Miss Jessica Dobrovic
Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
School of Public Health
College of Health
Jessica is a Translational Research Specialist and PhD candidate within the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide, specialising in the evaluation and improvement of complex social systems. A qualified Social Worker with an extensive background in frontline human services, she bridges the gap between practice, policy, and population health data. She has co-led multiple government program evaluations and statewide commissioning reviews, with a particular focus on the homelessness sector. Jessica frequently partners with community organisations and government stakeholders to investigate program impacts, and explore system-wide scaling opportunities using de-identified linked administrative data.
Expertise
Statewide commissioning and system reviews: Delivering evidence-based insights to shape policy, funding, and service delivery models for large-scale government and sector initiatives.
Government and community program exploration: Skilled in translating complex policy questions into actionable insights and assessing the impact of multi-agency social programs.
Analysis using de-identified linked administrative data: Partnering with NGOs, community organisations, and government stakeholders to measure social impact and support data-driven decision-making.
My research bridges the gap between population health data and frontline human services to translate complex policy questions into actionable system improvements. With a background in social work, I bring a distinct community services lens to the analysis of complex de-identified linked administrative data. I specialise in navigating the practical and methodological challenges of using service-use data, ensuring analytical rigour while remaining deeply attuned to real-world system constraints and participant experiences.
Through co-leading government program evaluations and statewide commissioning reviews, my work spans broad multi-modal assessments of program impacts and strengthens evidence-informed decision-making. This work involves partnering with a diverse range of community organisations to ensure that high-level data insights directly serve to improve systems and outcomes for individuals experiencing disadvantage.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | Research Associate | Adelaide University |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Adelaide University | Australia | PhD (current) |
| 2016 | Griffith University | Australia | Graduate Diploma of Health Research |
| 2013 | Griffith University | Australia | Master of Social Work |
| 2011 | Griffith University | Australia | Master of Forensic Mental Health |
| 2009 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Health Sciences |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Dobrovic, J., Boddy, J., & O’Leary, P. (2024). Social Impact Bonds and Homelessness: A Review of the Literature. Australian Social Work, 77(1), 1-13. Scopus3 WoS4 |
| 2024 | Dobrovic, J. (2024). Homelessness <b>Homelessness</b> , by Cameron Parsell, Cambridge, UK, and Hoboken, NJ, USA, Polity Press, 2023, 250 pp., $36.95 (paperback), ISBN 9781509554508. Australian Social Work, 77(1), 163-165. |
| 2024 | Dobrovic, J., Pilkington, R., Montgomerie, A., & Lynch, J. (2024). Improving outcomes for unaccompanied young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness: How will we know what works?. Parity, 37(3). |
| 2021 | Dobrovic, J., & Pearson, D. (2021). By name lists and prevention, the perfect pairing?. Parity, 34(8). |
| 2020 | Dobrovic, J., & Di Girolamo, N. (2020). The relationship between homelessness for individuals with severe mental health issues and disabilities, and housing opportunities. Parity, 33(4). |
| 2020 | Dobrovic, J., Tually, S., Ennals, P., Maccini, H., O'Keefe, S., & Rowley, C. (2020). Adelaide's Covid-19 emergency response: Understanding experiences and co-occurring issues of people sleeping rough. Parity, 33(4). |
| 2015 | Dobrovic, J., & Pielichaty, S. (2015). 'But I have a roof over my head now' discussing service response and the needs of clients once housed. Parity, 28(9). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., Montgomerie, A., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Building evidence for the potential to scale Tumbelin Farm: Investigating potentially eligible populations. |
| 2025 | Montgomerie, A., Dobrovic, J., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Uniting Communities Ruby's Reunification Service: Quasi-experimental investigation of long-term outcomes. |
| 2025 | Dobrovic, J., Montgomerie, A., Di Girolamo, N., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Child Protection contact for reasons of domestic, and/or family violence and contact with the Domestic and Family Violence Safety Alliance. |
| 2025 | Heneker, K., Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Evaluation of the Community Connections Program. |
| 2025 | Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., Montgomerie, A., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Companion Technical Report to the Evaluation of the Community Connections Program. |
| 2025 | Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., Montgomerie, A., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Exploring characteristics of clients accessing the Toward Home Alliance, and Adelaide North Western Homelessness Alliance. |
| 2025 | Mercer, G., Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., Montgomerie, A., Pilkington, R., & Lynch, J. (2025). Domestic Violence Crisis Line and Intakes to Specialist Homelessness Services: Call characteristics and outcomes. |
| 2025 | Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., Montgomerie, A., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Exploring evidence to scale the Aspire program to the Riverland. |
| 2025 | Di Girolamo, N., Dobrovic, J., Heneker, K., Montgomerie, A., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2025). Financial Wellbeing Program Evaluation Report. |
| 2024 | Dobrovic, J., Montgomerie, A., Pilkington, R., & Lynch, J. (2024). Supporting scaling of the Young Parent Project: Investigating eligible population characteristics, and health and social service system contacts. |
| 2024 | Dobrovic, J., Di Girolamo, N., Montgomerie, A., Bradshaw, T., Lynch, J., & Pilkington, R. (2024). Analysis of Specialist Homelessness Services Data. |
| 2024 | Montgomerie, A., Pilkington, R., Dobrovic, J., & Lynch, J. (2024). Interim Report: Precursors to contact with Ruby's and client characteristics. |
| 2021 | Flatau, P., Lester, L., Seivwright, A., Teal, R., Dobrovic, J., Vallesi, S., . . . Callis, Z. (2021). Ending Homelessness in Australia: An evidence and Policy Deep Dive. |
Connect With Me
External Profiles
