
Overview
Background
Melissa is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Social Science Research. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Queensland, and a MA in Psychology from the University of Auckland. Shas been a lecturer at both the University of Queensland and Macquarie University. She has lectured in psychology, health promotion and public policy, and previously worked at the Australian Institute of Family Studies on the Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms.
Melissa’s research focuses on equity, life course transitions and wellbeing. She has substantial experience in research that impacts policy and practice, having worked closely with Government Departments (at state and federal level) in Australia. She has extensive experience in mixed methods research, including using administrative data together with survey and qualitative data. She has also been involved in the evaluation of federal policy change, as well as the evaluation of state-wide health prevention programs and was Project Manager for the the development of the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework (SEHEEF). Melissa recently led the Modes of Delivery in Higher Education project on behalf of the Department of Education, and is currently leading the Phase 1: Implementation of the SEHEEF for the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education by undertaking consultations with the Australian Higher Education sector.
Availability
- Dr Melissa Johnstone is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Melissa Johnstone’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
The Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework (SEHEEF) and its relevance in the context of the Australian Universities Accord
Robinson, Mark, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Zając, Tomasz, Povey, Jenny and Salom, Caroline (2025). The Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework (SEHEEF) and its relevance in the context of the Australian Universities Accord. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/1360080x.2025.2461802
2024
Journal Article
Bots and baddies: supporting the integrity of online survey research in the face of a growing challenge
Hitches, Elizabeth, Dudley, Dean, Johnstone, Melissa and Woodcock, Stuart (2024). Bots and baddies: supporting the integrity of online survey research in the face of a growing challenge. Quality and Quantity. doi: 10.1007/s11135-024-02001-w
2024
Book Chapter
The relational turn in student engagement
Matthews, Kelly E., Lodge, Jason M. and Johnstone, Melissa (2024). The relational turn in student engagement. Research Handbook on Student Engagement in Higher Education. (pp. 28-38) Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781035314294.00012
2024
Other Outputs
Implementation of the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework: forward plan
Johnstone, Melissa and Clague, Denise (2024). Implementation of the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework: forward plan. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR).
2024
Other Outputs
Phase 1 Implementation of the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework: Sector Consultation Report. Report prepared by the Institute for Social Science Research for the Australian Federal Department of Education
Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Robinson, Mark, Kubler, Matthias and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2024). Phase 1 Implementation of the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework: Sector Consultation Report. Report prepared by the Institute for Social Science Research for the Australian Federal Department of Education. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR).
2024
Other Outputs
Strategic evaluation of health and wellbeing Queensland's prevention programs: Healthier Tuckshops Program performance measurement report 5, July - December 2023
Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Wooden, Deanne, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Nuttall, Gina and Robinson, Mark (2024). Strategic evaluation of health and wellbeing Queensland's prevention programs: Healthier Tuckshops Program performance measurement report 5, July - December 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
2023
Conference Publication
Exploring the Multidimensionality of Student Experience in Australian Higher Education: A Comparison between Domestic and International Students
Tabosa, Josi, Johnstone, Melissa, Zajac, Tomasz and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2023). Exploring the Multidimensionality of Student Experience in Australian Higher Education: A Comparison between Domestic and International Students. 2023 SRHE International Research Conference, Online, 4 December 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Consultation report on proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Languages Phase 5
Kubler, M., McLay, K. and Johnstone, M. (2023). Consultation report on proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Languages Phase 5. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
2023
Other Outputs
Final report: targeted review of student equity in higher education programs and system level policy levers
Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Johnstone, Melissa, Robinson, Mark, Curry, Matthew and Kubler, Matthias (2023). Final report: targeted review of student equity in higher education programs and system level policy levers. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2023
Conference Publication
The student equity in higher education evaluation framework: transforming evaluative practice in Australia
Robinson, Mark, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Kubler, Matthias, Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Zajac, Tomasz, Povey, Jenny and Salom, Caroline (2023). The student equity in higher education evaluation framework: transforming evaluative practice in Australia. Evidence and Implementation Summit 2023, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 9-11 October 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Consultation report on proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Languages Phase 4
Kubler, Matthias, McLay, Kate and Johnstone, Melissa (2023). Consultation report on proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Languages Phase 4. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Sciences.
2023
Conference Publication
Pay disparities between male and female university graduates in Australia: where is the gap greatest?
Perales, Francisco, Zając, Tomasz, Tomaszewski, Wojtek and Johnstone, Melissa (2023). Pay disparities between male and female university graduates in Australia: where is the gap greatest?. RC28 Spring Meeting 2023 'Education and Social Inequality across the Life Course', Paris, France, 24-26 May 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Pay disparities between male and female university graduates in Australia: Where is the gap greatest?
Perales, Francisco, Zając, Tomasz, Tomaszewski, Wojtek and Johnstone, Melissa (2023). Pay disparities between male and female university graduates in Australia: Where is the gap greatest?. ISA RC28 Spring Meeting, Paris, France, 23-26 May 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Consultation report on proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Languages Phase 3
Kubler, Matthias, McLay, Kate and Johnstone, Melissa (2023). Consultation report on proposed revisions to the Australian Curriculum: Languages Phase 3. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2023
Conference Publication
From proving to improving: transforming performance measurement across six prevention programs
Robinson, Mark, Russell-Hall, Sally, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Porter, Dave, Austerberry, Sophie, Cook, Steffi, Dyce, Chloe, Fatima, Yaqoot, Huang, Yanshu, Johnstone, Melissa, Kubler, Matthias, Maravilla, Joemer, Raupach, Abby, Rossa, Kalina and Young, Charlotte (2023). From proving to improving: transforming performance measurement across six prevention programs. Public Health Association of Australia Preventive Health Conference 2023, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 2-4 May 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Explaining achievement gaps between students from regional and metropolitan areas: accounting for socio-demographic and school climate factors
Perales, Francisco, Johnstone, Melissa, Xiang, Ning and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2023). Explaining achievement gaps between students from regional and metropolitan areas: accounting for socio-demographic and school climate factors. Australian Journal of Education, 67 (1), 76-93. doi: 10.1177/00049441231152943
2023
Other Outputs
Strategic evaluation of health and wellbeing Queensland's prevention programs: Healthier Tuckshops Program performance measurement report 4, January - June 2023
Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Wooden, Deanne, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Nuttall, Gina and Robinson, Mark (2023). Strategic evaluation of health and wellbeing Queensland's prevention programs: Healthier Tuckshops Program performance measurement report 4, January - June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
2023
Other Outputs
Strategic evaluation of health and wellbeing Queensland's prevention programs: Healthier Tuckshops Program performance measurement report 3, July - December 2022
Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Wooden, Deanne, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Nuttall, Gina and Robinson, Mark (2023). Strategic evaluation of health and wellbeing Queensland's prevention programs: Healthier Tuckshops Program performance measurement report 3, July - December 2022. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
2023
Conference Publication
International and domestic student experience in Australian Higher Education: insights for transformative and equitable education
Tabosa, Josi, Johnstone, Melissa, Zajac, Tomasz and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2023). International and domestic student experience in Australian Higher Education: insights for transformative and equitable education. STAR Global Conference 2023: Transformative Education for an Interconnected and Equitable World, Vigo, Spain, 9-10 October 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Pay disparities between male and female tertiary-education graduates in Australia: where is the gap greatest?
Perales, Francisco, Zając, Tomasz, Tomaszewski, Wojtek and Johnstone, Melissa (2023). Pay disparities between male and female tertiary-education graduates in Australia: where is the gap greatest?. XX ISA World Congress of Sociology, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 25 June-1 July 2023.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Melissa Johnstone is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Academic stress and university students with disabilities and/or additional needs: a randomised control trial of a stress reduction intervention
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Academic stress and university students with disabilities and/or additional needs: a randomised control trial of a stress reduction intervention
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
International Students' Experience in the Australian Higher Education: the impacts of COVID-19 and the institutional response
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tomasz Zajac, Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Relationship between Family SES, Parent-child Educational Expectation Discrepancies and Adolescent Mental Health: Mechanism Studies and Exploration of Intervention Strategies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Maca San Martin Porter, Associate Professor Jenny Povey
-
Doctor Philosophy
International Students' Experience in the Australian Higher Education: the impacts of COVID-19 and the institutional response
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tomasz Zajac, Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
Completed supervision
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Becoming a mother and mattering in early 21st century Australia: An exploration of women's perinatal transitions and equity in wellbeing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Carmen Mills, Dr Mary McMahon
Media
Enquiries
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