PhD, Monash University, Australia
- 2012: BA/BSW(Hons), Monash University, Australia
Appointments
- Research Associate, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University
Positions
- 2023-present: Postdoctoral Research Officer, Burnet Institute
- 2022-present: Research Associate, NDRI, Curtin University
- 2019-2023: PhD Candidate, Monash University and Burnet Institute
- 2014-2023: Research Assistant, Burnet Institute
- 2010-2014: Social Worker, Salvation Army Crisis Services.
Awards
- 2021: INHSU 2021 Conference Scholarship
- 2021: Miller Foundation Public Health Travel Award
- 2021: Burnet Student Symposium Best Three Minute Thesis
- 2019: Monash Addiction Research Centre PhD top-up scholarship
- 2018: National Health and Medical Research Council postgraduate award
- 2012: Peter Boss Honours Prize for Social Work.
Reports and other work
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ST KILDA 24-HOUR NSP EVALUATION.
The Salvation Army commissioned the Burnet Institute to gather data on its 24-hour needle and syringe program (NSP) in St Kilda. Uniquely in Victoria, the St Kilda NSP is funded to run a staffed service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has been in operation with this model for over 10 years. This section is an executive summary of the Burnet Institute’s findings about the role, impact, and effectiveness of the St Kilda 24-hour NSP service.
ST KILDA 24-HOUR NSP EVALUATION. -
The Forest proposal
Explains how we developed The Forest - a model to address underlying causes of incarceration.
The Forest proposal -
The Forest co-design report (Burnet Institute and Paper Giant)
Describes the process and evidence behind The Forest - a model to address underlying causes of incarceration.
The Forest co-design report (Burnet Institute and Paper Giant)
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Economic and health cost benefit impacts of The Forest (Insight Economics)
Describes the economic and social benefits of The Forest - a model to address underlying causes of incarceration.
Economic and health cost benefit impacts of The Forest (Insight Economics)
Burnet publications
View 30 moreAge, period and cohort trends in hospital admissions for alcohol‐related liver disease in Australia, 1993–2020
Drug and Alcohol Review
Michael Livingston et al
Changing patterns of opioid agonist therapy prescribing in a network of specialised clinics providing care to people with opioid use disorder in Victoria , Australia , 2015 to 2023
Drug and Alcohol Review
Joshua Dawe et al
National consensus statement on opioid agonist treatment in custodial settings
The Medical Journal of Australia
Jocelyn Chan et al
Current projects
View 3 more
How stable housing can support people who use drugs (HOUSED)
Australia is experiencing a housing crisis, and people who use drugs are being left behind. To address this, we're analysing the social, economic and health benefits of stable housing for people who use drugs.
HOMER2 study
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is increasing in Australia. However, there is limited data on the epidemiology of liver cancer in Australia.
The Forest
The Forest is a public health model that addresses underlying causes of incarceration. It's led by people who use drugs, for people who use drugs.
