Jessica Mackelprang, PhD

I was born and raised on a rural ranch on the lands of the Southern Paiute People in Southern Utah (United States). I am a first-generation university student. I completed undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology at Southern Utah University and then earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale). Prior to relocating to Australia, I completed postdoctoral fellowships in rehabilitation psychology and injury research at the University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, and the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (Seattle). Since 2017, I have lived and worked on the unceded lands of the Bunurong and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation in Victoria, Australia. I am a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Chair (Professional Programs) in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology. 

​

I study psychological (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder) and physical trauma (e.g., traumatic brain injury) among populations that have been marginalised, with a focus on supporting community members affected by homelessness and the frontline workers who serve them. I hope that my work contributes to reducing inequities in health service access and to improving health outcomes among these populations. I also studies gender equity in academia. My research involves a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.  

​

As an endorsed Clinical and Health Psychologist, I have delivered psychotherapy in community health and hospital settings to individuals across the lifespan who are affected by life-altering injury or chronic illness, in addition to mental health difficulties, including non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality. Alongside supervising student research, I teach into undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology and counselling on topics related to health, trauma, and grief and loss. In 2024, I was awarded a national Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning by the Australian Awards for University Teaching.

 

I am an Associate Editor for Clinical Psychologist, a Member of the Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project (AIPEP) Community of Practice, Past Chair of the Swinburne Indigenous Psychology Committee (SIPC), and a Leader for the Swinburne Women's Academic Network (SWAN) Promotions Program. I am also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow (Global and Engagement) at Federation University.

​

When not immersed in academic pursuits, I can usually be found in nature, often sailing, hiking, or camping; or chasing my two beautiful, wild sons.