Research Interests:  My research interests focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing, clinical psychology at the cultural interface, and addressing Indigenous content in psychology curriculum. My research also focuses upon attachment and grand/parenting, and neonatal developmental outcomes in North Queensland.

 

Research Aims:  

1. Understanding cross-cultural similarities and differences in conceptualisations of mental health and wellbeing and applying these in a clinical psychology context

2. Enhance appropriate Indigenous content into undergraduate and postgraduate psychology curriculum

3. Understand the role of attachment and parenting behaviours of parents and grandparents who care for their grandchildren

4. Understand factors that influence giving permission for autopsy after stillbirth

 

Expected Research Outcomes:

1. Enhance cultural competence of clinical psychologists through adapting established interventions to be culturally appropriate

2. Integrate Indigenous knowledges into psychology curriculum to enhance the cultural competence of developing psychologists and researchers

3. Understand the role of attachment, particularly for grandparents who are raising or caring for their grandchildren

4. Develop guidelines for health professionals when approaching parents to provide consent for autopsy

 

 

Students

PhD Candidates

Katerina Kanakis, BPsych (Hons) (Co-supervisor)

Marie McAuliffe, Nursing (Co-supervisor)

Trina Jackson, Indigenous Studies (Co-supervisor)

 

Master of Psychology (Clinical) Candidates 

Mellisa Taylor (Primary supervisor)

Emma Chalmers (Co-supervisor)

Kelly Williams (Co-supervisor)

 

 

Current Projects

End-of-life care in the neonatal unit: staff perceptions and meaning-making in a regional nursey

Closing the gap in the stillbirth rate: understanding the issues and challenges in gaining permission for autopsy

 

 

Publications

Kilcullen, M. L., Swinbourne, A., & Cadet-James, Y. (in press). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

and wellbeing: implications for a CBT framework. Australian Psychologist. 

Kandasamy, Y., Kilcullen, M., & Watson, D. (2015). Fetal autopsy and closing the gap. Australian Journal of

Obstetrics and Gynaecology. (early view)http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajo.12421/full

Kilcullen ML, Ireland S, Kandasamy Y and Sivayoganathan S (2014) Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2

years of age of premature neonates in Regional Queensland, Australia. Infant Mental Health Journal, 35 (3 (Supplement A)). pp. 378-379

Kilcullen ML, Swinbourne AL and Cadet-James YL (2014) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and

wellbeing: implications for a CBT framework. Abstracts from the 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology. In: ICAP 2014: 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, 8-13 July 2014, Paris, France

Kilcullen, M. L., Swinbourne, A., & Cadet-James, Y. (2012). Factors affecting resilience of Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander grandmothers raising their grandchildren. In B. F. McCoy, N. Poroch & P. Stewart (Eds.), Urban health: strengthening our voices, culture and partnerships (pp. 31-46). Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.  http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/research/documents/Urban_Health_Web_000.pdf#page=43

​Kilcullen ML, Swinbourne AL and Cadet-James YL (2012) Cultural identity and mental health: Australian

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Psychology & Health, 27 (s1). pp. 67-68

Kilcullen ML, Swinbourne AL and Cadet-James YL (2012) Mental health and connectedness: exploring

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 48 (s1). p. 62

Kilcullen ML, Cadet-James YL and Swinbourne AL (2011) Mental health and connectedness: exploring urban

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders understandings of mental health. Combined Abstracts of 2011 Psychology Conferences. In: 46th APS Annual Conference, 4-8 October 2011, Canberra, ACT, Australia​

Kilcullen ML, Swinbourne AL and Cadet-James YL (2009) Resilience and urban Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander grandmother raising their grandchildren. Papers from the AIATSIS National Indigenous Studies Conference. 29 September - 01 October 2009, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Kilcullen ML, Swinbourne AL and Cadet-James YL (2009) Positive ageing: resilience and Indigenous

grandmothers raising grandchildren. Combined Abstracts of 2009 Psychology Conferences. In: 1st Joint Conference of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age, 12-14 November 2009, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia