Visiting Researcher Profile - Marcos Signorelli
Marcos Signorelli is a lecturer at the Federal University of Parana (Brazil) and a post doc fellow at the Judith Lumley Centre (JLC). Marcos has a PhD in Public Health and his research interests include the interfaces of gender-based violence (GBV) with health systems and intersectoral approaches, particularly addressing developing countries. He has been awarded a scholarship from CAPES Foundation from the Brazilian Federal Government to design an intervention in collaboration with JLC to prevent/reduce GBV to be developed in Brazil.
1. What brought you to La Trobe University?
I spent a semester at the JLC in 2010 working with Angela Taft during my PhD which was an ethnographic study about the role of primary health care professional/paraprofessionals and women experiencing domestic violence. It has been a reciprocal relationship with Angela visiting Brazil, and now I'm back! I'm doing my post doctorate working on a randomized controlled trial focused on the health and well-being of female victims of domestic violence. This kind of methodology has not been developed in primary health care settings in Brazil before.
2. Why the research interest in violence against women?
My interest stemmed from my work as a physiotherapist and lecturer at the Federal University of Parana. As physios, we visit patients and we build rapport and relationships. With time, some patients feel more comfortable to talk about particular issues, like domestic violence. This has encouraged me to reflect about the possibilities and limits for health professionals in responding to such disclosures so here I am, trying to develop new approaches, that can be consistently tested and evaluated to improve women's lives. I also teach qualification courses for teachers focusing on gender and diversities issues, making them reflect about their role to prevent / reduce all violence types within school scenarios.
2. What do you love about Melbourne?
Professionally, I love that many people are engaged in researching violence against women. I also love the cultural life, particularly the people with many different backgrounds are so welcoming, the vibrant city atmosphere, full of events all year and gastronomic diversity which is divine. I am so in love with Melbourne that I even like the weather, despite the many complaints from Melbournian people. But probably what I most love here is the non-violence culture and safety in Melbourne streets. The freedom to go anywhere you want, at anytime of the day or night is priceless. And the list continues, with brekkies, coffees, lanes, beautiful suburbs, urban art ...
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