Personal profile
Research Biography
Dr Michael Lawless is a Senior Research Fellow in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, where he leads the Self-Care research theme within the Caring Futures Institute. His work focuses on strengthening the capability and capacity of community-dwelling older adults to manage their health and wellbeing, live well, and age in place, particularly those living with multiple chronic conditions and frailty.
Dr Lawless specialises in qualitative research and co-design methodologies, working closely with older people, carers, clinicians, aged care providers, and policymakers to create practical, evidence-based solutions. He is also recognised for his expertise in integrated knowledge translation and implementation science.
His current projects explore self-care, healthy ageing, and system innovation across community, primary, and aged care sectors. Dr Lawless is committed to advancing equity in care through cross-sector collaboration and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of researchers.
Completed Supervisions
Master (Public Health) Supervisions:
- Older adults’ health and wellbeing: Health literacy in primary care (1)
Master (Audiology) Supervisions:
- Knowledge Translation (5)
Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
- Older adults’ health and wellbeing: Frailty (2)
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours)
- Older adults’ health and wellbeing: Nutrition (2)
Research Expertise
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, University of Adelaide
Award Date: 8 Jan 2018
Bachelor (Honours), University of Adelaide
Award Date: 19 Dec 2013
Supervision
- Registered
Research Areas
- Healthy ageing and aged care
- Knowledge translation and implementation science
- Fundamental care
- Health sciences
Supervisory Interests
- Ageing
- Healthcare for older people
- Knowledge translation
- Qualitative and participatory methodologies
- Chronic condition management and self-management
- Gay men's health
- Health communication
- Psychosocial factors, chronic illness
- Mixed method research
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Associations between nutritional and physical outcomes of community-dwelling older adults eating alone, versus with others: A systematic review
Wyman, C., Thomas, J., Lawless, M. & Yaxley, A., 1 Feb 2026, In: Appetite. 217, 14 p., 108327.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)4 Downloads (Pure) -
Book overview and setting the scene
Kitson, A., Lawless, M. & Hunter, S., 2026, Navigating Knowledge Translation in Health and Care. Hunter, S., Lawless, M. & Kitson, A. (eds.). Oxon.UK: Taylor and Francis - Balkema, p. 3-18 16 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Care by Name, Not by Nature: Experiences of Older Adults Accessing a Home Care Package Including Food and Nutrition Services—An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Wyman, C., Hoekman, V., Lawless, M., Thomas, J. & Yaxley, A., Jun 2026, In: Australasian Journal on Ageing. 45, 2, 10 p., e70156.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
Defining Life Stages and Mapping Care Trajectories: A Narrative Review of Life-Course Theories, Models and Frameworks
Lawless, M. T., Tieu, M., Golley, R. K. & Kitson, A. L., 9 Jan 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Getting started with integrated knowledge translation
Lawless, M., Kitson, A., Hunter, S. & Conroy, T., 2026, Navigating Knowledge Translation in Health and Care. Hunter, S., Lawless, M. & Kitson, A. (eds.). Oxon, UK: Taylor and Francis - Balkema, p. 147-163 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Projects
- 1 Finished
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SA Wellbeing Strategy for Older Persons in Residential Aged Care
Lewis, L. (Chief Investigator), Hunter, S. (Associate Investigator), Lange, B. (Associate Investigator), Lawless, M. (Associate Investigator) & Milte, R. (Associate Investigator)
17/06/20 → 30/10/20
Project: Research
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Global Impact and Recognition of the PROLIFERATE_AI Method
Pinero de Plaza, M. A. (Participant), Lambrakis, K. (Participant), Marmolejo Ramos, F. (Participant), Beleigoli, A. (Participant), Archibald, M. (Participant), Yadav, L. (Participant), McMillan, P. (Participant), Clark, R. (Participant), Lawless, M. (Participant), Morton, E. (Participant), Hendriks, J. (Participant), Kitson, A. (Participant), Visvanathan, R. (Participant), Chew, D. (Participant) & Javier Barrera Causil, C. (Participant)
Jan 2025 → Mar 2025Activity: Other activity types › Other
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A Human-Machine Evaluation of AI in Cardiac Emergencies
Pinero de Plaza, M. A. (Invited speaker), Lambrakis, K. (Speaker), Marmolejo Ramos, F. (Speaker), Beleigoli, A. (Speaker), Kitson, A. (Speaker), McMillan, P. (Speaker), Chew, D. (Speaker), Clark, R. (Speaker), Lawless, M. (Speaker), Morton, E. (Speaker), Archibald, M. (Speaker), Visvanathan, R. (Speaker), Yadav, L. (Speaker), Hendriks, J. (Speaker) & Javier Barrera Causil, C. (Speaker)
11 Jun 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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PROLIFERATE_AI: Leading the Future of Innovation with AI, Predictive Modelling, and Ethical User-Centred Design
Pinero de Plaza, M. A. (Consultant), Marmolejo Ramos, F. (Consultant), Lambrakis, K. (Advisor), Beleigoli, A. (Consultant), Morton, E. (Consultant), Archibald, M. (Advisor), Lawless, M. (Advisor), McMillan, P. (Advisor), Ambagtsheer, R. C. (Advisor), Mudd, A. (Consultant), Yadav, L. (Consultant), Clark, R. (Advisor), Visvanathan, R. (Advisor), Chipchase, L. (Advisor), Jacobs, D. (Advisor), Hendriks, J. (Consultant), Javier Barrera Causil, C. (Consultant), Chew, D. (Advisor) & Kitson, A. (Consultant)
2024 → 2045Activity: Consultancy types › Consultancy
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Artificial Intelligence in matters of life and death: Piloting a human-machine evaluation of AI - Lessons learned from RAPIDX
Pinero de Plaza, M. A. (Invited speaker), Lambrakis, K. (Invited speaker), Marmolejo-Ramos, F. (Invited speaker), Beleigoli, A. (Invited speaker), Kitson, A. (Invited speaker), McMillan, P. (Invited speaker), Chew, D. (Invited speaker), Clark, R. (Invited speaker), Lawless, M. (Invited speaker), Morton, E. (Invited speaker), Khan, E. (Invited speaker), Visvanathan, R. (Invited speaker), Yadav, L. (Invited speaker), Hendriks, J. (Invited speaker) & Javier Barrera Causil, C. (Invited speaker)
2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Research Program: Visibility and Technological Solutions for Frail, Homebound and Bedridden People - FHBP
Pinero de Plaza, M. A. (Participant), McMillan, P. (Participant), Beleigoli, A. (Participant), Lawless, M. (Participant), Mudd, A. (Participant), Archibald, M. (Participant), Tieu, M. (Participant), Feo, R. (Participant), Morton, E. (Participant), Lange, B. (Participant), Thompson, M. (Participant), Taylor, D. (Participant), Gordon, S. (Participant), Gancia, A. (Participant), Hunter, S. (Participant), Phelan, K. (Participant), Clark, R. (Participant), Buchanan, R. (Participant), Visvanathan, R. (Participant) & Kitson, A. (Participant)
Jun 2022 → Jun 2026Activity: Other activity types › Other