Michelle recently completed her PhD where she researched the “tipping point” or set of circumstances that led to someone becoming food insecure, and what “orthodox” and “unorthodox” ways they use to get food. She believes everyone has the right to food and this basic human right is often forgotten about or hidden in Australian society.

Michelle is currently involved in several projects with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health research team in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. Some of the projects include faciltiating food sovereignty in First Nations people, identifying online bush food retailers for the inclusion and involvement of First Nations people, and child protection in health timeline research.

Michelle has also been a member of the Onkaparinga Food Security Collaborative and is a current member of the Anti-Poverty Network SA. She has also written and co-authored academic papers on school breakfast programs, dumpster diving, and unorthodox food acquisition practices as well as co-authoring a book chapter on nutrition and learning in the Australian context.