Associate Professor Christopher M. Fisher works in the areas of Sexual and Public Health. Christopher takes a leading role in research on young peoples' sexual health and wellbeing. A major focus of the work is on adolescent sexual health knowledge, behaviours and educational experiences (both formal and informal). His current work centres on the National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health in Australia, using predominately quantitative population survey methods but also including qualitative work. Previous work has looked at the role of youth development professionals in Non-Govermental Organisations (e.g., youth groups) in providing sexual health information (qualitative and quantitative) as well as adolescent perspectives on promoting sexual health (qualitative). He has also conducted population-based research in LGBTIQ health (quantitative) and HIV prevention and care (mixed methods evaluation). Christopher uses a diverse range of methods for asking and answering empirical and theoretical questions including a range of statistical analysis techniques, qualitative methods, and community-based participatory research approaches. He supervises several PhD students using both qualitative and quantitative methods covering a range of topics including trans and gender diverse experiences of health and cancer care, sex education, queer health promotion through life writing, and preventing sexual assault in regional contexts. Christopher has developed and taught postgraduate coursework on qualitative research methods as well as teaching research methods (undergraduate), health promotion theory (undergraduate and postgraduate), health promotion methods and evaluation (undergraduate), biostatistics (postgraduate), sexual health (undergraduate and postgraduate) and community-based participatory research (postgraduate). Dr. Fisher currently serves as the Graduate Research Coordinator at ARCSHS and is the Course Coordinator for the new Graduate Certificate in Sex, Health and Society. Christopher is a Senior Visiting Fellow at The Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales and maintains a Director Emeritus role at the Midlands Sexual Health Research Collaborative and Adjunct position in Health Promotion at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health in the USA. Dr. Fisher has held previous appointments at Curtin University as Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion, Collaborative for Evidence, Research, and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH), University of Nebraska Medical Center as Assistant Professor in Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, as Research Coordinator at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion and Associate Instructor in Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University andat San Francisco State University as an Instructor in Human Sexuality.
Visiting Senior Fellow
Dr Christopher Micheal Fisher
PhD (Indiana U)
MA (San Francisco State U)
AA (City College of San Francisco)
BS (Indiana U)
Research activities
Current major research activities:
National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health (lead investigator)
A nationally recurring survey funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health, this project examines the sexual health knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and educational experiences of young people in Australia. Past reports can be found here.
Australian Survey of Health and Relationships 3 (associate investigator)
This large national survey provides critical data on sexual health and relationships of Australians. More details can be found here.
Recent publications:
- Fisher, C.M., Kauer, S., Singleton, A. & Walsh-Buhi (in press). An examination of sexual health information sources, knowldge and behaviours among Australina teens: A latent class analysis. Sexuality Research & Social Policy.
- Connor, S., Edvardsson, K., Fisher, C.M., & Spelten, E. (in press). Perceptions and interpretation of contemporary masculinities: A systematic review. American Journal of Men’s Health.
- Robbins, R.E., Tibbits, M.K., Desmarais, M., Gilbert, M., Fisher, C.M., Bower, A., Shipp, D., Kaminski, J., & Pettid, C. (in press). Improving community readiness to promote spiritual wellness on a college campus. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies.
- Kerr, L., Jones, T. & Fisher, C.M. (2021). Alleviating gender dysphoria: A qualitative study of perspectives of trans and gender diverse people. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy. doi: 10.1177/13558196211013407
- Ezer, P., Fisher, C.M., Jones, T. & Power, J. (2021). Changes in sexuality education teacher training since the release of the Australian Curriculum. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. doi: 10.1007/s13178-020-00520-3
- Yap, L., Jones, J., Donovan, B., Nathan, S., Sullivan, E., Davison, S., Hefferan, E., Richards, A., Meurk, C., Steele., M., Fisher, C.M., Ton, B. & Butler, T. (2020). The sexual behaviours of adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years involved with the juvenile justice system in Australia: A community-based survey. PLOS One, 15(12), 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243633
- Waling, A., Fisher, C.M., Ezer, P., Kerr, L., Bellamy, R., & Lucke, J. (2020). “Please teach students that sex is a healthy part of growing up.”: Australian students’ desires for sexuality and relationships education. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. doi: 10.1007/s13178-020-00516-z
- Mude, W., Fisher, C.M., Gautier, R., Wallace, J. & Richmond, J. (2020). South Sudanese perceptions of health and illness in South Australia. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 16(4), 469-479. doi: 10.1108/IJMHSC-10-2019-0082.
- Fisher, C.M., Kauer, S., Mikolajczak, G., Ezer, P, Kerr, L., Bellamy, R., Waling, A. & Lucke, J. (2020). Prevalence rates of sexual behaviours, condom use and contraction among Australian heterosexual adolescents. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17(12), 2313-2321. doi: 10.1016/jsxm.2020.08.009.
- Waling, A., Bellamy, R., Ezer, P., Kerr, L., Lucke, J., & Fisher, C.M. (2020). “It’s kinda bad, honestly.”: Australian students’ experiences of sex education. Health Education Research, 35(6), 538-552. doi: 10.1093/her/cyaa032.
- Kerr, L., Fisher, C.M., & Jones, T. (2020). Improving cervical screening in trans and gender diverse people. Cancer Nursing. doi:.10.1097/NCC 0000000000000890. Q2
- Kerr, L., Fisher, C.M. & Jones, T. (2020). “I’m not from another planet”: The alienating cancer care experiences of trans and gender diverse people. Cancer Nursing: An International Journal for Cancer Care. doi: 10.1097/NCC. 0000000000000857.
- Mude, W., Fisher, C.M., Richmond, J., Gaultier, RL & Wallace, J. (2020). Social impacts of living with chronic hepatitis B in South Sudanese community in Australia. Ethnicity and Health. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2020.1782849.
- Mullholland, M., Robinson, K. & Fisher, C.M. (2020). Parent-child communication, sexuality and intergenerational conflict in multi-cultural multi-faith communities. Sex Education, 21(1), 44-58. doi: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1732336
- Ezer, P., Fisher, C.M., Waling, A., Kerr, L., Bellamy, R., & Lucke, J. (2020). School-based relationship and sexuality education: What has changed since the release of the Australian Curriculum? Sex Education, 20(6), 642-657. doi:10.1080/14681811.2020.1720634
- Kerr, L., Fisher, C.M., & Jones, T. (2020). Key informants discuss cancer care research for trans and gender diverse people. Journal of Cancer Education. doi: 10.1007/s13187-020-01697-2
- Fisher, C.M., Kerr, L., Kneip Pelster, A.D., Ezer, P., Coleman, J.D., & Tibbits, M.K. (2020). Adolescent perspectives on addressing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in the classroom and beyond. Sex Education, 20(1), 90-100.doi:10.1080/14681811.2019.1618257
- Robbins, R.E., Tibbits, M.K., Desmarais, M., Gilbert, M., Fisher, C.M., Bower, A., Shipp, D., Kaminski, J., & Pettid, C. (2019). Promoting spiritual wellness on a college campus through community-based participatory research. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 38(2).
- Fisher, C.M., Mikolajczak, G., Ezer, P., Kerr, L., Bellamy, R., Brown, G., Waling, A., & Lucke, J. (2019). Study protocol: 6th national survey of Australian secondary students and adolescent sexual health, 2018. Frontiers in Public Health, 7(217). doi:10.3389/fpubh.2019.00217
- Ezer, P., Jones, T., Fisher, C.M., & Power, J. (2019). A critical discourse analysis of sexuality education in the Australian Curriculum. Sex Education 19(5), 551-567. doi: 10.1080/14681811.2018.1553709
- Ezer, P., Kerr, L., Fisher, C.M., Heywood, P., Mikolajczak, G., & Lucke, J. (2019). Australian students’ experiences of sexuality education at school. Sex Education 19(5), 597-613. doi: 10.1080/14681811.2019.1566896
- Mude, W., Fisher, C.M., Richmond, J., Wallace, J., & Gautier, R. (2019). A qualitative investigation of barriers, support-seeking and coping among South Sudanese people with chronic hepatitis B in Australia. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 25, 264-274. doi:10.1071/PY19015
- Pounds, L., Fisher, C.M., Lueshen, M.P., Barnes-Josiah, D., Coleman, J.D., & Lefebvre, R.C. (2017). The Role of Early Maternal Support in Balancing Full-Time Work and Infant Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Study. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12(1), 33-38. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2016.0151
- Fisher, C.M., Pastuszak, A.W., Cohen, D., Castiglione, F. & Carvalho, J. (2016). Current literature review [Commentary on: Towards preparedness for PrEP: PrEP awareness and acceptability among MSM at high risk of HIV transmission who use ociosexual media in four Celtic nations: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland: An online survey]. Sexual Medicine, 4(2), e71-e74. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2016.03.028
- Su, D., Irwin, J.A., Fisher, C.M., Ramos, A., Kelley, M., Rogel-Mendoza, D.A., & Coleman, J.D. (2016). Mental health disparities within the LGBT population: A comparison between transgender and nontransgender individuals. Transgender Health, 1(1), 12-20. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2015.0001
- McCarthy, M.A., Fisher, C.M., Zhou, J., Zhu, H., Kneip Pelster, A.D., Schober, D.J., Baldwin, K., Fortneberry, J.D. & Goldsworthy, R. (2015). A qualitative exploration of community-based organizations’ programs, resources, and training to promote adolescent sexual health. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 10(4), 316-332. doi: 10.1080/15546128.2015.1091759
- Gupta, N., Chandak, A., Gilson, G., Kneip Pelster, A.D., Schober, D.J., Goldsworthy, R., Baldwin, K., Fortenberry, J.D., & Fisher, C.M. (2015) Discovering sexual health conversations between youth and youth development professionals. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 10(1), 21-39. doi: 10.1080/15546128.2015.1009596
Recent reports:
- Butler T., Yap L., Ton B., Jones J., Nathan S., Donovan B., Sullivan E., Steele M., Heffernan E., Davison S., Meurk C., Schess J., Harden S., Amin J. & Fisher C.M. (2021). Changing direction: Sexual and reproductive health needs of justice-involved young people in Australia. School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3963-6
- Hooker, L., Ison, J., Henry, N., Fisher, C.M., Forsdike, K., Young, F., Korsmeyer, H., O’Sullivan, G. & Taft, A. (2021). Primary prevention of sexual violence and harassment against women and girls: Combining evidence and practice knowledge – final report and theory of change. La Trobe University.
- Hooker, L., Ison, J., O’Sullivan, G., Fisher, C.M., Henry, N., Forsdike, K, Young, F. & Taft, A. (2020). Primary prevention of sexual violence and harassment against women and girls: Combining evidence and practice knowledge – evidence review and data synthesis. La Trobe University.
- Ezer, P., Power, J., Jones, T. & Fisher, C. M. (2020). 2nd National Survey of Australian Teachers of Sexuality Education 2018. Melbourne: La Trobe University. doi: 10.26181/5fa8f6f957467
- Waling, A., Fraser, S. & Fisher, C.M. (2020). Young people and sources of sexual health information, (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 121), Bundoora; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University.
- Fisher, C.M. & Kauer, S. (2019). National survey of Australian secondary students and sexual health 1992 – 2018: Trends over time, (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 118), Bundoora; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University.
- Kerr, L., Fisher, C.M., & Jones, T. (2019). TRANScending discrimination in health and cancer care: A study of trans and gender diverse Australians, (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 117), Bundoora: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University.
- Fisher, C.M., Kauer, S., Waling, A., Bellamy, R., Ezer, P., Kerr, L., Brown, G., & Lucke, J. (2019). Western Australian survey of secondary students and sexual health 2018, (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 115), Bundoora; Australia Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University.
- Fisher, C.M. (2019). Around half of 17-year-olds have had sex and they’re more responsible than you think. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/around-half-of-17-year-olds-have-had-sex-and-theyre-more-responsible-than-you-think-118337.
- Fisher, C. M., Waling, A., Kerr, L., Bellamy, R., Ezer, P., Mikolajczak, G., Brown, G., Carman, M. & Lucke, J. (2019). 6th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2018, (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 113), Bundoora: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University.
- Fisher, C.M., Coleman, J.D., Kneip Pelster, A.D., & Tibbits, M. (2014). Final Report on Teen Knowledge, Perceptions and Ideas to Address Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Teaching & Supervision
Current:
Course Coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Sex, Health and Society (La Trobe University)
Past:
Have developed and taught a number of subjects, both undergraduate and postgraduate, including: Health Promotion, Advanced Theories, Community-Based Participatory Research, Qualitative Methods, Human Sexuality, Applied Research and Biostatistics, Health Behaviour and Research and Evaluation Methods.
Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies in social and behavioural health research
LGBTQIA+
Young People/Adolescents
Sex Education
Health Promotion
Public Health