Fiona Russo

Dr Russo co-authored the “Guidelines for Community Involvement in Genomics Research,” which will be added to the NHMRC toolkit in 2025. Her work with Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) influenced a Gold Planetree designation for person-centred healthcare. Her leadership at CHQ, particularly as co-Chair of the Family Centred Care Committee, reflects her commitment to improving health service delivery through consumer engagement.

Her research contributions include pivotal literature reviews, such as one on parental experiences with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which led to the introduction of the Early Childhood Early Intervention pathway. Dr Russo is also a Chief Investigator on an MRFF-funded project aimed at building capacity for parental caregivers of children with disabilities. This project, in partnership with the University of Queensland, QUT, and Griffith University, will run from 2024-2027 with $998,000 in funding.

Dr Russo’s capacity-building work extends internationally through Project ECHO, where she empowers clinicians and educators to better engage with families. She will also chair a symposium at the 2025 International Academy of Childhood Disability Meeting, further cementing her global reputation in consumer-led research.

Dr Russo’s work continues to shape health policy and research, with a focus on empowering families, improving service access, and ensuring that research and health services better meet the needs of vulnerable populations.