Dr Matt Fisher
Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health
College of Health
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.
| 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 |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 - 2010 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2004 - 2006 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Master of Arts - Philosophy |
| 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. Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2025 | Mackean, T. J., O'Donnell, K., Sherwood, J., D'Angelo, S., Shakespeare, M., Wellington, C., . . . Baum Ao, F. (2025). Decolonising primary health care practice: a definition and its importance. Medical Journal of Australia, 223(1), 9-12. |
| 2025 | Fisher, M. (2025). Critical Reflections on Public Health, Policy and Social Change Toward Healthy Societies Comment on "How to Build Healthy Societies: A Thematic Analysis of Relevant Conceptual Frameworks". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, 14, 3 pages. |
| 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 | 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. Scopus1 |
| 2024 | 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 | 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. Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC1 |
| 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. Scopus3 WoS3 |
| 2023 | 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. Scopus4 WoS2 Europe PMC2 |
| 2023 | 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. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2022 | 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. Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC5 |
| 2022 | 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), 80-1-80-22. Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC4 |
| 2022 | 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. Scopus18 WoS15 Europe PMC7 |
| 2022 | 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. Scopus4 WoS4 |
| 2022 | 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), 1-12. Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2 |
| 2022 | 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. WoS9 |
| 2022 | 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. Scopus10 WoS5 Europe PMC4 |
| 2022 | 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. Scopus33 WoS29 Europe PMC24 |
| 2022 | 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. Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3 |
| 2022 | 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 WoS4 |
| 2021 | Fisher, I. M. (2021). Moving Social Policy from Mental Illness to Public Wellbeing. Journal of Social Policy, 51(3), 1-15. Scopus11 WoS9 |
| 2021 | 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. Scopus36 WoS30 Europe PMC26 |
| 2021 | 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. Scopus14 WoS11 Europe PMC5 |
| 2021 | 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. Scopus30 WoS27 |
| 2021 | 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. Scopus24 WoS18 |
| 2021 | 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. Scopus2 WoS1 |
| 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 WoS4 Europe PMC5 |
| 2020 | 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. Scopus43 WoS36 Europe PMC32 |
| 2020 | 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. Scopus40 WoS35 Europe PMC33 |
| 2019 | 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 WoS28 |
| 2019 | 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. Scopus17 WoS14 Europe PMC6 |
| 2019 | 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. Scopus31 WoS25 Europe PMC18 |
| 2019 | Fisher, I. (2019). A theory of public wellbeing. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 12 pages. Scopus34 WoS31 Europe PMC13 |
| 2019 | 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. Scopus20 WoS17 |
| 2019 | 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. Scopus12 WoS13 |
| 2018 | 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 WoS7 |
| 2018 | 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. Scopus24 WoS21 |
| 2018 | 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. Scopus29 WoS24 Europe PMC19 |
| 2018 | 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. Scopus13 WoS10 Europe PMC5 |
| 2018 | 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 WoS13 Europe PMC12 |
| 2018 | 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. Scopus29 WoS23 Europe PMC19 |
| 2017 | 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 WoS17 Europe PMC14 |
| 2017 | 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. Scopus36 WoS30 Europe PMC23 |
| 2017 | 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. Scopus43 WoS34 Europe PMC28 |
| 2016 | 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. Scopus76 WoS71 Europe PMC48 |
| 2016 | 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. Scopus58 WoS46 |
| 2016 | 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. Scopus28 WoS27 Europe PMC22 |
| 2016 | 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 WoS13 Europe PMC16 |
| 2015 | 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 WoS22 |
| 2014 | 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 PMC2 |
| 2014 | 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. Scopus341 WoS298 Europe PMC196 |
| 2013 | 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 WoS4 Europe PMC3 |
| 2013 | 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. Scopus75 WoS69 Europe PMC48 |
| 2011 | 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 WoS15 Europe PMC10 |
| 2010 | 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. Scopus124 WoS116 Europe PMC77 |
| 2010 | 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. Scopus16 WoS12 |
| - | 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. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 15(3). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Fisher, M. (2024). How To Create Societies for Human Wellbeing Through Public Policy and Social Change. Policy Press. Scopus1 |
| 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. DOI |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | To what extent do South Australian food-related policies help or hinder the development of a healthy, sustainable and equitable food system and what accounts for this situation? | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Amanda Louise Hayes |
| Date | Institution | Department | Organisation Type | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 - ongoing | University of Adelaide | Stretton Health Equity | Advocacy | Australia |
| 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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