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Dr Peri O'Shea

Dr Peri O'Shea

Senior Research Associate

B. Social Science (Psyc Hons), MSoc Policy, PhD Applied Sociology

Medicine & Health
Intl Ctr for Future Health Sys

Dr Peri O’Shea

BSocSc (Psyc Hons), MSoc Policy, PhD Applied Sociology

Dr Peri O’Shea is a Lived Experience Academic who specialises in qualitative, participative research in the mental health sector drawing on her academic and lived experiences.

Peri has substantial research and teaching experience in Academic, Public Health and Community settings working with people with lived experience of mental health challenges and their families; mental health and disability practitioners; policy officers; academics, and community leaders.

Peri’s work and personal histories have given prominence to social justice, social inclusion and participation. Peri has a strong history in working with Human Service NGOs and in-service management and a strong understanding of mental health policy and consumer issues.

Peri has degrees in psychology and social policy, a PhD in Applied Sociology and a lived experience of mental illness as both a consumer and a carer.
Phone
+61-2-9348-1997
E-mail
p.oshea@unsw.edu.au
Location
UNSW International Centre for Future Health Systems Room 335, Level 3, AGSM Building UNSW SYDNEY 2052
  • Book Chapters | 2019
    OShea P, 2019, 'Recovery and Resilience in Mental Health', in Hercelinskyj G; Alexander L (ed.), Mental Health Nursing Applying Theory to Practice, Cengage AU
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Giuntoli G; Fisher KR; O'Shea P; Purcal C; Zmudzki F; Dwyer O, 2024, 'Social Participation of People with Chronic Mental Health Needs: Building Horizontal and Vertical Forms of Social Capital', Health and Social Care in the Community, 2024, pp. 1 - 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/9975449
    Journal articles | 2024
    Spooner C; OShea P; Fisher K; Harris-Roxas B; Taggart J; Bolton P; Harris MF, 2024, 'Access to general practice for preventive health care for people who experience severe mental illness in Sydney, Australia: a qualitative study', Australian Journal of Primary Health, 30, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/PY23195
    Journal articles | 2023
    O’Shea P; Williams KE; O'Shea P, 2023, 'Experiences of transition from hospital to community living via the Pathways to Community Living Initiative: A qualitative evaluation study of service users and family members', Australasian Psychiatry, 31, pp. 813 - 817, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10398562231211126
    Journal articles | 2023
    Williams KE; Kobel C; Westera A; O’Shea P; Thompson C; Jackson K; Murray R; O'Shea P, 2023, 'Evaluation of a mental health service reform program, the Pathways to Community Living Initiative, for people with severe mental illness and complex needs', Australasian Psychiatry, 31, pp. 806 - 812, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10398562231211673
    Journal articles | 2019
    Byrne L; Roennfeldt H; Wang Y; O'Shea P, 2019, ''You don't know what you don't know': The essential role of management exposure, understanding and commitment in peer workforce development.', Int J Ment Health Nurs, 28, pp. 572 - 581, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/inm.12562
    Journal articles | 2018
    Byrne L; Roennfeldt H; O’Shea P; Macdonald F; O'Shea P, 2018, 'Taking a Gamble for High Rewards? Management Perspectives on the Value of Mental Health Peer Workers', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040746
    Journal articles | 2007
    O'Shea P, 2007, 'A discursive study of institutionalisation in community organisations', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL POLICY, 27, pp. 484 - +, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01443330710835837
  • Reports | 2023
    O'Shea P; Forrester E; Purcal C, 2023, Making mental health services better for people with intellectual disability [Easy Read], UNSW Social Policy Research Centre, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28568
    Reports | 2023
    Purcal C; Giuntoli G; O'Shea P; Zmudzki F; Fisher KR; Campbell E, 2023, Evaluation of NSW Community-based Mental Health Programs: Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative Plus HASI Plus Evaluation Report, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28496, https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/resources/Publications/hasi-plus-eval-final-rpt-22.pdf
    Reports | 2022
    O'Shea P; Fisher KR; Geehan O; Purcal C, 2022, Consultations to develop the Intellectual Disability Mental Health (IDMH) Strategy, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28472
    Reports | 2022
    Purcal C; O'Shea P; Giuntoli G; Zmudzki F; Fisher K, 2022, Evaluation of NSW Community-based Mental Health Programs: Community Living Supports and Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative. CLS-HASI Evaluation Report, Social Policy Research Centre UNSW, Sydney, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28396, https://www.unsw.edu.au/content/dam/pdfs/unsw-adobe-websites/arts-design-architecture/2022-10-cls-hasi-reports/2022-10-cls-hasi-reports-summary-evaluation-report-appendices-final.pdf
    Reports | 2020
    Katz I; O'Shea P; Bates S; Gendera S, 2020, Final Report Part A (Summary) Implementing the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the development and trialling of the InnoWell Platform, as part of Project Synergy (Phase 2, 2017–2020), http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28408
    Reports | 2020
    Katz I; O'Shea P; Bates S; Gendera S, 2020, Project Synergy (Phase 2) Implementation Evaluation: Final Report Part B (Full Report), http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28406
    Reports | 2020
    O'Shea P; Purcal C; Giuntoli G; Fisher K; Zmudzki F, 2020, Evaluation of Community-based Mental Health Programs: Community Living Supports (CLS) and Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI). Aboriginal experience, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2020
    O'Shea P; Purcal C; Giuntoli G; Fisher K; Zmudzki F, 2020, Evaluation of Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative Plus (HASI Plus) – Report 3, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2020
    O'Shea P; Purcal C; Giuntoli G; Fisher K, 2020, Evaluation of Community-based Mental Health Programs: Community Living Supports (CLS) and Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI). Recovery Focus, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2020
    Purcal C; O'Shea P; Giuntoli G; Campbell E; Fisher K; Zmudzki F, 2020, Evaluation of Community-based Mental Health Programs: Community Living Supports (CLS) and Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI). Focus report 2: CLS-HASI and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Interface, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2019
    O'Shea P; Giuntoli G; Purcal C; Zmudzki F; Fisher K; Campbell E, 2019, Evaluation of Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative Plus (HASI Plus) – Report 2, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2019
    Purcal C; O'Shea P; Blunden H; Zmudzki F; Giuntoli G; Fisher KR, 2019, Evaluation of Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative Plus (HASI Plus) – Report 1, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, SPRC Report 13/19, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/5d1aa73b5c6e7
    Reports | 2018
    Giuntoli G; Hill T; Zmudzki F; Fisher K; Purcal C; O'Shea P, 2018, Evaluation Plan Community-based Mental Health Programs: Community Living Supports (CLS) and Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI), Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/5b5fab7abe94a, http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:51691/bin711a87b5-4752-4736-97f9-76ab64b4ff9e?view=true
    Reports | 2017
    Byrne L; Roennfeldt H; OShea P, 2017, Identifying barriers to change: The lived experience worker as a valued member of the mental health team, http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21371.00804, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320180982_Identifying_barriers_to_change_The_lived_experience_worker_as_a_valued_member_of_the_mental_health_team?channel=doi&linkId=59d316150f7e9b4fd7fe3622&showFulltext=true

  • UNSW 2025 Collaborative Research Seeding Grant Funding. Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction Research Scheme. Unifying digital health self-management tools for adults living with severe mental illness: A novel approach to enable lifestyle behaviour change. Role: Chief Investigator (1 of 5).  This study will co-develop and user-test a digital solution to improve holistic health self-care for adults living with severe mental illness (SMI). Partnership: UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health (School of Biomedical Engineering, International Centre for Future Health Systems, School of Clinical Medicine and School of Population Health), Neuroscience Research Australia (Neura) and Mindgardens Neuroscience Network. 

  • NHMRC No-Body left behind: Integrated Physical Health Care for People living with Severe Mental Illness. Role: Chief Investigator (1 of 10). Partnership with School of Medicine, UNSW, Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), University of Tasmania.  5-year Clinical trial to co-produce an individualised, integrated new service to improve physical health outcomes for people living with a severe mental illness (2023-28). 

  • CESPHN contract project: Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network General Practitioner Mental Health Shared Program Care (CESPHN GPMHSC) Redesign. Principal Investigating Officer. The objectives of this re-design project are to: address systemic and operational barriers to achieving the aims of the program; use co-design to develop a service model and guidance document; and create an improved model of care that enhances access to and outcomes of primary care engagement. Funded by CESPHN Sept 2024 - June 2025.

 

Research areas

  • Addressing gaps of physical health care for people with severe mental illness

  •  Lived Experience Participation and Co-design: in service design, research and policy

  • Mental Health: access, service provision, service coordination, information sharing between services and between jurisdictions, general health

  • Disability: rights, supported decision-making, effect of NDIS, services and supports, cultural support

  • Carers: rights, support, services

  • Community engagement, development and empowerment

Current Projects

  • Unifying digital health self-management tools for adults living with severe mental illness: A novel approach to enable lifestyle behaviour change. Role: Cheif Investigator (1 of 5).  This study will co-develop and user-test a digital solution to improve holistic health self-care for adults living with severe mental illness (SMI). Partnership: UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health (School of Biomedical Engineering, International Centre for Future Health Systems, School of Clinical Medicine and School of Population Health), Neuroscience Research Australia (Neura) and Mindgardens Neuroscience Network. Funded by UNSW 2025 Collaborative Research Funding.

  • Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network General Practitioner Mental Health Shared Program Care (CESPHN GPMHSC) Redesign. Principal Investigating Officer. The objectives of this re-design project are to: address systemic and operational barriers to achieving the aims of the program; use co-design to develop a service model and guidance document; and create an improved model of care that enhances access to and outcomes of primary care engagement. Funded by CESPHN Sept 2024 - June 2025.

  • No-Body left behind: Integrated Physical Health Care for People living with Severe Mental Illness. Role: Chief Investigator (1 of 10). Partnership with School of Medicine, UNSW, Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), University of Tasmania.  5-year Clinical trial to co-produce an individualised, integrated new service to improve physical health outcomes for people living with a severe mental illness (2023-28). - Funded by NHMRC. no Body left behind - Mindgardens

  • Shared Health Arrangements Research & Development (SHAReD) study. Role: Project Coordinator and Qualitative Research Lead. Randomised control trial of online shared-care software with the aim to improve communication between mental health services, GPs and their shared patients. CPHCE UNSW in partnership with Sydney Local Health District (Aug 2023 – Dec 2024).  Funded by Translational Research Grants Scheme, NSW Health.

Previous Relevant Projects

  • IDMH NDIS Residuals Functions and Statewide Hubs Program evaluations and Consultations to develop the Intellectual Disability Mental Health (IDMH) Strategy. Senior Researcher. UNSW SPRC (2022 – Dec 2023)

  • Developing the National Workplace Initiative Monitoring Framework and Baseline of Current State. Australian Health Services Research Institute (AHSRI), UoW (2022-23)

  • Evaluation Family Carers Mental Health Program – AHSRI, UoW (2021-2022)

  • SUNNY consortium - Mental health literacy responsiveness project - Centre for Primary Health Care & Equity (CPHCE), UNSW in collaboration Swinburne and Newcastle Universities (2021-22)

  • Evaluation of Pathways to Community Living Initiative - AHSRI UoW (2018-21)

  • HASI Plus Codesign Project – Ministry of Health Mental Health Branch (2020-21)

  • Evaluation of Community-based Mental Health Programs: Community Living Supports (CLS) and Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) and HASI + SPRC, UNSW (2017-21)

  • Development and Trialling of the InnoWell Platform evaluation. SPRC, UNSW (2018-20)

  • Pathways to Preventive Care for People with Severe Mental Illness, UNSW, CPHCE in partnership with SESLHD and Mission Australia (2019).

  • Identifying barriers to change: the lived experience worker as a valued member of the mental health team. Central Queensland University, School of Nursing and Midwifery. (2016-17).

 

 

Dr O’Shea’s engagement has included: MindGardens Steering Committee (current), Heal for Life Foundation Director (current); CEO Being (consumer peak organisation in NSW 2010-17) Mental Health Commission of NSW Consumer Lived Experience Advisory Group 2016- 17; Central and Eastern Sydney PHN Community Council Community Council Member 2017; SESLHD Recovery College Steering Committee 2016-17; National Mental Health Commission Lived Experience Steering Group 2017-18.

Dr O'Shea was the CEO of Being: Mental Health Consumers NSW  2010 - 2017. Being is the peak organisation representing people with a lived experience of mental health challenges in NSW. Dr O'Shea made many connections during her tenure as the being CEO including with; staff and management in NSW and Federal Health Ministries, in LHDs and in community organisations; peer workers; and other people with lived experience and their carers. Dr O'Shea has maintained and built on these connections which she continues to draw on in her collaborative research work.

My Teaching

Dr O'shea is the Co-convenor Prevention & Management of Chronic Disease (PHCM9129) Masters course (T3/24) - offered as part of the Master of Public Health with the School of Population Health, Medicine and Health UNSW. Dr O'shea has substantive teaching roles with the Mental Health Division of the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) including the co-facilitation of the Leadership in Mental Health for the Masters Course for mental health clinicians.