ARCSHS Annual Report 2006

Transcription

Australian Research Centre in
sex, health
society
Annual Report 2006
Australian Research Centre
in Sex, Health and Society
and
sex, health
society
and
The Australian Research Centre in Sex,
Health and Society is a multi-disciplinary
social research centre within La Trobe
University’s Faculty of Health Sciences,
Melbourne.
Established in February 1993, the Centre
is funded by La Trobe University and
research project grants from external
agencies, including the Commonwealth
Department of Health and Ageing, the
National Health and Medical Research
Council, the Australian Research Council,
the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation,
and the Department of Human Services.
The aims of the centre are to:
• undertake research into social,
psychological and cultural aspects of
human sexuality and sexual health;
• provide research leadership at state,
national and international levels;
• provide knowledge, skills and
resources to assist other organisations
in health promotion, service delivery
and the formulation of public policy.
GAY AND LESBIAN HEALTH
VICTORIA
Within ARCSHS, Gay and Lesbian Health
Victoria is run in association with Women’s
Health Victoria (WHV) and the Victorian
AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre
(VAC).
Established in 2004, the role of the Unit is
to enhance and promote the health and
wellbeing of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people
in Victoria by:
• establishing and implementing best
practice standards of care.
• training healthcare providers and
health organisations about GLBTI
health needs and appropriate service
delivery.
• developing health resources for GLBTI
communities, in conjunction with
mainstream services.
• establishing a research and
information clearinghouse as a
resource for healthcare providers,
•
researchers and individuals to use in
researching health issues.
providing advice to government on the
planning and development of future
GLBTI programs.
COMMUNITY LIAISON AND
EDUCATION UNIT
ARCSHS’ Community Liaison and
Education Unit links researchers,
practitioners and communities to ensure
strong partnerships and effective research
process.
It empowers communities to answer their
own research questions and actively
disseminates results to participants, key
interest groups and the broader
community.
Its education and training programs help
people translate outcomes into action. It
promotes public awareness and
discussion of research findings.
Contents
The Year at a Glance
2
Director’s Report
4
International Activities
6
Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
8
Community Liaison and
Education Unit
10
Talking Sexual Health: Chlamydia
12
Developing a Short Course in
Advanced Sexuality Theory
and Methodology in
Developing Countries
14
Private Lives
16
Hepatitis Social Research
18
Joining the Dots: Social Network
Research at ARCSHS
20
2006 Projects and Funding
22
Scientific Advisory Committee
24
ARCSHS Staff
26
Educational Activities
29
Other Staff Activities
31
Collaborations
34
Publications
35
Glossary
inside back cover
Below: Increased understanding of issues
relating to sexual health is vital to the health,
economic and social wellbeing of the
general population.
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH CENTRE IN SEX, HEALTH & SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT 2006
1
The Year
At A Glance
•
Private Lives report launched by
Victorian Health Minister, Bronwyn
Pike. This is the largest study
undertaken in Australia of the gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender and
intersex (GLBTI) population. More on
pages 16 and 17.
•
More than 1,000 Victorian women
surveyed by ARCSHS to assess their
knowledge of and attitudes towards
the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and
the acceptability of the vaccine for
young women. The findings from this
study have been presented at
international conferences and to those
concerned with the prevention of
cervical cancer. The scale of this
research will be extended in 2007.
•
Grant secured from the Department of
Health and Ageing to fund the
development of school-based
resources for Chlamydia education.
More on page 12.
•
The Australian Longitudinal Study of
Health and Relationships continued
with early analysis of first and second
wave of interviews. Commenced in
2003, this is a five-year study of the
sexual health and wellbeing of
Australians aged between 16 to 65
years. Third wave interviews are about
to begin.
•
Recurrent funding for the work of
ARCSHS’ Gay and Lesbian Health
Victoria unit announced by Victorian
Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike.
“ARCSHS surveyed more than
1,000 women to assess their
knowledge of and attitudes
towards the Human
Papilloma Virus (HPV).”
2
•
Government funding of the Secondary
Students and Sexual Health Survey
discontinued. The only evidence base
of young people’s sexual health and
risk behaviours in Australia, this study
has been of immense value to health
policy-makers.
•
People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria
(PLWHA) presented Professor Marian
Pitts and Dr Sean Slavin with the
Research Progress Award for research
on newly-positive people and issues
around new HIV infections.
•
•
•
The report HIV Futures 5: Life as we
know it was published. Based on
questionnaires completed by 982 HIVpositive Australians, this study has
added significantly to the discourse on
living with HIV – both nationally and
internationally, amongst academia and
in the broader community.
Publication of the report Access to HIV
prevention information among
selected culturally and linguistically
diverse (CALD) communities in
Victoria. The focus of this year-long
study was particularly on people from
nations with high levels of migration to
Australia since the 1990s, such as the
Horn of Africa, Arabic-speaking
communities, and Vietnamese and
Thai communities.
The book Researching the Margins
submitted for publication. Edited by
Professors Marian Pitts and Anthony
Smith, the book identifies issues
associated with researching with what
have traditionally been recognised as
‘hard to reach’ communities, and offers
conceptual analyses and practical
suggestions. Researching the Margins
reflects ARCSHS’ work with
marginalised communities and
emphasises the experience and
contribution of those with whom the
research is undertaken.
•
Funding from the US-based Ford
Foundation enabled the development
of an advanced training course: AIDS,
Families and Human Relations: an
advanced course in sexuality theory
and research methodology. More on
pages 14 and 15.
•
(GLHV) clearinghouse launched by
Victorian Health Minister, Bronwyn
Pike. More on page 8.
•
Hepatitis C research focused on
improving access to treatment
services, discrimination in the
healthcare setting, the experiences of
an ethno-specific community liver
clinic, hepatitis C in Victorian
Indigenous communities, regulating
hepatitis C, and issues affecting the
uptake of health guidelines for personal
care and body art industries. In 2007,
ARCSHS’ Hepatitis Social Research
Program will undertake a National
Hepatitis B Needs Assessment. More
on pages 18 and 19.
•
A new HIV-related project focused on
the dynamics of gay men’s sexual
activities at Sex on Premises Venues
(SOPVs). Titled Pivotal, Peripheral or
Positional: Understanding SOPVs for
Intervention, this research was funded
by the Department of Human Services
and will be used in the development of
education programs and interventions
targeting patrons of these venues.
•
The Department of Human Services
agreed to fund ARCSHS to investigate
Crystal Methamphetamine use among
gay men in Melbourne, with a focus on
identifying key interventions. Currently
there is anecdotal evidence about the
use of crystal meth by gay men in
Victoria, but little in the way of hard
evidence to support any health
interventions.
•
Professor Marian Pitts appointed to the
Australian Research Council College
of Experts.
•
Deborah Dempsey and Angela Kelly
were awarded their PhDs, and two
postgraduate students submitted their
theses.
•
Postgraduate student Maria Platt was
awarded an Endeavour Research
Fellowship towards her field work in
Indonesia.
Below (back row L–R): Associate Professor Anne
Mitchell; Professor Anthony Smith; Sunil Patel;
(front row L–R): Victorian Health Minister, Bronwyn
Pike; Professor Marian Pitts; Dr Craig White,
Executive Director Clinical Services, Southern
Health at the launch of the Private Lives report.
3
Director’s
Report
ARCSHS continues to develop and
consolidate research initiatives in many
areas of sexual and reproductive health.
It is very rewarding to see our expertise
recognised – through involvement in
national research initiatives, through
research awards and most importantly,
through the provision of funding that is so
necessary to achieve health outcomes.
CONTRIBUTING TO NATIONAL
HEALTH PRIORITIES
A key focus is our work to address the
increasing prevalence of sexually
transmissible infections (STIs), which is
considered a major public health issue in
Australia and internationally.
Whilst the nature of some of our work may
be confronting, increased understanding
of issues relating to sexual health is
nonetheless vital to the health, economic
and social wellbeing of the general
population.
For example, ARCSHS has been following
the development of vaccines against the
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) with great
interest. Together with colleagues from the
Royal Women’s Hospital and the
University of Melbourne, ARCSHS carried
out a survey of more than 1,000 Victorian
women to assess their knowledge of and
attitudes towards HPV, and the
acceptability of the vaccine for young
women. The findings from this study have
been presented at international
conferences and to those concerned
with the prevention of cervical cancer.
We will be extending the scale of this
research in 2007.
I was pleased to accept an appointment
to the Australian Research Council
College of Experts in November, and look
forward to contributing to national
research priorities through this role.
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE
Whilst our expertise contributes a great
deal to the development and achievement
of national strategies and to the body of
knowledge leading to improved health
outcomes globally, securing the
necessary research funding continues to
be our greatest challenge.
The announcement in 2006 by Victorian
Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, of recurrent
funding through the Department of
Human Services for the work of our
Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria unit
was welcome news.
A grant from the Department of Health
and Ageing to fund the project Talking
Sexual Health: Chlamydia was also
welcome news, which will enable
ARCSHS to create school-based
resources for Chlamydia education.
However, the core grant for ARCSHS’
work from the Department of Health and
“Increased understanding of
issues relating to sexual
health is vital to the health,
economic and social
wellbeing of the general
population.”
4
Ageing has remained unchanged for
six years, which has had the effect of
progressively reducing our work from
this grant.
The Department of Health and Ageing
(DHA) also discontinued its funding of the
Secondary Students and Sexual Health
Survey, which was a significant blow. This
study provides the only evidence base of
young people’s sexual health and risk
behaviours in Australia and as such, is of
immense value to health policy-makers.
The data have formed the basis of the
funded materials for health education in
secondary schools, widely used in all
states and territories across Australia.
Student welfare services have been reliant
on these data, and the findings have been
published in the top ranked international
academic journals in the field.
The study was previously conducted in
five-year intervals – in 1992, 1997 and
2002 – and surveyed Australian students
in years 10 and 12 from a nationally
representative sample of Australian
schools. To allow for scientifically valid
and rigorous comparisons, it is essential
that the data be collected on schedule
and using the survey items that have
formed the basis for the earlier surveys.
Without the 2007 survey, the value of the
investment in fifteen years of surveillance
in this population will be lost. ARCSHS
continues to explore ways of supporting
this essential research.
Key ARCSHS researchers rely upon
fellowships from external organisations to
fund their salaries – most particularly from
VicHealth, which has been immensely
supportive of ARCSHS research since the
centre’s inception as a VicHealth centre of
excellence. As fellowships expire, key
staff may be lost to other institutions.
VITAL COLLABORATIONS
In addition to our partnerships with
funding bodies, collaborations with
colleagues from other institutions,
research centres and with community
agencies are fundamental to the research
undertaken at ARCSHS. We are proud of
the inclusive style of our research and
acknowledge our collaborations
throughout this report.
The coming year will bring new
challenges, in addition to the harsh
economic environment in which we now
work. Nonetheless, I am confident that in
2007 – the 15th year of ARCSHS’ work,
we will continue to undertake research
and publish work that is vital to Australia’s
strategic responses to HIV, STIs, blood
borne viruses, and sexual and
reproductive health and wellbeing.
Professor Marian Pitts
Director
ENTERING OUR 15TH YEAR
I have made many presentations this year,
including invited presentations to state
and federal ministerial advisory
committees, highlighting our research and
the role research plays in shaping policy,
practice and service provision. Among the
most valued interactions and discussions
are those with our colleagues in the
communities with whom we research.
The Year At A Glance on pages 2 and 3
provides a broad overview of our progress
during the last year, and a number of
projects are featured in greater detail
throughout this report.
Professor Marian Pitts and Samantha Croy,
reviewing survey responses.
5
International
Activities
ARCSHS is increasingly working beyond
our national boundaries. Among the recent
projects with an international focus,
ARCSHS has undertaken a project
commissioned by Family Health
International, researching male to male
sexual practices in Thailand and Indonesia
as they relate to HIV risk. Titled Dynamics
and contexts of male to male sexual
practices in South-East Asia, the report
describes and analyses experiences of
male to male sexual practices in five sites
in Indonesia and Thailand and the
meanings attached to experiences of male
to male sexual practices.
HIV Futures Tamil Nadu is a pilot study
that took the HIV Futures model to the
state of Tamil Nadu, South India. The HIV
Futures questionnaire was adapted to
reflect local concerns, translated into
Tamil, and administered to people living
with HIV/AIDS by professional staff of
support organisations in the districts of
Namakkal and Thiruvallur. This was a
collaborative project between the Indian
Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS
(INP+), HIV Ullor Nala Sangam (HUNS)
and ARCSHS. The results will be of great
value to policy-makers, service providers
and community groups in Tamil Nadu in
improving education and support
services.
In a collaborative project funded by the
New Zealand Ministry of Health, HIV
Futures New Zealand 2 involved ARCSHS
“ARCSHS is increasingly
working beyond our national
boundaries.”
6
and our colleagues at the New Zealand
AIDS Foundation conducting a crosssectional survey of New Zealand people
living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The first
HIV Futures New Zealand survey was
undertaken in 2001, achieving a sample
that represented 25% of the estimated
population of PLWHA in the country. It
provided core analyses that have
informed New Zealand HIV services within
the community, service, professional and
government sectors. This latest survey will
provide valuable insights into the place of
the new therapies in the lives of PLWHA
and the social and personal impact of HIV
on their lives. The new data are
anticipated to have significant policy and
service implications.
Ambivalent Adolescence in Indonesia is a
four-year collaborative project between
researchers from four Australian
universities, funded by the Australian
Research Council. This project explores
adolescent experiences of education;
religious, cultural and national identity; the
body and sexuality; parents and family;
social life; popular culture and work.
ARCSHS’ research will focus on the
eastern Indonesian islands of Lombok and
Flores. The project will cover up to 10 field
sites and include 10 different adolescent
populations within the archipelago.
is undertaking the project, Young women,
health and gender: The role of Islamic
Women’s Organisations in Mataram,
Indonesia.
Maria’s study focuses on reproductive
health and gender awareness programs
run by Islamic Women’s Organisations
(IWOs) in the city of Mataram, eastern
Indonesia. In particular, she is interested
in the nexus between the content and
philosophy of the programs delivered and
the experiences of young women who
participate in these programs. Maria will
investigate how young women perceive
education and training provided by IWOs
and its relevance to their everyday lives.
Her study will use a range of qualitative
methods focusing both on young women’s
experiences and the content of the
education and training provided by IWOs.
2007 will see ARCSHS involved in new
projects beginning in South Africa, New
Zealand and elsewhere in the region.
In a project supported by a $25,000
Commonwealth Government Endeavour
Australia Research Fellowship, Maria Platt
7
Gay and Lesbian
Health Victoria
Highlights within the Gay and Lesbian
Health Victoria unit this year included the
launch of the Private Lives report and the
GLHV clearinghouse by Victorian Health
Minister, Bronwyn Pike in March 2006.
Private Lives documents health and
wellbeing issues of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and intersex (GLBTI)
Australians. With 5,476 participants
completing the survey, it is the largest
study of this population ever undertaken
in Australia. The project explored the
impact of factors such as homophobia,
discrimination, family and community
connection on health and wellbeing, and
investigated aspects of healthcare use.
Funded by La Trobe University, it will be
an important guide for GLHV’s future work.
Refer to pages 16 and 17 for further
information.
Also launched at this time was the GLHV
clearinghouse, a web-based library
resource providing up-to-date health
information and resources, based on the
social model of health as outlined in the
Victorian GLBTI Health and Wellbeing
Action Plan. The development of the
clearinghouse has been greatly assisted
by our consortium partner Women’s
Health Victoria and our consumer
reference group. This user-friendly
community resource is already being
utilised by 120 unique users daily.
In partnership with Northern Melbourne
Institute of TAFE and the Council for
“A competency-based
accredited training package
has now been developed for
housing workers in meeting
the needs of GLBTI people.”
8
Homeless Persons, a competency-based
accredited training package has now
been developed for housing workers in
meeting the needs of GLBTI people.
Known as Inside and Out, the Certificate III
and IV training package was recognised
this year with a Community Services and
Health Industry Training Board Award for
Innovation, and is currently being rolledout throughout the state.
GLHV continues to work closely with the
Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay
and Lesbian Health, providing advice to a
number of service areas within the
Department of Human Services and the
Department of Education and Training.
The unit’s participation in the Sense and
Sexuality conference for schools was a
particular highlight of 2006.
The needs of GLBTI people were also the
focus of training provided for the staff of a
number of health services, local councils
and hospitals to improve understanding
within the health and welfare sector.
Thanks to the support of the Victorian Law
Foundation, a poster has been produced
to inform health professionals working in
the aged care and hospitals sector about
“next of kin” changes to legislation for gay
and lesbian couples.
Another resource developed, this time in
collaboration with the Trans Melbourne
Gender Project (TMGP), was a booklet for
young people who are questioning their
gender. This booklet, GQ, has been very
well received in the youth field and has
enabled staff at GLHV to learn more about
transgender issues. A highlight at the end
of the year was an award from our
collaborators for this work.
TMGP has also assisted in developing an
online survey for trans people, known as
Tranznation.
9
Community
Liaison and
Education Unit
The Community Liaison and Education
Unit (CLEU) is central to ARCSHS’ work.
Its’ role is to:
• build links between research and
practice to ensure that research
informs, and is informed by, policy and
practice;
• develop and maintain research
relationships with organisations and
individuals;
• disseminate research outcomes in
ways that are accessible and
comprehensible to the community;
• promote the work of the Centre in the
community.
This is achieved through projects,
community involvement, the provision of
training and production of training
materials, reports and newsletters.
Over the last four years, the CLEU has
developed an approach to communitybased evaluation which involves
collaboration between the project workers
and the evaluators. Termed consultative
evaluation, this model uses the skills and
knowledge of the project workers,
together with the expertise and rigour of
the ARCSHS researchers.
Unlike traditional evaluation models, the
project workers and the evaluation team
work together to develop the evaluation
measures and tools, and much of the data
collection is carried out by the project
workers. The data are passed on to the
evaluator for analysis and the evaluation
“The CLEU has developed
an approach to communitybased evaluation which
involves collaboration
between the project workers
and the evaluators.”
10
report is then usually incorporated into the
larger report of the project.
In 2006, evaluation projects have
included:
• SHine S.A. Sexual Health and
Relationships Education (SHARE)
project;
• The Whole School Sexuality Education
Project for the Victorian Department of
Education and Training;
• The AFL Respectful Behaviours in
Sport training.
This year, the CLEU facilitated four highly
acclaimed Counsellor’s Accreditation
Program (CAP) training programs. Each
program runs over six days.
In addition four Sexually Transmitted
Infections/Blood Borne Viruses (STI/BBV)
updates were provided. These updates
are open to all interested workers and
individuals, and showcase the diversity
of ways of delivering STI/BBV services in
the field.
A new initiative was the formation of the
Educational Development Strategies
Group, comprising educators and other
interested persons, to promote awareness
and increase contact with affected
communities.
short course for teachers new to sex
education was developed in collaboration
with La Trobe University’s Bendigo
campus. This will be piloted in 2007.
Parents’ nights and staff development
sessions on same sex attracted students
in schools were also a feature of this work
in 2006.
A review was undertaken for the Victorian
Department of Human Services of
hepatitis C post-graduate education for
doctors and nurses. A specific focus was
the amount of blood borne virus
information within various pre-service
courses.
Important networking with the Indigenous
community continued. This included a role
in planning the Indigenous stream of the
XVI International AIDS Conference and a
project with the Victorian Aboriginal
Community-Controlled Health
Organisation on the health of Indigenous
men in Victorian prisons.
Also of note was Associate Professor
Anne Mitchell’s involvement on the
VicHealth Research Review Project
Advisory Committee, which oversaw a
project looking at best practice models of
putting research into practice. More of this
work, promoting the ARCSHS model, is
planned for 2007.
Training for teachers in the sexual health
area was another aspect of the Centre’s
work. Four one-day Catching On
workshops were provided, and a five-day
11
Talking
Sexual Health:
Chlamydia
In 2006 ARCSHS’ Community Liaison and
Education Unit received funding from the
Commonwealth Department of Health and
Ageing to undertake a national project to
prepare materials to educate young
people about Chlamydia.
This project will use the widely accepted
Talking Sexual Health (TSH) framework to
produce a specific educational resource
for the use of secondary school teachers,
school health nurses, student health
services and teachers in VET settings.
The project will produce an educational
kit, comprising:
• a brief resource for teachers with
information on Chlamydia and fertility
protection and three session plans,
incorporating a GP component.
Alternative session plans will be
provided for contexts in which only
“one off” sessions are feasible;
• a hand-out for GPs undertaking
programs in educational settings,
which will outline a session plan and
appropriate pedagogical approaches;
• a parents’ information sheet on
Chlamydia, testing and its role in
fertility protection;
• a short video to clearly illustrate in a
positive way exactly what is involved
in going for a Chlamydia test and
subsequently being treated, as well as
issues about confidentiality and costs;
• some generic guidelines about
adapting the materials to be culturally
sensitive for specific audiences.
“The prevalence and effects
of Chlamydia make it a
serious sexually transmissible
infection (STI), particularly
among the 15–29 age group.”
12
Overall the project aims to:
• increase the capacity of educators to
deliver a Chlamydia awareness
program to young people between 18
and 25 in formal education settings
(schools and VET);
• develop education materials which fit
within a currently widely accepted STI
prevention education framework;
• develop a fertility protection framework
as a positive motivation for young
people to test for Chlamydia;
• increase awareness of Chlamydia
infection and its consequences in the
target group;
• demystify the process of testing and
treatment;
• facilitate the introduction of local
health care providers and services to
the target
The materials will be developed following
a review of the latest research evidence
and in consultation with the National
Schools Network. This work will be locally
overseen by a practitioner reference
group. An additional consultation will take
place in the early stages of the project
and consist of a brief telephone
consultation with student health services
and other VET personnel responsible for
student welfare and young people. The
materials will be trialled in both urban and
rural areas in several different educational
settings, and modified accordingly before
final production and distribution.
About Chlamydia
The prevalence and effects of Chlamydia make it a serious sexually transmissible
infection (STI), particularly among the 15–29 age group.
It is Australia’s most frequently reported STI, with an annual notification rate that
has increased more than threefold in the last decade, to about 41,000 notifications
in 20051.
People with Chlamydia may not experience symptoms and therefore not be aware
they have it – making safe sex practices all the more important to prevent its
spread.
When symptoms do occur, they usually include abnormal discharge from the
vagina or penis and pain during urination – for both men and women. If left
untreated, Chlamydia can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women and
ultimately, infertility.
ARCSHS’ Chlamydia educational resource project, “Talking Sexual Health:
Chlamydia”, forms part of the Commonwealth Government’s national Chlamydia
pilot testing program – part of the Government’s $3.5 million allocation to
Chlamydia prevention, announced in 2006.
1. Commonwealth of Australia 2007, Minister for Health and Ageing, Canberra, viewed 10
April 2007, <http:/www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf>
13
Developing a Short
Course in Advanced
Sexuality Theory
and Methodology in
Developing
Countries
In collaboration with the International
Association for the Study of Sexuality,
Culture and Society (ISSACS), ARCSHS
has been funded by the US-based Ford
Foundation to develop an advanced
training course, entitled “AIDS, Families
and Human Relations: an advanced
course in sexuality theory and research
methodology”.
In the twentieth century, human sexuality
has come to occupy a central place in our
endless fascination with ourselves as a
species, and provided some of the most
vexed questions facing modern societies.
The HIV pandemic dominated the last
twenty years of the century and forced a
significant rethinking of human sexuality
and the cultures in which it is embedded.
Moreover, HIV/AIDS has mainly affected
developing countries, with complex sexual
cultures hitherto regarded merely as
diverse sexual behaviors, and this has
added to the level of debate.
Undoubtedly, the HIV/AIDS pandemic
has demanded not only that we
reconsider all we know about human
sexual activity, but also requires
innovative research methodologies to
investigate it, as the complexities of HIV
transmission have revealed very diverse
sexual practices, and wide-ranging
meanings and values about sex.
The training of sex researchers has yet to
keep pace with this remarkable shift in
knowledge and research.
“The project seeks to fill a
significant gap in sexuality
education offered at an
advanced level in the
developing world.”
14
Building that advanced capacity locally
will take some time. In the meantime, this
project to develop a short, intensive,
advanced, training program in sexuality
theory and research methodology seeks
to remedy that deficit in a timely, costeffective and strategic manner.
In targeting mid-career, middle level or
senior academics, researchers, and
research policy managers working in
HIV/AIDS and related sexual and
reproductive fields, the proposed short
course aims to stimulate key players in
various countries to ‘shift gears’ in relation
to their countries’ understandings of their
sexual cultures, sexuality issues, and
research responses.
The initial phase of the project is to
complete a desktop overview of existing
advanced training in sexuality theory and
research methodology internationally. This
overview will ensure the new curriculum is
relevant and up-to-date with latest
developments. The completed audit will
provide the necessary information for a
resource in the form of an international
clearing house (possibly online) for
interested people.
The information collected is classified
according to location, institution,
academic level, pedagogical approach,
delivery mode and theoretical orientation.
In addition to the audit, a full literature
review is in progress and the results are
being compiled in an endnote library. This
will form a major reference to sexuality
research methods that are currently being
employed globally and be made available
to interested parties. Key research areas
are being identified and classified
according to epistemological
underpinnings, theoretical orientation,
sampling techniques, analytic techniques
and target audience.
We are planning subsequent phases of
the project, which include curriculum
development, piloting and evaluation. The
project consists of four phases, which will
roll out over approximately four years:
stage 1 is a scoping and feasibility study;
stage 2 will entail development of the
curriculum and resources; stage 3 will be
the piloting and evaluation stage; and
stage 4 will involve the roll-out of final
course. It is envisaged that stages 2 and
3 will be undertaken concurrently.
The project seeks to fill a significant gap
in sexuality education offered at an
advanced level in the developing world.
Eventually it is hoped that such training
will make a significant impact on sexuality
research and policy globally.
Research Assistant, Maureen Lockhart.
15
Private Lives
The Private Lives study, carried out in
early 2005, and launched by the
Victorian Minister for Health, Bronwyn
Pike, in March 2006, is one of the largest
surveys of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people
ever conducted. It aimed to document
aspects of the health and wellbeing of a
large sample of GLBTI people in
Australia, explore the impact of factors
such as homophobia, discrimination,
family and community connection on
health and wellbeing and to investigate
aspects of health service use.
In all, 5,476 people between 16 and 92
years of age (mean age 34) completed
the online survey. This sample provided a
detailed picture of the lives of GLBTI in
Australia in all their diversity and
complexity. Of the sample, 63% were
male and 35% female, and just over half
(52%) identified as “gay man”, 17.8% as
“lesbian” and 10% as “bisexual”. There
were 100 transgender and 18 intersex
participants. It was a national survey with
participants from all states and territories,
and with both rural and urban
representation.
Private Lives differed from other surveys in
that it aimed to access the broadest
possible sample of people who selfidentified as GLBTI, including rural and
remote participants and those who do not
identify with GLBTI communities.
Recruitment was through internet sites,
“This is one of the largest
surveys of gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender and
intersex (GLBTI) people ever
conducted.”
16
personal email networks, media publicity,
press advertisements and wide
distribution of promotional cards.
The survey found that the relationship
between sexual attraction and sexual
experience was not straightforward but
there was an association between
people’s stated sexual attraction and their
reported sexual experience. Nearly all the
men (91%) reported on sexual experience
that was either predominantly or
exclusively with other men. The pattern
with women is less clear, in that a higher
proportion reported sexual experience
equally with men and women (15%) or
mainly with men (16%).
The self reported health status of Private
Lives participants was somewhat worse
than the ABS records for all men and
women in the younger age groups. These
differences however diminished with age,
so that by 45 years the differences
between Private Lives participants and
the ABS respondents were minimal or
non-existent.
Mental health problems were the most
common health concerns. Nearly three
quarters of the sample reported some
experience of depression. The prevalence
of depressive disorders was high, with
49% of men and 44% of women scoring
on at least one of the two criteria for a
major depressive episode. It was of
particular concern that 16% of all
respondents indicated suicidal ideation
(thoughts) in the two weeks prior to
completing the survey. It was encouraging
to see there was a significant negative
correlation with age – the older the
respondent the less likely they were to be
depressed. Half of all participants had
seen a counsellor or psychiatrist in the
past five years for such issues as
depression and anxiety, relationship
problems and family problems.
Participants in this survey used a range of
health services and the majority had had
a general health check up in the past
year. Of those participants with a regular
GP (around 75%), only two thirds believed
their GP knew of their sexuality/gender
identity. Almost all of the transgender and
inter-sex respondents had told their GP
about their identity, perhaps because they
were more likely to need to discuss issues
of medical intervention. Conversely, one in
five of male and female respondents
indicated their regular GP did not know
about their sexuality.
Discrimination and violence were both
widely experienced by participants.
Overall, 67% of participants indicated that
fear of prejudice or discrimination caused
them at least sometimes to modify their
daily activities in particular environments.
This was more common for younger
participants and in rural areas. The vast
majority (90%) had at some time avoided
expressions of affection in public and
disclosure of their gender identity or
sexuality. Significant numbers of
participants (14%), particularly gay men
(10%), always avoided disclosing their
sexual identity for fear of discrimination.
Personal insults or verbal abuse were
more common in major cities than in rural,
regional or remote areas but the reverse
was true of the experience of threats of
violence or physical attack.
A disturbingly high percentage (33%) of
respondents in this sample reported
having been in a relationship where the
partner was either verbally or physically
abusive. Abuse was reported more
frequently by women than men (41% vs
28%), and was highest for transgender
males, but the rates for all groups are
unacceptably high.
Despite health inequalities, it is clear that
most GLBTI people live happy and
fulfilled lives. The final question of the
survey asked what are the three best
things about your life right now? The
largest category of responses to this
question was friends and work/study,
followed by relationships. In all, there was
a remarkable accord amongst GLBTI
people about the sustaining and positive
areas of their lives. These answers also
provide a snapshot of the resilience and
optimism present in the daily lives of the
participants in this study.
17
Hepatitis
Social
Research
ARCSHS’ Hepatitis Social Research
Program promotes a collaborative, public
health approach to hepatitis research,
education and training, and policy
development.
HEPATITIS B
The World Health Organisation identifies
hepatitis B as a major global public health
challenge, with the majority of the 400
million people with chronic hepatitis B
living in the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite recent improvements in antiviral
therapy, the number of deaths among
people with chronic hepatitis B and the
number of cases of hepatitis B–related
liver cancer continues to rise. The
hepatitis B virus is difficult to eliminate.
Available treatments are increasingly able
to reduce liver disease progression;
however, only a small proportion of people
with chronic hepatitis B receive specific
treatment.
Whilst it is estimated that up to 160,000
people with chronic hepatitis B live in
Australia, an effective and coordinated
national response to hepatitis B does
not exist.
In 2007 ARCSHS’ Hepatitis Social
Research Program will undertake a
National Hepatitis B Needs Assessment.
This project, funded through the Australia
and New Zealand Local Chapter of
Advancing the Clinical Treatment of
Hepatitis B Virus (ACT-HBV), will identify:
• needs and gaps in service provision
for people with chronic hepatitis B
• informational/educational programs
and policies targeting service
providers and people with chronic
hepatitis B
• priorities for a nationally-coordinated
response to hepatitis B.
HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver
transplant in Australia. With 9,000 new
infections occurring each year, the
Australian Government’s National
Hepatitis C Strategy acknowledges
hepatitis C as an epidemic.
While Australia led internationally in
developing coordinated strategic
responses to hepatitis C, funding for
social research to investigate behavioural
aspects of hepatitis C transmission and
the impact of infection has been sporadic.
A fundamental challenge in undertaking
social research and developing effective
public health responses is the social
context in which people with chronic
hepatitis C live – particularly their
marginalisation from a range of
community services, including health
services, because of the association
between hepatitis C and illicit drug use.
Within this environment, ARCSHS has
successfully undertaken a number of
“Over 400,000 Australians are
estimated to be infected with
chronic hepatitis, and the
social, public health and
economic costs of hepatitis
are significant.”
18
projects. It has also developed the
National Hepatitis C Manual, which
provides nationally standardised, accurate
and current information about hepatitis C
and associated issues for a wide range of
healthcare providers.
Regulating Hepatitis C: Rights and
Duties
The Australian Health Ministers Advisory
Council has funded ARCSHS to undertake
a five-year project to document and
examine the range of regulations that exist
to limit the transmission of hepatitis C.
To date the study has established an
Australia-wide audit of all regulations,
guidelines and codes of practice which
govern harm reduction strategies and risk
practices associated with hepatitis C
transmission. During 2006 and continuing
through to 2009, the study will identify
gaps in regulations and where conflicts
and inconsistencies exist between different
regulations. An important outcome of the
project will be documenting how effectively
these regulations are implemented within
different risk settings across all Australian
jurisdictions.
Improving Access to Hepatitis C
Treatment Services: Lessons from a
Ethno-specific Community Liver
Clinic
In a new study, ARCSHS researchers are
investigating appropriate hepatitis C
treatment models for people from
culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
communities, with a specific focus on
Vietnamese and Cambodian communities.
People with hepatitis C from CALD
backgrounds often encounter problems
such as communication barriers, isolation
and lack of understanding of, and from,
the medical system. The effect of these
barriers is increased with poor access to
or lack of information in their own
language, little knowledge of the
Australian healthcare system, and poor
awareness of their rights.
Improving Access to Hepatitis C
Treatment Services: Recognising
and Responding to Hepatitis C in
Indigenous Communities in
Victoria
Another project in its early stages will help
improve access to treatment for
Indigenous people with hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C prevalence is higher among
Indigenous Australian communities than
non-Indigenous Australians, with some
Victorian Koori communities showing
hepatitis C prevalence of 13%.
Hepatitis C remains a controversial topic
within Indigenous communities because
of its association with injecting drug use,
and few people with hepatitis C access
treatment.
This research, focusing on those living in
regional and rural Victoria and in
Melbourne, will identify the barriers for
Indigenous people regarding treatment
and provide evidence for the most
culturally appropriate way to provide
treatment.
Safety First: Issues affecting the
uptake of the Health Guidelines for
Personal Care and Body Art
Industries
Concern has been expressed nationally
about the paucity of infection control
safeguards in the body art industry. In
2004, the Department of Human Services
(Victoria) produced Health Guidelines for
Personal Care and Body Art Industries to
assist the personal care and body art
industries to comply with the Health
(Infectious Diseases) Regulations (2001).
This project is assessing how local
councils distribute and regulate the health
guidelines and will make
recommendations relating to the future
distribution of information and the
monitoring of practices which
demonstrate adherence to health
regulations by personal care and body art
practitioners.
Below: Concern has been expressed nationally
about the paucity of infection control
safeguards in the body art industry.
19
Joining the Dots:
Social Network
Research at
ARCSHS
An emerging area of interest at ARCSHS
is that of social network research. This is
an approach that complements and
builds on the large body of social
research in the area of sexual health that
now exists in Australia.
It is a perspective that differs from more
familiar individual and population research
by the inclusion of the structural and
relational aspects of social behaviour as
the object of analysis.
Using this approach, we are able to
examine the characteristics of individuals
(their background, social practices,
attitudes, etc.) in the context of their
relationship to other individuals. In this
way, the subject of the research becomes
the interdependence of individuals – the
ways in which the structure and meaning
of their relationship to each other is related
to social practices. This represents a
good fit with health promotion practice in
the sexual health field as the subject of
the research, peer relationships, is often
the focus of health promotion activity.
Social networks are the structures of
social relationships between individuals.
Typically, social network studies examine
a group of social actors (individuals,
organisations, etc.) and the ties between
them (friendships, sexual relationships,
communication, collaboration, etc.)
The analysis of social networks involves
examining the types of structures that
“Our interest in this area is as
a way of understanding the
broad social context in which
individuals live their social
and sexual lives.”
20
emerge from the combination of these two
components. This can include the extent
to which particular types of social actors
cluster together, the paths that information
or social influence travel along, the
importance of brokerage or bridging in
the networks, or the opportunities to
access diverse opinions.
Our interest in this area is as a way of
understanding the broad social context in
which individuals live their social and
sexual lives. Specifically, in relation to
sexual health, understanding the
processes and structures of social
relationships allows us to consider where
social interventions, such as peer
education or health promotion may work
most effectively. Our research effort in this
field includes studies of social and sexual
networks, organisational research and
longitudinal projects.
The Victorian Networks Study (VINES) was
the first large-scale social network study
of homosexually active men in Australia.
Funded by the Victorian Department of
Human Services, the project has provided
us with a novel perspective on gay men’s
sexual culture in Melbourne.
Analyses emerging from this project have
examined the structural correlates of
communication around unprotected sex,
the relationship between network
characteristics and sexual history, the role
of structural versus individual
characteristics in predicting protected and
unprotected sex, and the meta-structures
of organisation affiliation and media
consumption among gay men. A
qualitative follow up to VINES has also
examined the role of social sanction and
social selection in peer influence among
gay men.
A new initiative in 2007 is the Positive
Networks Study, a collaboration with the
National Association of People Living with
HIV/AIDS (NAPWA). This project is an
organisational communications study
using social network techniques and
analyses. The project will be mapping the
communication patterns among the
NAPWA Board of Directors, National
Portfolio Convenors and secretariat. The
study will provide NAPWA with
opportunities to enhance the effectiveness
of the organisation in both communication
and constituency representation.
campus of the University of KwaZulu
Natal (UKZN) in South Africa. Initially we
will be working with researchers in UKZN
to understand the size, structure and
make-up of social networks among
university students. This will take the form
of a campus-wide survey that will examine
particular characteristics of student social
networks, including age, race, residence,
economic situation and area of study.
We will also be looking at the use of
health services and access to health
information. This will begin to give us
some understanding of the socialstructural characteristics that might be
important in improving the health status of
the student population. Following this
initial study, we will be developing a large,
longitudinal social network project that will
examine the evolution of these networks
over the students’ time at university.
In collaboration with the Victorian AIDS
Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre, we will
also be examining the emergence and
structure of social networks within peer
education programs. This project looks at
the ways in which social networks
develop and change over time, within a
small group context. Here the emphasis is
on some of the dynamic factors that may
contribute to the success or failure of
group-based peer education.
Also in development is a suite of social
network studies in collaboration with
researchers at the Pietermaritzburg
ARCSHS’ Jason Ferris and Robert Myall at the
2006 Pride March.
21
2006 Projects
and Funding
ARCSHS’ income increased in 2006 over
the previous year, which has enabled
ARCSHS to undertake a greater number
of projects. However, the core grant for
ARCSHS’ work from the Department of
Health and Ageing has remained
unchanged for six years, which has had
the effect of progressively reducing our
work from this grant.
The number of staff at ARCSHS remained
consistent in 2006. Key ARCSHS
researchers rely upon Fellowships from
external organisations to fund their
salaries – most particularly from VicHealth,
which has been immensely supportive of
ARCSHS research since the Centre’s
inception as a VicHealth centre of
excellence.
2006 FUNDING
NHMRC
15%
DHA
22%
ARC
2%
DHS
15%
La Trobe
University
13%
Other
12%
Consultancies
8%
VicHealth
13%
ARC – Australian Research Council
DHA – Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
DHS – Victorian Government Department of Human Services
NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council
22
CIA
Application Title
Funding Body
Bennett, L.
Muslim youth, social connectedness, health and
education in Victoria
VicHealth
$80,000
Bennett, L.
Ambivalent adolescents in Indonesia
Australian Research Council
$18,998
Dowsett, G.
Men and relationality: a pilot exploration of men’s
understanding of current and emerging changes in
sexual/emotional relational forms in
contemporary Australia
La Trobe University
Dowsett, G.
Men, sexuality and health: new issues, new directions
VicHealth
$165,000
Dowsett, G.
Development of a short course in advanced sexuality
theory and methodology in developing countries:
Phase one – scoping and feasibility study
Ford Foundation USA
$396,301
Dyson, S.
HPV, gender and knowledge production: a review of
health promotion materials
La Trobe University
Dyson, S.
Tender – sexual assault – respectful behaviours in sport
Australian Football League
$18,182
Flood, M.
Young heterosexual men’s sexual relations:
Contributions to sexual and reproductive health
$87,972
Grierson, J.
Pivotal, peripheral or positional: Understanding SOPVs
for intervention
Department of Human Services
$99,750
2006 Revenue
$8,911
$4,560
CIA
Application Title
Funding Body
2006 Revenue
Grierson, J.
A sexual health promotion and testing campaign for men
who have sex with men: Process evaluation with pre and
post health promotion impact analysis
Victorian AIDS Council
Hillier, L.
Surviving (and Thriving On) the road less travelled:
A longitudinal study of young people, sexual diversity,
resilience and social networks
VicHealth
Hillier, L.
Evaluation of YGLAM theatre and arts project
YGLAM, Moreland Community
Health Services
Hillier, L.
VAC sex positive web site evaluation
$10,000
Jones, J.
BBV/STI program
$95,585
McCoy, B.
Developing, sustaining and evaluating health programs
for Aboriginal men
National Health and Medical
Research Council
$67,250
McNally, S.
Improving access to hepatitis C treatment services for
disadvantaged groups: A two study project: lessons
from a ethno-specific community liver clinic and
recognising and responding to hepatitis C in
Indigenous communities in Victoria
$98,649
Mitchell, A.
Domestic partners’ hospital poster – SG 127
Victoria Law Foundation
Mitchell, A.
Talking sexual health: Chlamydia
Department of Health and Ageing
Mitchell, A.
Professional development workshop series for the
HIV sector in Victoria
Metropolitan Health and
Aged Care Services
$25,000
Mitchell, A.
Evaluation of pilot sex education project conducted by
SHINE SA
South Australia
$16,000
Mitchell, A.
Establishment of a gay and lesbian health resource unit
$259,773
Mitchell, A.
Consultation report: Identifying health and wellbeing
issues in GLBTI communities
$16,771
Mitchell, A.
Catching on short courses
Department of Education and Training
$20,000
Mitchell, A.
Whole school sexuality education project
Department of Education and Training
$72,000
Pitts, M.
Commonwealth AIDS research grants to centres in
HIV research
$20,803
$105,000
$3,000
$2,723
$149,421
$779,936
Pitts, M.
Understanding the experience of health services of
transgender people
La Trobe University
$9,070
Pitts, M.
Regulating hepatitis C: rights and duties –
AHMAC PDR 2005/09
Australian Health Ministers’
Advisory Council
Pitts, M.
Conduct and evaluation of an intervention to improve the
management of chlamydia by Western Australian GPs
Health Department of Western Australia
Pitts, M.
Dynamics and contexts of male-to-male sex in
Indonesia and Thailand
Family Health International
Slavin, S.
Meanings of fatherhood: A study of fathers who are
primary caregivers for their children
La Trobe University
Smith, A.
The social determinants of sexual and
reproductive health
VicHealth
$125,000
Smith, A.
The Australian longitudinal study of health
and relationships
Research Council
$447,625
TempleSmith, M.
Safety first: Issues affecting uptake of the health
guidelines for personal care and body art industries
$78,915
TempleSmith, M.
Evaluation of the national donovanosis eradication
project 2001–2004
$30,369
$102,500
$9,605
$42,944
$9,982
23
Scientific Advisory
Committee
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Terms of Reference for the Scientific
Advisory Committee are:
(a) To provide a forum for raising and
discussing issues which may influence
the direction of the study of sexually
transmissible diseases, both in the
Centre and elsewhere.
(b) To provide advice to the Director, on
request, regarding directions in
research, education and professional
development, and ways of
establishing and maintaining closer
links with the community.
MEMBERS 2006
Professor Hal Swerissen [Chair]; Dean,
Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe
University
Ms Jane Bell; Commonwealth Department
of Health and Ageing [part year]
Mr John Biviano; Director, Research
Workforce and Tobacco Control, Victorian
Health Promotion Foundation
Dr John Carnie; Department of Human
Services
Mr Simon Donohoe; Representing the
Australian Federation of AIDS
Organisations
24
Professor Christopher Fairley; Professor of
Sexual Health, School of Population
Health, The University of Melbourne;
Director, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
Mr Glenn Flanagan; People Living With
HIV/AIDS (NSW), representing the
HIV/AIDS
Professor Susan Kippax; Director, National
Centre in HIV Social Research
Professor Vivian Lin; Head, School of
Public Health, La Trobe University
Professor Lenore Manderson; ARC
Federation Fellow; Professor, Faculty of
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences,
Monash University
Sharyn McGregor, Commonwealth
[part year]
Dr Cathy Mead; Executive Officer,
Victorian Public Health Research and
Education Council
Mr Steven O’Connor; Department of
Education and Training Victoria
Ms Julianne Quaine; HIV/AIDS and
Hepatitis C Section, Commonwealth
[part year]
25
ARCSHS
Staff
SENIOR STAFF
Professor
Marian Pitts,
BA(Hons), PhD,
AFBPS, MAPS
Director
Professor Marian Pitts has researched
extensively in the broad area of health
psychology.
Professor Pitts’ research focuses on
aspects of men’s and women’s health,
health service provision, reasons for delay
in treatment seeking and routes out of
treatment.
This work has informed clinical practice
by identifying the psychosocial needs of
women undergoing gynaecological
procedures and by outlining the barriers
that deter people from seeking
appropriate medical consultation.
Professor Pitts’ work includes research
with a number of stigmatised and
marginalised groups. She has
international experience in research and
teaching and has made a major
contribution to the development of health
psychology in the UK and internationally.
Professor
Anthony Smith,
BSc(Hons), PhD
Deputy Director
Professor Smith is one of Australia’s
leading researchers in sexual and
reproductive health and behaviour. His
work on adolescent sexual behaviour
forms the basis of the national secondary
school curriculum for sexual health (Talking
Sexual Health), used across Australia.
His work in leading the Australian Study of
Health and Relationships markedly
changed the evidence base for sexual and
reproductive health in Australia. The initial
collection of papers published in 2003 has
been described as “essential reading for
health professionals, epidemiologists and
educators involved in sexual health”.
More recently, with SV Subramanian,
Professor Smith pioneered the application
of multilevel modelling to understanding
the influence of the demographic context
on individual behaviour.
“The centre has a
multidisciplinary team with
a diversity of qualifications
and experience.”
26
Professor
Gary W. Dowsett,
BA, DipEd, PhD
Deputy Director
Professor Gary Dowsett is a sociologist
who has long been interested in sexuality
research, particularly in relation to the rise
of modern gay communities.
He has worked on many international
HIV/AIDS and sexual health projects since
the late 1980s, including as a consultant
to WHO’s then Global Program on AIDS in
Geneva, to the United Nations
Development Program and the Joint
United Nations Program on AIDS
(UNAIDS).
He has recently developed training
programs in community-based research
and qualitative research design, and has
taught research design in Australia, Fiji
and New York.
Associate
Professor Anne
Mitchell,
BA, GradDipEd, MA
Director Gay and
Lesbian Health
Victoria
Associate Professor Anne Mitchell is the
founding director of ARCSHS’ Gay and
Lesbian Health Victoria (GLVH) and
manager of the Community Liaison and
Education Unit (CLEU).
Mark Handley,
BBus
Administration
Manager
Mark is responsible for ensuring effective
academic support, specifically the
financial, computing, physical and human
resource management of the Centre.
She is also deputy chair of the Victorian
and Lesbian Health.
This includes policy development, review
and implementation, preparing and
managing the Centre’s $6 million budget,
and contributing strategic advice within
the Executive group.
Associate Professor Mitchell has acted as
consultant to federal and state
government departments, and to
community groups, to develop training
and health promotion resources relevant
to the health and wellbeing of gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender and
intersex (GLBTI) Victorians.
Mark’s qualifications and initial roles in
industrial relations and human resource
management have broadened over the
last 20 years to include the management
of human, financial and physical
resources, and administrative functions in
both the public and private sector.
She has also effectively devised a range
of professional development programs to
ensure health care professionals have
access to the latest research findings in
the area.
Leadership and development of staff, the
provision of quality, cost effective service,
and the development of a continuous
improvement culture have been strong
areas of focus throughout his career.
27
The Centre has a multidisciplinary team of
researchers with qualifications and
expertise in psychology, anthropology,
sociology, public health, health promotion,
methodology, epidemiology, education,
women’s health, gender studies,
sexualities, cultural studies, consumer
advocacy and health policy.
Principal Research Fellow
Julia Shelley, BA(Hons), MPH, PhD *†
Senior Research Fellows
Murray Couch, BA(Hons) *
Jeffrey Grierson, BPsych(Hons), PhD
Lynne Hillier, TPTC, TLTC, BBSc(Hons),
PhD *
Michael Hurley, BA(Hons), GradDipEd,
MLitt
Meredith Temple-Smith, BSc,
GradDipAppChildPsych,
GradDipMovtDance, MPH, DHSc †*
Jon Willis, BA(Hons), MLitt, PhD
Research Fellow
Linda Bennett, BA(Hons), PhD
Stephen McNally, BA, MA, PhD
Sean Slavin, BA(Hons), PhD
Research Staff
Sophie Dutertre, LLB, GradDipJourn *
Jason Ferris, BPsych (Hons),
GradCertBiostatistics
Francine Hanley, BA(Hons), PhD *†
Karl Jenkinson, BSc(Hons), PhD *
Penny Johnson, BPsych, Grad Dip,
MA, PhD
28
Robyne Latham, Grad Dip Education
Karalyn McDonald, BA, MA *
Jacqueline Richmond, RN, MPH, PhD
Rachel Thorpe, BSc(Hons), BHlthSci
Henry von Doussa, BA(Hons), MA
Felicity Martin
Anne Mitchell, BA, GradDipEd, MA
Sunil Patel, BA(Hons), GradDipInfoMgmnt *
Nikos Thomacos, BBus, BA(Hons) *
Post Doctoral Fellows
Michael Flood, BA(Hons), PhD
Brian McCoy, BA, BTh, Dip Crim, Grad
Cert Health, PhD
Administrative Officers
Emma Ashmere, BA, MA *†
Georgi Cahill, BA †
Megan Clement †
Melanie Hales †
Robert Myall, BA
Janet So, BBus *
Alina Turner, BCA *†
Research Assistants
Samantha Croy, BA(Hons)
Christopher Fox, B.Psych, BA(Hons) †
Andrew Lavin, BSocSc *†
Maureen Lockhart, BA(Hons)
Hunter Mulcare, BSc(Hons) *
Kirk Peterson, BA, MA *
Jack Wallace, MSocSci (IntDev)
Jan Watson, BA, DipEd, GradDipLib †
Community Liaison Officers
Anne Mitchell, BA, GradDipEd, MA
Sue Dyson, GradDipWomSt
Judith Jones, BSc(Hons), MA,
GradDipWomSt, MPH
Philomena Horsley, BA, GradDipWomSt,
GradDipEd, GradCertWrtg&Edtg,
MMedAnth *
Mark Saunders
Jenny Walsh, DipTeach(Prim),
DipAdultEdTraning, Med *
Editor of Positive Living
Paul Kidd
IT Support Officer
Maria Micalizzi *
Seminar Series Coordinator
Philomena Horsley
Postgraduate Coordinators
Michael Hurley/Lynne Hillier
* part-time
† part-year
Educational
Activities
2006 was a very productive year for
postgraduate students at ARCSHS. Maria
Platt was awarded a $25,000
Commonwealth Government Endeavour
Australia Research Fellowship to carry out
fieldwork for her PhD thesis in Mataram,
Indonesia. Deborah Dempsey and Angela
Kelly had their PhDs conferred at a La
Trobe graduation ceremony in October
and three candidates: Rebecca Bentley,
Nicola Bruce and Sue Dyson submitted
their PhD theses for examination.
POST GRADUATE STUDENTS
PhD students
Maria Platt
Young women, health and gender: The
role of Islamic women’s organisations
in Mataram, Indonesia.
(Supervisors: Linda Bennett and Jon
Willis)
Natalie Rhinehart
Psychological and sociological
predictors of help-seeking for heroin
users: Comparison of the Theory of
Planned Behaviour and a Skills and
Resources Model.
(Supervisor: Marian Pitts)
Postgraduate Coordinators, Dr Lynne Hillier and
Dr Michael Hurley with international PhD
student, Deepa Dhital.
Rebecca Bentley (thesis submitted for
examination)
The sociocultural determinants of
contraception use
(Supervisors: Anthony Smith and
Marian Pitts)
29
Nicola Bruce (thesis submitted for
examination)
Women’s perceptions and interpretation
of public health information related to
breast health knowledge
(Supervisors: Marian Pitts and Sean Slavin)
Jan Cregan
Sexuality and health in prison
populations
(Supervisors: Gary Dowsett and Doreen
Rosenthal, University of Melbourne)
Deborah Dempsey (PhD conferred in
2006)
Queer family values in Australia
(Supervisors: Gary Dowsett and Shelley
Mallett, University of Melbourne)
Sue Dyson (thesis submitted for
examination)
Lesbians, invisibility and health
(Supervisors: Lynne Hillier and Michael
Hurley)
Gillian Fletcher
Objectivity, transgression, education
and power: The adoption of reflective
learning in peer education
(Supervisors: Gary Dowsett, Stephen
McNally and Dr Howard Nicholas from the
School of Education Studies)
Christopher Fox
Sizing up the man: The relationship
between perceived penis size and body
image
(Supervisors: Marian Pitts and Jon Willis)
30
Angela Kelly (PhD conferred in 2006)
Psychosocial aspects of AIDS dementia
complex and the circle of care
(Supervisors: Michael Hurley and Jeffrey
Grierson)
Karalyn McDonald
HIV positive women, pregnancy and
motherhood
(Supervisors: Jon Willis, Doreen
Rosenthal, University of Melbourne and
Maggie Kirkman, University of Melbourne)
Debbie Ollis
Affirming diversity in health and
sexuality education from research to
policy to practice
(Supervisors: Lynne Hillier and Doreen
Rosenthal, University of Melbourne)
Anna Olsen – on placement from ANU
Choice or chance: The social context of
contraceptive use by women with
hepatitis C
(Supervisors: Cathy Banwell, National
Centre for Epidemiology and Population
Health, Australian National University;
Phyll Dance, National Centre for
Epidemiology and Population Health,
Australian National University; Dorothy
Broom and Meredith Temple-Smith)
INTERNSHIPS AT ARCSHS
Jays Janney, doctoral candidate in
sociology from Indiana University. was
awarded a Summer Fellowship 2006 by
the Australian Academy of Science and
the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Jays’ work documented gay community
activism prior to 1980.
Sonia Caruana from the Victorian Public
Health Trainee Scheme worked on
disseminating the research outcomes from
the Access to HIV information among
immigrant communities report and
produced six guides for use by mainstream
health workers when working with people
from the Horn of Africa and Sudan and with
people from Arabic speaking background.
Moira Callan from the Doctor of Health
Psychology programme at La Trobe
University worked on a fact sheet and
health promotion poster based on
research relating to gay and lesbian older
people and health care and published her
work in the Australian Nurses’ Journal.
Rebecca Harris, Swinburne Institute
produced a review of health promotion
materials about HPV, gender and
knowledge production.
Deborah Osborne
Workplace bullying and harassment
(Supervisors: Marian Pitts and Lynne Hillier)
Andrew Lavin from the Catholic University
worked on developing materials for a
booklet for same sex attracted youth,
titled Outsmarting Homophobia.
Kirk Peterson
Sex, money and power: Deconstructing
moral panic around street prostitution
in St Kilda
(Supervisors: Jon Willis and Lynne Hillier)
Nicole Besley from the Doctor of
Psychology clinical program at Melbourne
University worked on the development of
content for the Outsmarting Homophobia
booklet.
Other
Staff Activities
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Commonwealth/National
ACT-HBV (Advancing the Clinical
Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus) (JW)
Andrology Australia Board of
Management (MP)
Advisory Board, Centre for Cultural
Research into Risk, Charles Sturt
University (AS)
Australasian Epidemiological Association
(JS)
Organisations, Positive Education
Implementation Group (MH)
Australian Psychological Society (NT)
Australian Society for Medical Research
(NT)
Australian Women’s Studies Association
(MF)
Drafting Advisory Group, National STIs
Strategy (AM)
Economics Society of Australia (NT)
Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS,
Sexual Health and Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS STI
Sub-Committee (MP)
ARCSHS Alumnus, Dr Richard de Visser,
delivering a seminar at the Centre.
Indigenous Australian Sexual Health
Committee, a subcommittee of the
Commonwealth Ministerial Advisory
Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and
Hepatitis (JW – Deputy Chair)
Institute of Public Administration Australia
(NT)
Market Research Society of Australia (NT)
ARCSHS staff at the seminar featuring
Dr Richard de Visser.
Member of the Australian Psychological
Society (LH)
31
HIV/AIDS portfolio convenor (SS)
Council Health Advisory Committee –
Public Health Discipline Panel (MP)
Council Working Party on hormone
replacement therapy (JS)
Hepatitis C (MP)
Ministerial Advisory Committee on Bloodborne and Sexually Transmissible
Infections (JW)
and Lesbian Health (AM [Deputy Chair])
YGLAM Video and Theatre Group,
Steering Committee (LH)
La Trobe University
PLWHA Vic Board of Directors (JW)
Human Ethics Committee (AS)
National Indigenous, Sistergirl or
Transgender Committee to AFAO (MS)
STI management Guidelines Subcommittee, Sexual Health Society of
Victoria (MTS)
LTU Faculty of Health Sciences
Royal Australian and New Zealand
College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology;
Working Party on Termination of
Pregnancy (JS)
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled
Health Organisation, Sexual Health
Program Steering Committee (JW)
Scientific Advisory Committee, National
Centre for HIV Social Research, University
of New South Wales (MP)
Victorian AIDS Council/ Gay Men’s Health
Centre Board (JW [Vice President])
The Australian Sociology Association (GD)
Victorian AIDS Council/ Gay Men's Health
Centre Research Promotion and Ethics
Committee (JG [Chair], AM)
Working Party on hormone replacement
therapy (JS)
Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry
Management Committee (JS [Chair])
National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and
Clinical Research, Viral Hepatitis Working
Group (JW)
Victorian Cytology Service; Board of
Management (JS [Deputy Chair])
Other
State
Assessment Panel, Registration for
Organisations and Higher Education
Courses under the New South Wales
Higher Education Act. (LH)
BreastScreen Victoria Board of
Management (MP)
32
Xinjiang HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care
Project, AusAID-People's Republic of
China, Technical Advisory Board (MP)
Health Works, Western Region Health
Centre, Advisory Group (JJ)
Monash Institute for Reproduction and
Development, Longitudinal Study on the
Reproductive Health of Middle Aged and
Ageing men, Project Steering Group (MP)
BreastScreen Victoria Research and
Evaluation Committee (MP)
National Centre for HIV Social Research,
University of New South Wales, Scientific
Advisory Committee (MP)
Family Planning Victoria, Human research
ethics committee (PH)
Nillumbik SSAY Support Group, Reference
Group (LH)
Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS,
Hepatitis C and Related Diseases
Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry
Management Committee (JS)
Faculty Board (MP)
Faculty Development Committee (MP)
Faculty Human Ethics Committee (LB)
Faculty of Health Sciences Research
Committee (GD)
Faculty Research and Higher Education
(Research) Committee (MH/SS)
School of Public Health Research
Committee (LH)
Assessors/reviewers
Harvard University Press (LH)
NHS Health Technology Assessment
Programme (JS)
Research Grant Applications
Faculty of Health Sciences (MH)
ARC (GD)
NHMRC (MP, AS, GD, JS, JW)
VicHealth Research Fellowships, PhD
Scholarships and Small Project Grants (JS)
Journals
AIDS (AS)
AIDS Care (MP, JW, JG)
AIDS Education and Prevention (MH)
Australian and New Zealand Journal of
Public Health (AS, GD, MP, JS, JW, LH, MTS)
Australian Health Review (GD)
British Journal of Health Psychology (MP)
British Journal of Medical Psychology (MP)
British Medical Journal (MP, AS, LH, JS)
Culture, Health and Sexuality (AS, GD,
LH, MH)
Family Planning International (JW)
Feminism and Psychology (MP, LH)
Health Education Research: Theory and
Practice (MP)
Health Promotion International (AS, LH)
Health Sociology Review (GD)
Journal of Adolescence (LH)
Journal of Community and Applied Social
Psychology (MP, LH)
Membership on Editorial Boards
Implementation Group (MF)
Public Health (GD)
Attorney-General’s Ministerial Advisory
Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues (NT)
Culture, Health and Sexuality (GD [Senior
Reviews Editor])
Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal
Safety Survey, Reference Group (MF)
Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology
Review (SD & CF [Guest Editors,
December 2005])
Hepatitis C Internet project for secondary
schools, Reference Group (AM)
Journal of Sex Education (GD)
Men and Masculinities: A Journal of
Interdisciplinary Studies on Gender (MF
[International Advisory Editor])
Sexual Health (GD, MP, MTS)
Sexual Health (MTS [Foundation Board of
Management])
Sexual Health (AS [Member of Editorial
Advisory Board])
Sexualities (GD)
Journal of Health Psychology (MP)
Sexualities, Evolution and Gender (MP)
Journal of Research on Adolescence (AS)
Sexuality Research and Social Policy:
Journal of the National Sexuality Resource
Centre (JW)
Journal of Sex Education (GD)
Journal of Women and Health (LH)
Medical Anthropology (MH, JW)
Medical Journal of Australia (AS)
Psychology, Health and Medicine (MP)
Sex Education (GD)
Sexual Health (GD, MTS, MP, AS, JG)
Sexualities (GD, SS, LH, MH)
Sexuality Research and Social Policy:
Journal of the National Sexuality
Resources Center, State University of San
Francisco (GD)
Sexuality, Culture and Health book series
(GD [Co-editor])
Social Aspects of AIDS book series (GD)
Sexuality Research and Social Policy (GD)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (AS)
Sexually Transmitted Infections (AS)
Sex Roles (LH)
Social Science and Medicine (MP, MH, JG)
Society of Research into Adolescence (LH)
Membership of Advisory Bodies
Advisory Board, Centre for Cultural
Research into Risk, Charles Sturt
University (AS)
AFL (Australian Football League)
Respect and Responsibility Policy,
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission (HREOC) Advisory Group,
Striking the Balance: Women, Men, Work
and Family (MF)
Joint Ministerial Working Group on
Discrimination and Homophobia (NT)
National Advisory Committee for the
Young Australian Muslim of the Year
project (LB [Deputy Chair])
Scientific Advisory Committee, National
Centre for HIV Social Research, University
of New South Wales (MP)
Thesis examiners
Marian Pitts
Doctor of Philosophy, University of
Western Sydney
Doctor of Philosophy, University of New
England
Doctor of Philosophy, Swinburne University
Meredith Temple-Smith
Doctor of Psychology, RMIT University
Lynne Hillier
Doctor of Philosophy, Deakin University
Linda Bennett
Doctor of Philosophy, Victoria University of
Wellington
Murray Couch
Masters thesis, University of Melbourne
Postgraduate Student, Amie O’Shea and
Research Assistant, Hunter Mulcare.
33
Collaborations
Collaboration with colleagues from other
institutions, research centres and with
community agencies is fundamental to the
research undertaken at ARCSHS. We are
proud of the inclusive style of our research
and particularly wish to acknowledge our
collaborations with the following
organisations during 2006:
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
Victoria
• Positive Women
• Royal Women’s Hospital
• University of Melbourne
• Victorian AIDS Council
Further afield, we acknowledge our
colleagues and collaborators in Western
Australia, the Northern Territory and
Queensland.
At the national level we particularly value
our collaborations with:
• Australian Federation of AIDS
Organisations (AFAO)
• Australian Injecting Drug Users’
League (AVIL)
• Hepatitis Council
• National Association of People Living
with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA)
Finally, our international collaborators in
2006 included colleagues from Rainbow
Sky, MPlus Thailand, Gaya Nusantara
Indonesia, HIV/AIDS Network (HIVAN), the
University of KwaZuluNatal (UKZN) South
Africa, and the Mailman School of Public
Health, Columbia University, USA.
“Collaboration with
colleagues from other
institutions, research centres
and with community agencies
is fundamental to the research
undertaken at ARCSHS.”
34
Publications
REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Agius, P.A., Dyson, S., Pitts, M.K., Mitchell,
A., and Smith, A.M.A. (2006). Two steps
forward and one step back? Australian
secondary students’ sexual health
knowledge and behaviors, 1992–2002.
Journal Adolescent Health. 38(3): 247–52.
Agius, P.A., Pitts, M.K., Dyson, S., Mitchell,
A., and Smith, A.M.A. (2006). Pregnancy
and contraceptive use in a representative
sample of Australian secondary students.
Public Health. 30(6): 555–7.
Carballo-Diéguez, A., Dowsett, G.W.,
Ventuneac, A., Remien, R.H., Balan, I.,
Dolezal, C., Luciano, O., and Lin, P.
(2006). Cybercartography of popular
internet sites used by New York City men
who have sex with men interested in
bareback sex. AIDS Education and
Prevention. 18(6): 475–89.
Couch, M., and Pitts, M.K. (2006). The
positioning of bisexuals and ‘men who
have sex with men’ in sex, sexuality and
sexual health research, 1990–2004. Health
Sociology Review. 15(3): 269–76.
de Visser, R., Rissel, C., Smith, A.M.A.,
and Richters, J. (2006).
Sociodemographic correlates of selected
health risk behaviours in a representative
sample of Australian young people.
International Journal of Behavioral
Medicine. 13(2): 153–62.
35
de Visser, R., Smith, A.M.A., Richters, J.,
and Rissel, C. (2006). Associations
between religiosity and sexuality in a
representative sample of Australian adults.
Archives of Sexual Behavior. 82: 474–7
Dodson, P.D., Elston, J.K. and McCoy, B.
(2006). Leaving culture at the door:
Aboriginal perspectives on Christian belief
and practice. Pacifica. 19(3): 249–62.
Flood, M., and Pease, B. (2006). Undoing
men’s privilege and advancing gender
equality in public sector institutions.
Policy and Society. 24(4): 119–38.
Hillier, L. (2006). Safe spaces: The upside
of the image problem for same sex
attracted young women playing Australian
Rules football. International Journal of
Football Studies. 8(2): 51–65.
Holden, C., Jolley, D., McLachlan, R.I.,
Pitts, M.K., Cumming R., Wittert, G.,
Handelsman, D.J., and de Kretser, D.M.
(2006). Men in Australia telephone survey
(MATeS): Predictors of men’s help-seeking
behaviour for reproductive health
disorders. Medical Journal of Australia.
185(8): 418–22.
Lindsay, J., Perlesz, A., Brown, R., McNair,
R., de Vaus, D., and Pitts, M.K. (2006).
Stigma or respect: Lesbian-parented
families negotiating school settings.
Sociology. 40(6): 1059–77.
Lister, N., Smith, A.M.A., Tabrizi, S.,
Garland, S., and Fairley, C.K. (2006). Reinfection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and
chlamydia trachomatis infections among
men who have sex with men. International
Journal of STD and AIDS. 17: 415–7.
Madeddu, D., Grulich, A., Richters, J.,
Ferris, J., Grierson, J., Smith, A.M.A.,
Allan, B., and Prestage, G. (2006).
Estimating population distribution and HIV
prevalence among homosexual and
bisexual men. Sexual Health. 3(1): 37–43.
McCoy, B. (2006). Healers, clinics and
Aboriginal people: Whose health and who
benefits? Health Issues. 86(Autumn): 13–6.
McCoy, B. (2006). Kanyirninpa: Health,
Masculinity and Wellbeing of Desert
Aboriginal Men, The University of
Melbourne ePrint Repository, July,
<http://eprints.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/
archive/00001886>.
McNair, R., Gleitzer, M., and Hillier, L.
(2006). Challenging research:
methodological barriers to the inclusion of
36
lesbian and bisexual women in Australian
population-based health research. Gay
and Lesbian Issues in Psychology Review.
2(3).
McNally, S., Temple-Smith, M., Sievert, W.,
and Pitts M.K. (2006). Now, later or never?
Challenges associated with hepatitis C
treatment. Australian and New Zealand
Journal of Public Health. 30(5): 422–7.
multilevel analysis. Sexually Transmitted
Infections. 82(3): 250–4.
Smith, A.M.A., de Visser, R., and Rissel, C.
(2006). Optimizing telephone-based
population sampling-a reply. Annals of
Epidemiology. 16(9): 734–5.
Millett, C., Wen, M., Rissel, C., Smith,
A.M.A., Richters, J., Grulich, A., and de
Visser, R. (2006). Smoking and erectile
dysfunction: evidence of a dose response
in a representative sample of Australian
men. Tobacco Control. 15(2): 136–9.
Smith, A.M.A., Grierson, J., Pitts, M.K.,
and Pattison, P. (2006). Individual
characteristics are less important than
event characteristics in predicting
protected and unprotected anal
intercourse among homosexual and
bisexual men in Melbourne, Australia.
Sexually Transmitted Infections. 82(6):
474–7.
Nickson, C., Smith, A.M.A., and Shelley,
J.M. (2006). Travel undertaken by women
accessing private Victorian pregnancy
termination services. Australian and New
Zealand Journal of Public Health. 30(4):
329–34.
Smith, A.M.A., Grierson, J., Wain, D., Pitts,
M.K., and Pattison, P. (2006).
Interpersonal and social network
influences on gay men’s communication
about unprotected sex. International
Journal of STD and AIDS. 17(4): 267–70.
Perlesz, A., Brown, R., Lindsay, J., McNair,
R., de Vaus, D., and Pitts, M.K. (2006).
Family in transition: Parents, children and
grandparents in lesbian families give
meaning to ‘doing’ family. Journal of
Family Therapy. 28(2): 175–99.
Temple-Smith, M., Jenkinson, K., Lavery,
J., Gifford, S., and Morgan, M. (2006).
Discrimination or discretion? Exploring
dentist’s views on treating patients with
hepatitis C. Australian Dental Journal.
51(4): 318–23.
Perlesz, A., Brown, R., McNair, R.,
Lindsay, J., Pitts, M.K., and de Vaus, D.
(2006). Full spaces, full lives: Response to
commentary by Stephen Hicks. Lesbian
and Gay Psychology Review. 7(2): 231–3.
Temple-Smith, M., Mark Stoové, Smith,
A.M.A., O’Brien, M., Mitchell, D., Banwell,
C., Bammer, G., Jolley, D., and Gifford, S.
(2006). Gender differences in seeking
care for hepatitis C: the Australian
experience. Journal of Substance Use,
December 11 (6):1–12.
Perlesz, A., Brown, R., McNair, R.,
Lindsay, J., Pitts, M.K., and de Vaus, D.
(2006). Lesbian family disclosure:
Authenticity and safety within private and
public domains. Lesbian and Gay
Psychology Review. 7(1): 53–63.
Pitts, M.K., Couch, M., and Smith, A.M.A.
(2006). Men who have sex with men
(MSM): how much to assume and what to
ask? Medical Journal of Australia. 185(8):
450–2.
Richters, J., Smith, A.M.A., de Visser, R.,
Grulich, A., and Rissel, C. (2006).
Circumcision in Australia: prevalence and
affects on sexual health. International
Journal of STD and AIDS. 17: 547–54.
Slavin, S., Batrouney, C., and Murphy, D.J.
(2006). Fear appeals and treatment sideeffects: An effective combination for HIV
prevention? AIDS Care. 19(1): 130–7.
Smith, A.M.A., and Subramanian, S.
(2006). Population contextual influences
on heterosexual partner numbers: a
Tideman, R., Pitts, M.K., and Fairley, C.K.
(2006). Client acceptability of the use of
computers in a sexual health clinic.
International Journal of STD and AIDS.
17(2): 121–3.
Tideman, R., Pitts, M.K., and Fairley, C.K.
(2006). Use of the Delphi sorting
technique to establish a core sexual
history. International Journal of STD and
AIDS. 17(3): 170–2.
Tomnay, J., Pitts, M.K., Kuo, T., and
Fairley, C.K. (2006). Does the Internet
assist clients to carry out contact tracing?
A randomized controlled trial using webbased information. International Journal of
STD and AIDS. 17(6): 391–4.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Dowsett, G.W. (2006). Johnnie comes
marching…where? Australian gay men,
masculinity, HIV/AIDS and sex,. In S.
Whitehead (Ed.), Men and Masculinities.
London: Routledge.
Dowsett, G.W. (2006). Researching gay
men’s health: The promise of qualitative
research. In I.H. Meyer., and M.E.
Northbridge (Eds.), The Health of Sexual
Minorities: Public Health Perspectives on
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Populations. New York: Kluwer
Academic/Plenum.
Dowsett, G.W., and Parker, R.G. (2006).
Culture, Sexuality and AIDS Syllabus. In
C. Foote-Ardah, and E. Wright (Eds.),
Teaching the Sociology of HIV/AIDS:
Syllabi, Lectures and Other Resources for
Instructors and Students, 3rd edn.
Washington, DC: American Sociological
Association.
Hurley, M. (2006). Entries on Altman,
Dessaix, Porter. In Gerstner, D. (Ed)
International Encyclopedia of Queer
Culture: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transexual Contemporary Cultures,
London and New York: Routledge.
Ross, D., Wight, D., Dowsett, G.W., Buvé,
A., and Obasi, A. (2006). The weight of
evidence: a method for assessing the
strength of evidence on the effectiveness
of HIV prevention interventions among
young people. In D. Ross, B. Dick, and J.
Ferguson (Eds.), Preventing HIV/AIDS in
Young People: A Systematic Review of the
Evidence from Developing Countries,
pp. 79–102. Geneva: World Health
Organisation.
Smith, A.M.A. (2006). Sexuality. In P.
Beilharz, and T. Hogan (Eds.), Sociology:
Place, Time and Division. pp. 387–90.
Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
PUBLISHED PAMPHLETS OR
REPORTS
Aizura, A.Z., Walsh, J., Pike, A., and Jak.
(2006). GQ: Gender Questioning. Trans
Melbourne Gender Project and Gay and
Lesbian Health Victoria, Melbourne,
Australia.
Banwell, C., Dance, P., Olsen, A., and
Temple-Smith, M. (2006). What have
hormones got to do with heroin and hep
C? Junk Mail, 2006.
Couch, M., Dowsett, G.W., Duterte, S.,
Keys, D., and Pitts, M.K. (2006). Looking
for more: A review of social and contextual
factors affecting young people’s sexual
health. In L.T. University. (Ed.), The
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health
and Society monograph series, La Trobe
University, Melbourne, Australia.
Dowsett, G.W. (2006). Moving
masculinities and social change: Why do
men matter? Gender Relations Centre
Working Papers Series. Australian
National University: Research School of
Pacific and Asian Studies, Canberra,
Australia.
Dowsett, G.W., Grierson, J., and McNally,
S. (2006), A review of knowledge about
the sexual networks and behaviours of
men who have sex with men in Asia.
Monograph Series Number 59. The
and Society, La Trobe University,
Melbourne, Australia.
Dyson, S., and Fox, C. (2006). An
evaluation of the Sexual Health and
Relationships Education (SHARE) project
2003–2005, Shine SA.
Flood, M., and Pease, B. (2006). The
factors influencing community attitudes in
relation to violence against women: A
critical review of the literature. Victorian
Health Promotion Foundation, Melbourne,
Australia.
Grierson, J., Thorpe, R. and Pitts, M.K.
(2006) HIV Futures 5: Life as we know it.
Monograph Series Number 60, The
and Society, La Trobe University,
McNally, S. and Dutertre, S. (2006).
Access to HIV prevention information
among selected culturally and
linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
in Victoria. Monograph Series Number 58,
The Australian Research Centre in Sex,
Health and Society, La Trobe University,
Pitts, M.K., Couch, M., McNally, S., and
Grierson, J. (2006). The dynamics and
contexts of male-to-male sex in Indonesia
and Thailand: Report to Family Health
International. The Australian Research
Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La
Trobe University, Melbourne Australia.
Pitts, M.K., Smith, A.M.A., Mitchell, A. and
Patel, S. (2006). Private Lives: A report on
the health and wellbeing of GLBTI
Australians. Monograph Series Number
57, The Australian Research Centre in
Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe
University, Melbourne, Australia.
Temple-Smith, M. and McNally, S. (2006).
Considering treatment for hepatitis C:
Selected findings from the now, later or
never study. Australian Hepatitis
Chronicle, Issue 16, October 2006,
pp. 31–34.
Temple-Smith, M. and McNally, S. (2006).
Hepatitis C social research at the
and Society. Australian Hepatitis
Chronicle, Issue 16, October 2006,
pp. 9–11.
Walsh, J. (2006). In sickness and in health
(male version and female versions) –
Alerting health professionals to
Relationships Acts reforms regarding
same sex relationships. Poster. Victoria
Law Foundation, Melbourne, Australia.
Walsh, J. (2006). Sexual diversity health
services audit. Gay and Lesbian Health
Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
Walsh, J. (2006). You don’t have to tell us
if you’re gay and lesbian. But you can.
Poster for youth services. Gay and
Lesbian Health Victoria, Melbourne,
Australia.
if you’re gay and lesbian. But you can.
Poster for adult health and welfare
services. Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria,
if you’re gay and lesbian. But you can –
Working to reduce barriers to health care
for people of diverse sexualities and
gender. Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria,
Walsh, J., Symons, C., and Hemphill, D.
(2006). Getting over it: homophobia, sport
and university education. School of
Human Movement, Recreation and
Performance, Victoria University,
37
EXTRACTED VOLUMES OF
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
PRESENTATIONS
Bennett, L. (2006). Encountering the
Sacred: Ethnographic and Historical
Narratives, Locations of Spirituality:
Experiences and Writings of the Sacred,
Humanities Research Centre, Australian
National University, October 2002.
Bennett, L. (2006). ‘Islamic schools in
Indonesia and Australia: A comparative
perspective’, Symposium on Islamic
Schools in Indonesia, University of
Western Australia, Perth, Australia,
October 2006.
Bennett, L. (2006). Spirituality in the sterile
field: Childbirth, syncretism and Islam,
Locations of Spirituality: Experiences and
Writings of the Sacred, Humanities
Research Centre, Australian National
University, October 2002.
Dyson, S. (2006). A whole school
approach to sexuality education: is it any
different? (Abstract). Sexologies:
European Journal of Sexual Health.
15(S1): S39.
Fox, C. (2006). Sizing up the man: How
important is penis size to men (Abstract).
Sexologies: European Journal of Sexual
Health. 15(S1): S30.
Fox, C. (2006). The penis in words
(Extract). Sexologies: European Journal of
Sexual Health. 15(S1): S32.
FULL PUBLISHED
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
McCoy, B. (2006). Maparn: Traditionalist
health and healing in a Western and
Christian world, translated into Mandarin,
Shamanic Practices, East-Asian Local
Religions and Indigenous Peoples:
Encounter with Christianity, Taitung,
Taiwan. February 2006.
BOOK REVIEWS
Dyson, S. (2006). Review of The Anne
Oakley Reader. Culture, Health and
Sexuality. 8(5): 479–85.
Hillier, L. (2006). Review of For the love of
women: Gender, identity and same sex
relations in a Greek provincial town.
Culture Health and Sexuality. 8(2): 189–91.
Hillier, L. (2006). Review of Lesbian
women and sexual health: the social
construction of risk and susceptibility by
Kathleen A. Dolan, New York: The
Haworth Press Inc, 2005, 122pp., (pbk)
ISBN 0-7890-2479-9. Gay and Lesbian
Issues in Psychology.
McCoy, B. (2006). Review of Reports from
a wild country: Ethics for decolonisation
by Deborah Bird Rose, Pacifica 19(3):
368–9.
38
Dowsett, G.W. ‘Bareback sex and the
internet: MSM who seek men online for
intentional unprotected anal intercourse
(UAI)’, Carballo-Diéguez A., Ventuneac,
A., Dolezal, C., Balán, I., Remien, R.H.,
Dowsett G.W., Rowe, M., Frasca, T., and
Nodin, N., Poster to XVI International AIDS
Conference, Toronto, Canada, August
2006.
Dowsett, G.W.‘Internet recruitment
techniques for face-to-face interviews of
men who have sex with men’, Ventuneac
A., Carballo-Diéguez, A., Rowe, M.,
Frasca, T., Nodin, N., Balán, I., Remien,
R.H., Dowsett G.W., Lin, P., and Dolezal,
C., Poster to XVI International AIDS
Conference, Toronto, Canada, August
2006.
Dyson, S. (2006). ‘Practised ways of
being’: Lesbians negotiating gender and
sexuality in clinical spaces, Thinking
Gender – The NEXT Generation, Leeds,
United Kingdom, June 2006.
Dyson, S. (2006). ‘(Ms) Recognition and
domains of speakability: coming out in
heterosexualised spaces’, Paper
presented at the Hetero Factory,
Norrkoping, Sweden, June 2006.
Fox, C. (2006). ‘The penis in words.’
Poster to 8th Congress of the European
Federation of Sexology, Prague, Czech
Republic, June 2006.
Fox, C. (2006). ‘Sizing up the man: How
important is penis size to men’, 8th
Congress of the European Federation of
Sexology, Prague, Czech Republic, June
2006.
Grierson, J., Batrouney, C., Mclean, M.,
and Kennedy, M. (2006) ‘Being positive
about staying negative; the power of first
person narrative in HIV prevention’, XVI
International AIDS Conference, Toronto,
Canada, August 2006.
McCoy, B. (2006). ‘Generational trauma
and Indigenous men’s health’, World on
the Edge, The Society for Applied
Anthropology 66th Annual Meeting,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,
April 2006.
McCoy, B. (2006). ‘Suicide and desert
men: The power and protection of
Kanyirninpa (holding)’, Creating futures:
Influencing social determinants of mental
health and wellbeing in rural, Indigenous
and Island peoples, The Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Section of Social and Cultural Psychiatry,
Triennial Conference, Cairns, Australia,
September 2006.
Mitchell, A. (2006). ‘We treat everyone the
same’: Heterosexism and homophobia in
service delivery’, Keynote Address to
Asia-Pacific Mental Health Conference,
Melbourne, Australia, May 2006.
Dyson, S. (2006). ‘A whole school
approach to sexuality education: is it any
different?’, 8th Congress of the European
Federation of Sexology, Prague, Czech
Republic, June 2006.
Pitts, M.K. (2006). ‘HPV: What have men
got to do with it?’ AOGIN 2nd Biennial
Conference: “Breakthroughs & Issues in
HPV Genital Infections and Neoplasia”,
Mactan, Cebu, Philippines, September
2006.
Flood, M. (2006). ‘Violence prevention with
men: Strategies and challenges’, Keynote
address to II International Colloquium of
Studies on Men and Masculinities,
Guadalajara, Mexico, June 2006.
Pitts, M.K. (2006). Overview of ARCSHS,
Secretariat of the Pacific Community,
Noumea, New Caledonia, November
2006.
Fox, C. (2006). ‘Genitalising body image:
Pop cultural messages and the role of the
large penis in men’s identity construction’,
Thinking Gender – The NEXT Generation,
Leeds, United Kingdom, June 2006.
Fox, C. (2006). ‘It’s hate and intolerance
not fear!’ Paper presented at the Hetero
Factory, Norrkoping, Sweden, June 2006.
Pitts, M.K. (2006). ‘Psychosocial aspects
of HPV’, AOGIN 2nd Biennial Conference:
“Breakthroughs and Issues in HPV Genital
Infections & Neoplasia”, Mactan, Cebu,
Philippines, September 2006.
Pitts, M.K. (2006). ‘Women’s health issues:
Adolescence, sexuality and STI
infections’, AOGIN 2nd Biennial
Conference: “Breakthroughs and Issues in
HPV Genital Infections and Neoplasia”,
Mactan, Cebu, Philippines, September
2006.
Pitts, M.K., Dyson S, Garland S, and
Rosenthal D. ‘What do women know about
HPV?’ EUROGIN conference, Paris,
France, April 2006.
Thorpe R. (2006). ‘Resisting
medicalisation: The use of complementary
medicine by people living with HIV/AIDS’,
Alternative and Complementary Health
Research Network Conference,
Nottingham, United Kingdom, July 2006.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
PRESENTATIONS
Batrouney, C., Guy, R., Goller, J., Grierson,
J., and Hellard, M. (2006). ‘Wrong way! –
go back! Reflections on two campaign
approaches’, 18th Annual Conference of
the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine,
Melbourne, Australia, October 2006.
Bennett, L., and Parker, L. (2006). ‘Zina
and Modernity: The socially embedded
moralities of premarital sex for Indonesian
youth’, 16th Biennial Conference of the
Asian Studies Association of Australia,
University of Wollongong, Wollongong,
Australia, June 2006.
Couch, M. and Pitts, M.K. (2006).
‘Religious affiliation and non-heterosexual
men and women in Australia: A report
from the Private Lives Survey’, The
Australian Sociological Association 2006
Conference, University of Western
Australia and Murdoch University,
Australia, December 2006.
Dowsett, G.W. (2006). ‘Brokeback to
bareback: shifts in gay sexual culture and
dilemmas for prevention research’,
Opening plenary address
‘stigma/pleasure/practice’: 9th Social
Research Conference on HIV, Hepatitis C
and Related Diseases, Sydney, Australia,
April 2006.
Dyson, S. (2006). ‘Report on the
evaluation of the SHARE project’,
Teaching It Like It Is Conference,
Adelaide, Australia, July 2006.
Flood, M. (2006). ‘Ethical issues in
qualitative research on sexuality’. National
Centre for Epidemiology and Population
Health (NCEPH) Methodology Seminar
Series, Canberra, Australia, May 2006.
Flood, M. (2006). ‘Separated fathers and
the fathers’ rights movement’, Feminism,
Law and the Family Workshop, Law
School, University of Melbourne,
Melbourne, Australia, February 2006.
Flood, M. (2006). ‘The debate over men’s
versus women’s family violence’,
Australian Institute of Judicial
Administration (AIJA) Family Violence
Conference, Adelaide, Australia, February
2006.
Grierson, J. (2006). ‘Through a dark glass
clearly: The employment and aberration of
community in AIDS discourse’, 18th Annual
Conference of the Australasian Society for
HIV Medicine, Melbourne, Australia,
October 2006.
Grierson, J. (2006). ‘Treatment breaks
from the patient perspective’, 2nd
Consensus Conference on the Australian
Commentary to the USA Antiretroviral
Guidelines, Melbourne, Australia, October
2006.
Grierson, J., Thorpe, R., and Pitts, M.K.
(2006). ‘Australian trends in ARV uptake
and experience 1997–2005’, 18th Annual
October 2006.
McCoy, B. (2006). ‘Contested sites:
Aboriginal health engaging western
medicine’, Negotiating the Sacred III:
Religion, medicine and the body, The
Centre for Cross-Cultural Research,
Australian National University (ANU),
Canberra, Australia, November 2006.
McCoy, B. (2006). ‘Healing the Aboriginal
body: Outside the clinic’, Tackling the
determinants of health: From bush to
Bondi, 37th Public Health Association of
Australia Annual Conference, Sydney,
Australia, September 2006.
McCoy, B. (2006). ‘Outside the ward and
clinic: Healing the Aboriginal body’,
Beyond science and art: Anthropology
and the unification of knowledge,
Australian Anthropology Annual
Conference, James Cook University,
Cairns, Australia, September 2006.
McCoy, B. (2006). ‘Petrol sniffing: Social
pathways and desert practice’,
Australasian Professional Society on
Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD)
Conference, Cairns, Australia, November
2006.
McNally, S., Dutertre, S. and Grierson, J.
(2006). ‘No-one has sex like this in our
community – what newly arrived African
and Arabic women think about HIV
prevention information in Australia’, 18th
Annual Conference of the Australasian
Society for HIV Medicine, Melbourne,
Australia, October 2006.
Mitchell, A., and Walsh, J. (2006).
‘Challenging gender stereotypes in your
school’, Sense and Sexuality Conference,
Department of Education and Training,
Melbourne, Australia, July 2006.
39
Pitts, M.K. Couch, M., and Mulcare, H.
(2006). ‘Self-reported health and nonheterosexual men and women in Australia:
A report from the Private Lives Survey’,
The Australian Sociological Association
2006 Conference, University of Western
Australia and Murdoch University,
Australia, December 2006.
Pitts, M.K., Grierson, J., and Thorpe, R.
(2006). ‘Living and working with HIV:
Results from HIV futures surveys
1997–2005’, 18th Annual Conference of
Pitts, M.K. (2006). ‘Poor safe sex practices
in middle aged and older Australian men:
Men in Australia telephone survey
(MATeS)’, Australasian Sexual Health
Conference, Melbourne, Australia,
October 2006.
Sidat, M., Grierson, J., and Fairley, C. K.
(2006). ‘Experiences and perceptions of
HIV-infected individuals with 100%
adherence to HAART – a
phenomenological study’, 18th Annual
October 2006.
Thorpe, R. (2006). ‘Resisting
medicalisation: Use of complementary
medicine by people living with HIV/AIDS’,
Australasian Society for HIV Medicine,
Thorpe, R., Pitts, M.K., and Grierson, J.
(2006). ‘Co-infection with HIV and
hepatitis C,’ 18th Annual Conference of
Walsh, J. (2006). ‘Sport: Using
homophobia as a training strategy or
providing a bridge to isolated young
people?’ Sport and Mental Health
Conference: From Chemistry to
Communities, Monash University,
Melbourne, Australia, March 2006.
Willis, J., Saunders, M., Grierson, J.,
Thorpe, R., Pitts, M.K., Hurley, M., and
McDonald, K. (2006). ‘Disadvantage
among Australian PLWHA who are
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders:
Findings from the HIV futures surveys’,
18th Annual Conference of the
Australasian Society for HIV Medicine,
Smith, A.M.A., Grierson, J., Pitts, M.K.,
and Pattison, P. (2006). ‘Personal, social
and contextual associations with
protected and unprotected anal
intercourse among gay and bisexual men
in Melbourne’, 18th Annual Conference of
Temple-Smith, M., and McNally, S. (2006).
‘Considering treatment for Hepatitis C’, 5th
Australian Viral Hepatitis Conference,
Sydney, Australia, February 2006.
Temple-Smith, M., Jenkinson, K., Wallace,
J., and Gifford, S. (2006). ‘Pharmacy out
of balance or custom-made? Investigating
hepatitis C related discrimination’,
Australian Professional Society on Alcohol
and Other Drugs, Cairns, Australia,
November 2006.
Temple-Smith, M., McNally, S., Wallace, J.,
Pitts, M.K., and Smith, A.M.A. (2006).
‘Laws, regulations and guidelines relating
to hepatitis C: a help or hindrance to
public health?’ Public Health Association,
Sydney, Australia, September 2006.
40
Glossary
AFAO
Organisations
AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome
ARC
ARCSHS
Sex, Health and Society
BBV
Blood Borne Viruses
CLEU
Community Liaison and
Education Unit
DHA
Australian Government
Department of Health and
Ageing
DHS
Victorian Government
Department of Human
Services
GLBTI
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender and Intersex
people
GLHV
Gay and Lesbian Health
Victoria
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency
Virus
NHMRC
Research Council
PLWHA
People Living with HIV/AIDS
SOPV
Sex on Premises Venues
STI
Sexually Transmissible
Infection
TMGP
Trans Melbourne Gender
Project
VAC
VINES
Victorian Networks Study
La Trobe University
1st floor
215 Franklin Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000
AUSTRALIA
Editor Ros Handley
Design Outsource Design
Telephone +61 3 9285 5382
Facsimile +61 3 9285 5220
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs

ARCSHS Annual Report 2006

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