Jodie Curth-Bibb

Dr Jodie Curth-Bibb is a Senior Lecturer with the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work at Flinders University and a Senior Researcher with Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Autism Pillar and Open Door Initiative). Over Jodie’s 20+ year career she has held senior roles in academia, executive positions in government and was previously the Director for Social Inclusion for a global consulting firm.

Jodie is currently co-leading a research project exploring the lived experience of undiagnosed Autistic teen girls and queer people. The research is documenting what we know about the Autistic teen experience and in particular social relationships, masking, adaptive morphing, coregulation, emotional dysregulation, fawning, atypical interoception, alexithymia, social anhedonia, sensory overload and autistic burnout - in an effort to better understand the significant mental health risk factors in this cohort. The risk factors being considered include a higher likelihood for experiencing body dysmorphic symptoms, eating disorders, self-harming behaviours, sexual violence and increased suicidality. The research aims to take a participant-led approach to learning from Autistic teen girls and queer people on how we can better support them to flourish.   

Relatedly, Dr Curth-Bibb is working with Industry experts to explore the lived experience of Autistic teens in educational settings. The research project contributes to the Re-storying Autism in Education project led by Queen’s University. The research aims to demonstrate the need to take a student-led approach to redesigning high school curriculum and pedagogy in practical ways to accommodate diagnosed and undiagnosed Autistic teens but ultimately to improve educational experiences and outcomes for all.

Jodie also plays a leadership role in the Open Door Initiative where she works on issues related to the gendered experience of deployment and women in defence. Jodie was the lead author of the Australian Civil Military Centre’s Australian Deployed Women report which investigated the gendered experience of deployed women in the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police in diverse peace and security contexts.