Doctor Mel Taylor
SNR RESEARCH FELLOW,
School of Medicine
Personal
Qualifications
- PhD Cranfield University
- BSc University of Durham
UWS Organisational Unit (School / Division)
- School of Medicine
Contact
| Email: | Melanie.Taylor@uws.edu.au |
|---|---|
| Extension: | 9552 |
| Mobile: | |
| Location: | EV.G.04 Parramatta |
| Website: |
Biography
Mel is an Occupational Psychologist and member of the UWS Disaster Response and Resilience Research Group. She joined UWS as a Senior Research Fellow in February 2007, following a 20 year career in Human Factors in the UK. Since joining UWS she has worked in the areas of psychosocial impacts of disasters and emergencies and related preparedness and response behaviour. Her work in these areas has spanned a range of threats that would generally be regarded as significant to national security, and usually fall into the category of low probability high consequence events. These include pandemic influenza, floods, terrorism (including CBRNE terrorism), radiological and nuclear incidents or accidents, and emergency animal diseases (EAD), such as equine influenza, ovine Johne's disease, and Hendra virus. Her work includes public and emergency responder preparedness, actual or anticipated response, and psychosocial recovery and resilience in the context of these events.
Mel's current interests centre on emergency and disaster preparedness and protective responses, for example uptake of vaccination, compliance with public health and animal health recommendations, and animal health and biosecurity practices. During the last twelve months Mel has studied the impacts of risk communication and risk messaging on anticipated response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) terrorism, the use of social media for emergency information synthesis and as a source of psychological first aid during the floods and cyclone Yasi in 2011, and the animal health management practices of Australian sheep producers and the role of livestock agents in influencing sheep producer behaviours.In collaboration with researchers at the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science she has also been involved in research on veterinarians' risk perceptions and infection control practices to zoonoses, and horse owner biosecurity practices and perceptions of the response to the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza in Australia.
In 2012 Mel is working on an ARC funded Discovery project with the University of Queensland investigating resilience in Brisbane communities following the 2011 floods, and she is leading a three year research project funded through the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) from the National Hendra Virus Research Program. This project (HHALTER) will follow a large national cohort of horse owners to investigate their knowledge, attitudes, and biosecurity practices in relation to Hendra virus and to investigate their attitudes to the national response, including uptake of vaccination, in the context of this dynamic threat.
During her career in the UK Mel specialised in the optimization of human performance. She has been involved in the assessment of human performance and human error in safety-critical systems, e.g. aviation, military operations, and she has experience in using a wide range of research methodologies. Many projects investigated human performance and limitations in stressful environments, or in the presence of stressors; such as sleep deprivation, shift-work, sustained operations, noise, hypoxia, team conflicts, uncertainty, and psychological over- and under- arousal.
This information has been contributed by Doctor Taylor.
Publications
Chapters in Books
- Taylor, M., Agho, K., Raphael, B., Stevens, G. and Stevens, G. (2010), 'Psychosocial Response to Animal Disease: Australia's First Outbreak of Equine Influenza', Handbook of Disease Outbreaks: Prevention, Detection and Control, Nova publishing 9781608762248.
Journal Articles
- Hernandez-Jover, M., Taylor, M., Holyoake, P. and Dhand, N. (2012), 'Pig producers' perceptions of the Influenza Pandemic H1N1/09 outbreak and its effect on their biosecurity practices in Australia', Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 11.
- Schemann, K., Firestone, S., Taylor, M., Toribio, J., Ward, M. and Dhand, N. (2012), 'Horse owners'/managers' perceptions about effectiveness of biosecurity measures based on their experiences during the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia', Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 11.
- Taylor, M., Wells, G., Howell, G. and Raphael, B. (2012), 'The role of social media as psychological first aid as a support to community resilience building : a Facebook study from 'Cyclone Yasi Update'', Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 7.
- Schemann, K., Firestone, S., Taylor, M., Toribio, J., Ward, M. and Dhand, N. (2012), 'From the horse's mouth : perceptions of the management of the 2007 Equine Influenza Outbreak in Australia', Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 14.
- Taylor, M., Stevens, G., Agho, K., Kable, S. and Raphael, B. (2012), 'Crying wolf? Impact of the H1N1 2009 influenza pandemic on anticipated response to a future pandemic', Medical Journal of Australia, 4.
- Stevens, G., Agho, K., Taylor, M., Jones, A., Barr, M. and Raphael, B. (2012), 'Perceived coping & concern predict terrorism preparedness in Australia', BMC Public Health, 11.
- Dhand, N., Hernandez-Jover, M., Taylor, M. and Holyoake, P. (2011), 'Public perceptions of the transmission of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 from pigs and pork products in Australia', Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 11.
- Taylor, M., Joung, W., Griffin, B., Hill, D., Chisari, R., Hesketh, B. and Raphael, B. (2011), 'The public and a radiological or nuclear emergency event: Threat perception, preparedness, and anticipated response - Findings from a preliminary study in Sydney, Australia', Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 9.
- Taylor, M., Agho, K., Stevens, G., Stevens, G. and Raphael, B. (2011), 'Factors associated with high psychological distress in horse industry participants during the 2007 Australian equine influenza outbreak and evidence of recovery after 1 year', Australian Veterinary Journal, 2.
- Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Agho, K., Taylor, M., Jones, A., Jacobs, J., Barr, M. and Raphael, B. (2011), 'Alert but less alarmed: A pooled analysis of terrorism threat perception in Australia', BMC Public Health, .
- Schemann, K., Taylor, M., Toribio, J. and Dhand, N. (2011), 'Horse owners' biosecurity practices following the first equine influenza outbreak in Australia', Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 11.
- Taylor, M., Agho, K., Dhand, N. and Schemann, K. (2011), 'You can Lead a Horse to Water.....Why Human Behaviour is Central to Effective Control of Emerging Diseases', EcoHealth, 1.
- Dhand, N., Hernandez-Jover, M., Taylor, M. and Holyoake, P. (2011), 'Public perceptions of the transmission of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 from pigs and pork products in Australia', Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 11.
- Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Jones, A., Smith, G., Nelson, J., Agho, K., Taylor, M. and Raphael, B. (2010), 'Determinants of Paramedic Response Readiness for CBRNE Threats', Journal of Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science, 10.
- Jacobs, J., Taylor, M., Agho, K., Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Barr, M. and Raphael, B. (2010), 'Factors associated with population perceived risk of Pandemic Influenza', Influenza Research and Treatment, .
- Agho, K., Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Taylor, M., Barr, M. and Raphael, B. (2010), 'Population risk perceptions of global warming in Australia', Environmental Research, 8.
- Taylor, M., Barr, M., Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Bryson-Taylor, D., Agho, K., Jacobs, J. and Raphael, B. (2010), 'Psychosocial stress and strategies for managing adversity: measuring population resilience in New South Wales, Australia', Population Health Metrics, .
- Elizarraras-Rivas, J., Vargas-Mendoza, J., Mayoral-Garcia, M., Matadamas-Zarate, C., Elizarraras-Cruz, A., Taylor, M. and Agho, K. (2010), 'Psychological response of family members of patients hospitalised for influenza A/H1N1 in Oaxaca, Mexico', BMC Psychiatry, 10.
- Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Agho, K., Taylor, M., Barr, M., Raphael, B. and Jorm, L. (2009), 'Terrorism in Australia: factors associated with perceived threat and incident-critical behaviours', BMC Public Health, .
- Taylor, M., Raphael, B., Barr, M., Agho, K., Stevens, G., Stevens, G. and Jorm, L. (2009), 'Public health measures during an aniticipated influenza pandemic: Factors influencing willingness to comply', Risk Management and Health Care Policy, 12.
- Raphael, B., Taylor, M., Jacobs, J. and Looi, J. (2009), 'Strategies for occupational mental health protection', Journal of Occupational health and safety Australia and New Zealand., 11.
- Raphael, B., Taylor, M., Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Barr, M., Gorringe, M. and Agho, K. (2009), 'Factors associated with population risk perceptions of continuing drought in Australia', Australian Journal of Rural Health, 8.
- Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Taylor, M., Barr, M., Jorm, L., Giffin, M., Ferguson, R., Agho, K. and Raphael, B. (2009), 'Public perceptions of the threat of terrorist attack in Australia and anticipated compliance behaviours', Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 8.
- Taylor, M., Agho, K., Stevens, G., Stevens, G. and Raphael, B. (2008), 'Factors influencing psychological distress during a disease epidemic: Data from Australia's first outbreak of equine influenza', BMC Public Health, .
- Barr, M., Raphael, B., Taylor, M., Stevens, G., Stevens, G., Jorm, L., Giffin, M. and Lujic, S. (2008), 'Pandemic influenza in Australia: Perceptions of threat and willingness to comply', BMC Infectious Diseases, .
- Raphael, B., Taylor, M. and Mcandrew, V. (2008), 'Women, catastrophe and mental health', Australian New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 11.
Conference Papers
- Taylor, M., Taylor, M., Haddad, K., Zaman, M. and Rahman, A. (2011), 'Regional flood modelling in Western Australia: Application of regression based methods using ordinary least squares', The 19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Perth.
- Caballero, W., Taylor, M., Taylor, M., Rahman, A. and Shrestha, S. (2011), 'Regionalisation of Intensity-Frequency-Duration Data: A Case Study for New South Wales', The 19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Perth.
Research
Current Projects
| Title: | Longitudinal cohort study of horse owners |
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| Years: | 2012-05-18 - 2015-05-01 |
| ID: | P00020614 |
| UWS Researchers: | Mel Taylor |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Tackling Tough Times |
| Years: | 2009-07-01 - 2013-12-31 |
| ID: | P00017255 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael and Mel Taylor |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | What makes a community resilient? Examining changes in the adaptive capacities of Brisbane suburbs before and after the 2011 flood [via UQ] |
| Years: | 2012-01-31 - 2015-01-30 |
| ID: | P00020653 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael and Mel Taylor |
| Funding: |
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Previous Projects
| Title: | The human factors, including psycho-social impact of CBRN threat on the Australian public |
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| Years: | 2007-06-19 - 2008-01-31 |
| ID: | P0015743 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael, Beryl Hesketh, Mel Taylor, Barbara Griffin, Garry Stevens and Garry Stevens |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Modelling Hazard Perceptions and Response |
| Years: | 2009-07-01 - 2011-05-30 |
| ID: | P00016642 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael, Kingsley Agho, Garry Stevens, Garry Stevens and Mel Taylor |
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| Title: | Addressing challenges of CBRNE terrorism |
| Years: | 2008-12-01 - 2011-09-30 |
| ID: | P00016643 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael, Beryl Hesketh and Mel Taylor |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | When a Crisis happens who turns to Facebook first? |
| Years: | 2011-02-01 - 2011-11-30 |
| ID: | P00019634 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael, Gwyneth Howell and Mel Taylor |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Farm biosecurity attitudes and practices: Factors influencing the sheep industry |
| Years: | 2011-02-01 - 2011-11-10 |
| ID: | P00019880 |
| UWS Researchers: | Mel Taylor |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Partnership with Peking University Institute of Mental Health and Shanghai Mental Health Centre on Mitigating the Mental Health Consequences of Environmental Disasters |
| Years: | 2012-05-07 - 2012-12-31 |
| ID: | P00020723 |
| UWS Researchers: | Beverley Raphael, Mel Taylor, Garry Stevens and Garry Stevens |
| Funding: |
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