Sheenagh McShane

Thesis title

Understanding the role of housing in mental health outcomes across the resettlement journey of people from refugee backgrounds

Description of PhD Project

With the rapid increase in displaced people globally, it is important to examine the evidence for the potentially protective role of adequate housing on the mental health of refugees and humanitarian migrants. By helping policy makers and practitioners to better understand the unique challenges and needs faced by this population means that more effective support systems can be developed to facilitate successful settlement and integration into their new communities.This thesis seeks to improve understanding of the housing factors that shape mental health among people from refugee-like backgrounds across their resettlement journey in Melbourne.

Supervisors

Primary Supervisor
Professor Rebecca Bentley

Co-supervisors
Associate Professor Karen Block
Professor Emma Baker (University of Adelaide)

Biography

Sheenagh has worked in the refugee sector since 2007. Through her work at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, a Melbourne based not for profit organisation, Sheenagh has promoted a human rights-based approach to healthcare. Sheenagh has a keen interest in human rights work and brings this focus to her research. Her research interests include social housing, people from refugee backgrounds, and health equity.

Sheenagh holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from RMIT University, a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Philosophy from Swinburne University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne.

Funding/scholarships

University of Melbourne Human Rights Scholarship