Dr Frances Cunningham

Honorary research fellow

Qualifications:

Doctor of Science (ScD), Johns Hopkins University, 1983; Bachelor of Arts, University of Queensland, 1971; Diploma of Education, Queensland University of Technology, 1967.

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Principal Supervisor for PhD

Location:

Brisbane

Biography:

Dr Cunningham is an honorary research fellow in our Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease division. Formerly a senior health executive, consultant, policy analyst and health services researcher, Frances’ experience includes the public and private health sectors in Australia, the United States and the Pacific.

She has conducted a broad range of research, consulting and policy projects in the health, community and disability services areas, with a focus on the financing and delivery of services, quality improvement, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and preventive health. Her research at the University of New South Wales applied network methods to evaluate the effectiveness of state-based, clinical networks. At Menzies she has applied network methods to evaluate the ABCD National Research Partnership and the CRE in Integrated Quality Improvement, both addressing continuous quality improvement in primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Her research uses qualitative and mixed methods. Frances was the project lead for the Queensland B.strong Program, providing training in brief interventions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers to address smoking, poor nutrition and physical inactivity.  

She is a fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Frances has been a board director for St Vincent’s Private Clinic, The STaR Association, ACHSM-NSW and ACHSM-QLD.

Dr Frances Cunningham
Email
Research Themes

  1. Bailie, J., Laycock, A., Conte, K., Matthews, V., Peiris, D., Bailie, R., Abimbola, S., Passey, M., Cunningham, F., Harkin, K. & Bainbridge, R. (2021). Principles governing ethical research in a collaboration to strengthen Indigenous primary health care in Australia – learning from experience. BMJ Global Health, 6:e003852. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003852.

  2. Sebastian, S., Thomas, D.P., Brimblecombe, J. & Cunningham, F.C. (2021). Notes From the Field: Applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in a Qualitative Evaluation of Implementation of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Brief Intervention Training Program. Evaluation and the Health Professions. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163278721992815.

  3. Bailie, J., Laycock, A.F., Peiris, D., Bainbridge, R.G., Matthews, V., Cunningham, F.C., Conte, K.P., Abimbola, S., Passey, M.E. & Bailie, R.S. (2020). Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary health care. Health Research Policy and Systems, 18(45).

  4. Sebastian.S., Thomas, D.P., Brimblecombe, J., Majoni, V. & Cunningham, F.C. (2020). Factors impacting on development and implementation of training programs for health professionals to deliver brief interventions, with a focus on programs developed for Indigenous clients: a literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(3), 1094. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031094

  5. De Witt, A., Matthews, V., Bailie, R., Garvey, G., Valery, P.C., Adams, J., Martin, J.H. & Cunningham, F.C. (2020) Communication, collaboration and care coordination: the three-point guide to cancer care provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. International Journal of Integrated Care, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.5456.

  6. Laycock, A., Konte, K., Harkin, K., Bailie, J., Matthew, V., Cunningham, F, Ramanathan, S. & Bailie, R. (2019). Improving the quality of primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Final report: Centre of Research Excellence in Integrated Quality Improvement 2025-2019. University Centre for Rural Health, Lismore, NSW.

  7. Fazelipour, M. & Cunningham, F. (2019). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of brief interventions targeting smoking, nutrition and physical activity among Indigenous populations: a narrative review. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18:169; https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1059-2

  8. Cunningham, F.C. Ranmuthugala, G, Westbrook, J. & Braithwaite, J. (2019). Tacking the wicked problem of health networks: the design of an evaluation framework, BMJ Open, 9: e024231. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024231. .

  9. De Witt, A., Cunningham, F.C., Bailie, R., Percival, N., Adams, J. & Valery, P.C. (2018). ‘It’s just presence’, the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals in cancer care in Queensland. Frontiers in Public Health, 6:344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00344

  1. Menzies B.Strong training in Townsville

    Menzies B.Strong training in Townsville

    Date

    More than 80 Health workers from around the Townsville region are participating in Menzies B.Strong workshops.

  2. Workshops to improve Indigenous health in the north west

    Workshops to improve Indigenous health in the north west

    Date

    The B.strong Brief Intervention Training Program, which according to North West Hospital and Health Service Indigenous Workforce Coordinator, Lila Pigliafiori, will give health workers the skills to promote health changes for their clients.

  3. Balonne Beacon | Motivational techniques to boost Balonne

    Balonne Beacon | Motivational techniques to boost Balonne

    Date

    THE health of the community was the focal point of the B.strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Brief Intervention Training Program that was held in St George.

  4. Koori Mail | B.Strong Program

    Koori Mail | B.Strong Program

    Date

    QUEENSLAND health professionals will receive training on how to provide culturally appropriate healthy lifestyle advice to Indigenous people under the Menzies B.strong training program.

  5. NITV | $2.24m health initiative by Menzies in QLD

    NITV | $2.24m health initiative by Menzies in QLD

    Date

    The $2.24 million B.Strong initiative will be rolled out over three years by the Menzies School of Health Research to health professionals in Queensland giving culturally-appropriate lifestyle advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients

  6. QLD Government | B.Strong training program release

    QLD Government | B.Strong training program release

    Date

    QLD Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Brief Intervention Training Program.