Dr Matt Fisher
Senior Research Fellow
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr. Matt Fisher is a Senior Research Fellow in Public Health, with Stretton Health Equity, part of the Stretton Institute and School of Social Sciences at The University of Adelaide. Dr. Fisher's research focuses on public policy to address social and commercial determinants of health and health equity, with a particular focus on Australia. He has conducted research on diverse areas of policy including: Health, Indigenous Health, Mental Health, Primary Health Care, Food policy, Digital Health, Urban Planning, Justice and Corrections, and National Broadband Network.
Dr. Fisher also has a research focus on WELLBEING and public policy for wellbeing. He recently publish a book on 'How to Create Societies for Human Wellbeing: Through Public Policy and Social Change' with Policy Press. Other key publications include: ‘A theory of public wellbeing’ in BMC Public Health, and ‘Moving social policy from mental illness to public wellbeing’ in the Journal of Social Policy.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow The University of Adelaide 2021 - 2021 Senior Lecturer Flinders University 2017 - 2022 Senior Research Fellow Flinders University 2012 - 2017 Research Fellow Flinders University -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2007 - 2010 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2004 - 2006 The University of Adelaide Australia Master of Arts - Philosophy -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2025 George, E., Fisher, M., Mackean, T., & Baum, F. (2025). Implementing 'Closing the Gap' policy through mainstream service provision: A South Australian case study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36(1), e884-1-e884-12.
Europe PMC12024 Phillips, G. R. (2024). The Shelters of Imagination: Logos, Franklin Street, St Peters, Marion and The Dreamhouse. TEXT, 28(Special 71), 1-7.
2024 Baum, F., Raven, M., Jureidini, J., Fisher, M., & van den Berg, M. (2024). Challenges in addressing youth mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 11(12), 957-958.
2024 Freeman, T., Mackean, T., Sherwood, J., Ziersch, A., O'Donnell, K., Dwyer, J., . . . Baum, F. (2024). The Benefits of Cooperative Inquiry in Health Services Research: Lessons from an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Study. International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services, 54(2), 171-182.
Scopus22024 George, E., Ritchie, T., Ryan, A., Fisher, M., Baum, F., & Mackean, T. (2024). "Listen with your ears and eyes and heart and your minds and your soul": Implications for decolonising consultation and occupational therapy from case studies on "Closing the Gap" policy implementation. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71(3), 379-391.
2024 D’Angelo, S., Fisher, M., Mackean, T., O’Donnell, K., Dwyer, J., Sherwood, J., . . . Baum, F. (2024). Next Steps in Decolonising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Policy in Australia: An Analysis of Key Stakeholder Views. International Indigenous Policy Journal, 15(3), 1-23.
2023 George, E., Mackean, T., Fisher, M., & Baum, F. (2023). Analysing the Inconsistent Recognition of Indigenous Rights in Early Childhood Policy Documents from the Australian Government's "Closing the Gap" Strategy Between 2008-2018. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 14(3), 1-26.
Scopus32023 Fisher, M. (2023). Multi-sectoral action to promote psychological wellbeing: Theorising the role of place-based policy. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 34(3), 644-650.
Scopus22023 Gerasimov, V. V., Kameshkov, O. E., Nikitin, A. K., Khasanov, I. S., Lemzyakov, A. G., Antonova, I. V., . . . Trang, T. T. (2023). First Experimental Demonstration of the Wide-Field Amplitude Surface Plasmon Resonance Microscopy in the Terahertz Range. Photonics, 10(7), 723.
Scopus12023 Fisher, M., Harris, P., Freeman, T., George, E., & Baum, F. (2023). Universal and Targeted Policy for Health Equity in the
Neoliberal Era : A Response to the Recent Commentaries. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12(1), 7998-1-7998-2.
Scopus12022 Fisher, M., Freeman, T., Mackean, T., Friel, S., & Baum, F. (2022). Universal Health Coverage for Health Equity: From Principle to Practice; A Response to the Recent Commentaries. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11(8), 1601-1603.
Scopus3 WoS1 Europe PMC32022 Anaf, J., Baum, F., Fisher, M., Haigh, F., Miller, E., Gesesew, H., & Freudenberg, N. (2022). Assessing the health impacts of transnational corporations: a case study of Carlton and United Breweries in Australia. Globalization and Health, 18(1), 22 pages.
Scopus4 WoS1 Europe PMC22022 Mackean, T., Shakespeare, M., & Fisher, M. (2022). Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Theories of Wellbeing and Their Suitability for Wellbeing Policy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 1-16.
Scopus15 WoS2 Europe PMC32022 Schram, A., Townsend, B., Mackean, T., Freeman, T., Fisher, M., Harris, P., . . . Friel, S. (2022). Promoting action on structural drivers of health inequity: principles for policy evaluation. Evidence and Policy: a journal of research, debate and practice, 18(4), 761-775.
Scopus3 WoS12022 Musolino, C., Van Eyk, H., Freeman, T., Fisher, M., MacDougall, C., Williams, C., & Baum, F. (2022). Reviving health promotion in South Australia: The role of ideas, actors and institutional forces. Health Promotion International, 37(6), 12 pages.
Scopus2 Europe PMC22022 Baum, F., Dollard, M., Fisher, M., Freeman, T., & Newman, L. (2022). The Corporate University and its Impact on Health in Australia*. SOCIAL ALTERNATIVES, 41(1), 52-62.
WoS12022 Freeman, T., Fisher, M., Foley, K., Boyd, M. A., Ward, P. R., McMichael, G., . . . Dekker, G. (2022). Barriers to digital health services among people living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage: Research from hospital diabetes and antenatal clinics.. Health Promot J Austr, 33(3), 751-757.
Scopus6 Europe PMC32022 Fisher, M., Harris, P., Freeman, T., Mackean, T., George, E., Friel, S., & Baum, F. (2022). Implementing universal and targeted policies for health equity: lessons from Australia. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11(10), 2308-2318.
Scopus27 WoS9 Europe PMC202022 Roesler, A., Musolino, C., Eyk, H., Flavel, J., Freeman, T., Fisher, M., . . . Baum, F. (2022). Conducting a rapid health promotion audit in suburban Adelaide, South Australia: Can it contribute to revitalising health promotion?. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(2), 488-498.
Scopus2 WoS12022 Littleton, C., Star, C., Fisher, M., & Ward, P. R. (2022). Policy actors' perceptions on applying a SDH approach in child health policy in Australia: A cross‐disciplinary approach (public health and political science). Australian Journal of Public Administration, 81(1), 70-94.
Scopus6 WoS32021 Fisher, I. M. (2021). Moving Social Policy from Mental Illness to Public Wellbeing. Journal of Social Policy, 51(3), 1-15.
Scopus9 WoS32021 Foley, K., Freeman, T., Ward, P., Lawler, A., Osborne, R., & Fisher, M. (2021). Exploring access to, use of and benefits from population-oriented digital health services in Australia. Health Promotion International, 36(4), 1105-1115.
Scopus32 WoS20 Europe PMC232021 Shakespeare, M., Fisher, M., Mackean, T., & Wilson, R. (2021). Theories of Indigenous and non-Indigenous wellbeing in Australian health policies. Health Promotion International, 36(3), 669-679.
Scopus12 WoS6 Europe PMC32021 McGreevy, D. M., MacDougall, C., Fisher, M., Henley, M., & Baum, F. (2021). Expediting a renewable energy transition in a privatised market via public policy: The case of south Australia 2004-18. Energy Policy, 148, 14 pages.
Scopus27 WoS162021 Fisher, M., Mackean, T., George, E., Friel, S., & Baum, F. (2021). Stakeholder perceptions of policy implementation for Indigenous health and cultural safety: A study of Australia's 'Closing the Gap' policies. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 80(2), 239-260.
Scopus21 WoS82021 Van Eyk, H., Baum, F., Fisher, M., Macdougall, C., & Lawless, A. (2021). To what extent does early childhood education policy in Australia recognise and propose action on the social determinants of health and health equity?. Journal of Social Policy, 52(3), 1-25.
2021 Anaf, J., Fisher, I., Handsley, E., Baum, F., & Friel, S. (2021). 'Sweet talk': Framing the merits of a sugar tax in Australia. Health Promotion International, 36(5), 1334-1345.
Scopus6 WoS3 Europe PMC52020 Baum, F., Townsend, B., Fisher, M., Browne-Yung, K., Freeman, T., Ziersch, A., . . . Friel, S. (2020). Creating Political Will for Action on Health Equity: Practical Lessons for Public Health Policy Actors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, 11(7), 14 pages.
Scopus34 WoS14 Europe PMC242020 Fisher, I. M., Freeman, T., Mackean, T., Friel, S., & Baum, F. (2020). Universal Health Coverage for Non-communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, 11(5), 11 pages.
Scopus36 WoS18 Europe PMC272019 George, E., Mackean, T., Baum, F., & Fisher, M. (2019). Social determinants of Indigenous health and Indigenous Rights in policy: A scoping review and analysis of problem representation. International Indigenous Policy Journal, 10(2), 1-27.
Scopus29 WoS182019 Delany-Crowe, T., Marinova, D., Fisher, I. M., McGreevy, M., & Baum, F. (2019). Australian policies on water management and climate change: Are they supporting the sustainable development goals and improved health and well-being?. Globalization and Health, 15(1), 15 pages.
Scopus14 WoS7 Europe PMC22019 Anaf, J., Baum, F., Fisher, M., & London, L. (2019). The health impacts of extractive industry transnational corporations: A study of Rio Tinto in Australia and Southern Africa. Globalization and Health, 15(1), 20 pages.
Scopus26 WoS17 Europe PMC152019 Fisher, I. (2019). A theory of public wellbeing. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 12 pages.
Scopus29 WoS21 Europe PMC102019 Fisher, M., Battams, S., McDermott, D., Baum, F., & MacDougall, C. (2019). How the Social Determinants of Indigenous Health became Policy Reality for Australia's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. Journal of Social Policy, 48(1), 169-189.
Scopus19 WoS102019 Freeman, T., Fisher, M., Baum, F., & Friel, S. (2019). Healthy infrastructure: Australian National Broadband Network policy implementation and its importance to health equity. Information Communication and Society, 22(10), 1414-1431.
Scopus11 WoS102018 Windle, A., Fisher, I., Freeman, T., Baum, F., Javanparast, S., Kay, A., & Kidd, M. (2018). Increased private health fund involvement in Australia's primary health care: Implications for health equity. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 53(4), 338-354.
Scopus7 WoS52018 Schram, A., Friel, S., Freeman, T., Fisher, M., Baum, F., & Harris, P. (2018). Digital Infrastructure as a Determinant of Health Equity: An Australian Case Study of the Implementation of the National Broadband Network. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 77(4), 829-842.
Scopus21 WoS122018 Lee, J., Schram, A., Riley, E., Harris, P., Baum, F., Fisher, I. M., . . . Friel, S. (2018). Addressing health equity through action on the social determinants of health: A global review of policy outcome evaluation methods. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 7(7), 581-592.
Scopus27 WoS12 Europe PMC182018 Anaf, J., Baum, F., & Fisher, I. M. (2018). A citizens’ jury on regulation of McDonald's products and operations in Australia in response to a corporate health impact assessment. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42(2), 133-139.
Scopus11 WoS6 Europe PMC42018 Baum, F., Graycar, A., Delany-Crowe, T., de Leeuw, E., Bacchi, C., Popay, J., . . . Fitzgerald, J. (2018). Understanding Australian policies on public health using social and political science theories: reflections from an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop. Health Promotion International, 34(4), 833-846.
Scopus16 WoS11 Europe PMC102018 Smith, J., Griffiths, K., Judd, J., Crawford, G., D'Antoine, H., Fisher, M., . . . Harris, P. (2018). Ten years on from the World Health Organization Commission of Social Determinants of Health: Progress or procrastination?. Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 29(1), 3-7.
Scopus27 WoS20 Europe PMC152017 Fisher, I. M., Baum, F., Kay, A., & Friel, S. (2017). Are changes in Australian national primary healthcare policy likely to promote or impede equity of access? A narrative review. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 23(3), 209-215.
Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC122017 Fisher, M., Baum, F. E., MacDougall, C., Newman, L., McDermott, D., & Phillips, C. (2017). Intersectoral action on SDH and equity in Australian health policy. Health Promotion International, 32(6), 953-963.
Scopus35 WoS24 Europe PMC202017 Anaf, J., Baum, F. E., Fisher, M., Harris, E., & Friel, S. (2017). Assessing the health impact of transnational corporations: A case study on McDonald's Australia. Globalization and Health, 13(1), 16 pages.
Scopus40 WoS29 Europe PMC242016 Baum, F. E., Sanders, D. M., Fisher, M., Anaf, J., Freudenberg, N., Friel, S., . . . Sen, A. (2016). Assessing the health impact of transnational corporations: Its importance and a framework. Globalization and Health, 12(1), 7 pages.
Scopus69 WoS57 Europe PMC422016 Fisher, M., Baum, F. E., MacDougall, C., Newman, L., & Mcdermott, D. (2016). To what extent do Australian health policy documents address social determinants of health and health equity?. Journal of Social Policy, 45(3), 545-564.
Scopus52 WoS392016 Phillips, C., Fisher, M., Baum, F., MacDougall, C., Newman, L., & McDermott, D. (2016). To what extent do Australian child and youth health policies address the social determinants of health and health equity?: A document analysis study. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 12 pages.
Scopus24 WoS20 Europe PMC192016 Fisher, M., Milos, D., Baum, F., & Friel, S. (2016). Social determinants in an Australian urban region: A 'complexity' lens. Health Promotion International, 31(1), 163-174.
Scopus16 WoS11 Europe PMC132015 Fisher, M., Baum, F., MacDougall, C., Newman, L., & McDermott, D. (2015). A qualitative methodological framework to assess uptake of evidence on social determinants of health in health policy. Evidence and Policy, 11(4), 491-507.
Scopus22 WoS172014 Baum, F. E., Laris, P., Fisher, M., Newman, L. A., & MacDougall, C. (2014). Dear health minister: Tend the garden but make sure you fence the crocodiles. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 68(4), 295-296.
Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC22014 Baum, F., & Fisher, M. (2014). Why behavioural health promotion endures despite its failure to reduce health inequities. Sociology of Health and Illness, 36(2), 213-225.
Scopus320 WoS243 Europe PMC1642013 Baum, F., Fisher, M., Trewin, D., & Duvnjak, A. (2013). Funding the 'H' in NHMRC. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(6), 503-505.
Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC22013 Baum, F. E., Laris, P., Fisher, M., Newman, L., & MacDougall, C. (2013). "Never mind the logic, give me the numbers": Former Australian health ministers' perspectives on the social determinants of health. Social Science and Medicine, 87, 138-146.
Scopus71 WoS58 Europe PMC432011 Baum, F., & Fisher, M. (2011). Are the national preventive health initiatives likely to reduce health inequities?. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 17(4), 320-326.
Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC82010 Fisher, M., & Baum, F. (2010). The social determinants of mental health: Implications for research and health promotion. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44(12), 1057-1063.
Scopus117 WoS95 Europe PMC662010 Baum, F., & Fisher, M. (2010). Health equity and sustainability: Extending the work of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. Critical Public Health, 20(3), 311-322.
Scopus14 WoS9- D'Angelo, S., Fisher, M., Mackean, T., O'Donnell, K., Dwyer, J., Sherwood, J., . . . Baum, F. (n.d.). Next Steps in Decolonising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Policy in Australia: An Analysis of Key Stakeholder Views. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 15(3).
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Books
Year Citation 2024 Fisher, M. (2024). How To Create Societies for Human Wellbeing Through Public Policy and Social Change. Policy Press. -
Book Chapters
Year Citation 2022 Anaf, J., Fisher, I., & Baum, F. (2022). Using Critical Theory to Research Commercial Determinants of Health: Health Impact Assessment of the Practices and Products of Transnational Corporations. In L. Potvin, & D. Jourdan (Eds.), Global Handbook of Health Promotion Research (Vol. 1, pp. 497-511). Springer International Publishing.
DOI Scopus32020 Fisher, M., Scanlon, C., Deojee, B., Hutton, V., & Sisko, S. (2020). Classism. In V. Hutton, & S. Sisko (Eds.), Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations (pp. 103-123). Switzerland: Springer Nature.
DOI2014 Baum, F., & Fisher, M. (2014). Why Behavioural Health Promotion Endures Despite Its Failure to Reduce Health Inequities. In From Health Behaviours to Health Practices: Critical Perspectives (pp. 57-68). Wiley.
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2020 Baum, F., Townsend, B., Fisher, M., Freeman, T., Harris, P., Browne-Yung, K., & Friel, S. (2020). Gaining political will for actions to achieve health equity: lessons from Australia for advocates. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Vol. 30 (pp. 1 page). OXFORD UNIV PRESS. 2019 MacDougall, C., Delany-Crowe, T., Baum, F., Fisher, M., & McGreevy, M. (2019). Energy policy as a social determinant of Australian health equity. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Vol. 29 (pp. 2 pages). OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
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Conference Items
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 Co-Supervisor To what extent do South Australian food, agricultural and environmental polices help or hinder the development of a healthy, sustainable and equitable food system in South Australia? Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Amanda Louise Hayes
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Consulting/Advisories
Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country 2023 - ongoing University of Adelaide Stretton Health Equity Advocacy Australia -
Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
Date Title Type Institution Country 2010 - ongoing Peer review of journal articles in my field Peer Review University of Adelaide Australia
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