Research - Department of Health Social Science

The research profile of the Department of Health Social Science is predominantly in the public health-social sciences bloc, with a unique blending of social health sciences disciplines of policy, sociology, health promotion and health psychology, that creates opportunities for multi-paradigm and mixed method research partnerships..

Teams of researchers are clustered around themes including evidence-based and equity driven health policy and health promotion, health and social impact assessment, social disadvantage and health vulnerability, community and health development and health services research.

The Department places a strong emphasis on community engagement and inter-disciplinary research, and is engaged in a wide range of research activities that are characterised by strong social and community relevance.

Postgraduate Research Supervision

Postgraduate research supervision is available in the following research areas:

Professor Helen Keleher
Equity-focused health promotion; solutions to address health inequities; primary health care; integrated health services

Dr Belinda Crockett
Gender, HIV/AIDS and development; public health risk discourse and the conveyance of risk messages; social impact of blood-borne viruses such as Hepatitis C; health promotion evaluation research

Dr Belinda Lewis
Health promotion; HIV/AIDS prevention; International health development - crisis, recovery and community sustainability; insecurity and the transition to civil society; community partnerships and capacity building in local and international contexts; cultural politics of health; Cultural studies and critical approaches to the media and public health

Dr Charles Livingstone
Health system financing including public sector health service funding models and private health insurance; electronic gaming machine technology; gambling harm minimisation; social theory of dangerous consumptions; social theory of gambling; Obesogenesis; social disadvantage

Dr Ben Smith
Effect of media and social marketing on health beliefs and actions;
Chronic disease prevention strategies in primary care and other health settings; Measurement of physical activity; Community based strategies to reduce health inequity

Research Strengths

Health System Performance

The Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit
The Evidence Review Unit

Gambling and Public Health

Health Literacy

Women's Health

Population, Community and Primary Health