This page lists a number of research institutes that house staff who have an interest in refugee health related topics. Below is a table with the names of some individuals researchers and their interests. You can search the table by typing key words into the search bar.
Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital. The Victorian Infectious Diseases Service is a statewide service with a special focus on infectious diseases and travel-related or tropical infections, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis and hospital-acquired infections. The centre has an active research program and strong links with public health. Several of the Service’s staff have a particular interest in refugee and migrant health including Associate Professor Beverley-Ann Biggs (ID physician) and Dr Daniel O’Brien.
The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute conducts research on innovative ways to treat and prevent conditions affecting children’s health and well-being. One of their recent research projects is on Having a baby in a new country: The views and experiences of Afghan families and stakeholders. For information about this project please contact Jane Yelland (03) 9936 6673, Ms Fatema Fouladi (03) 8788 3337 or Dr Sayed Wahidi (03) 8788 3382.
The McCaughey Centre: VicHealth Centre for promotion of mental health and wellbeing is based in the University of Melbourne School of Population Health. The Centre aims to create and share knowledge which strengthens the foundations of healthy, just and resilient communities. It supports policy research leading to improved understanding of the determinants of mental health and community well-being affecting key population groups including refugee and migrant communities. One of their current projects is Teeth Tales which explores the socio-cultural determinants of child oral health in refugee and migrant communities.
School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University conducts research addressing the complex connections between determinants of health and social development, including evidence-based public health and health promotion, promoting equity and social justice, diversity and health. For example the research conducted by Dr Andre Renzaho on nutrition and access to health services by refugee background communities.
Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit is an organisational partnership between Monash University, Southern Health and the South Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local. SAPCRU conducts multidisciplinary research together with collaborators and strategic partners from other departments and faculties at Monash University, other universities and independent research institutes, General Practice Networks, public health services, consumers and consumer groups, non government organisations industry and government. SAPCRU researchers have an interest in refugee health, especially given that Dandenong Casey is a significant site of settlement for people of refugee backgrounds, especially people from Afghanistan.
Melbourne Refugee Studies Program is a University of Melbourne initiative that intends to make a constructive contribution to discussion and decision-making concerning asylum seeker and refugee policies and programs in Australia and internationally. The program draws on the deep expertise and commitment of the University’s academic and professional staff and students, supports collaboration and exchange across faculties and schools, engages with leading asylum seeker and refugee programs across Australia and internationally, and engages the broader community in informed public discussion to support and inform the development of effective and ethical asylum-seeker and refugee policies and programs. The program convener is A/Prof Harry Minas.
The Centre for Refugee Research is based at the University of New South Wales conducts research on many aspects of refugee rights law, policy and service provision. Researchers at the Centre are particularly interested in mental health, women’s health and the impacts of rape and survival sex on refugee women and international policies.
Refugee Health Research Blogs
Asylum is the blog of the Melbourne Refugee Studies Program. The blog is intended as a space for discussing policy, sharing research and reports, posting information about public forums and events, and any other issues of importance to asylum seekers and refugees. Contributions are welcomed from researchers, educators, students, health, social services and legal professionals, those who work in community agencies providing services to asylum seekers and refugees, policy makers, program managers, and above all people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum are invited to directly share their views and experiences.
Refugee Research Blog provides a platform for academic and non-academic research and comment on issues surrounding people seeking asylum and refugees. The blog is hosted by Researchers for Asylum Seekers, an interdisciplinary organisation based at the University of Melbourne. The primary audience is people working with people seeking asylum and refugee issues in academia, the non-government and community sector, various levels of government, advocates, consultants, and the general public.
