Our research has real world impact for the health of women and their communities in Australia and beyond.
Findings from our research initiatives continue to inform government and NGO inquiries, roundtables and policy reviews, as well as guidelines and intervention development for practice. Since 1996, data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health has also been utilised by collaborating researchers to publish over 795 papers in national and international scientific journals.
It's our vision to achieve optimal health for all women.
How our research is making a difference for women
Research across our three main themes has delivered the following health initiatives for women:
- Development and deployment of a counselling intervention for women taking legal action after a sexual assault.
- Development of a screening instrument for dementia for GPs as part of guidelines for management.
- Evaluation of a novel cervical cancer screening program in collaboration with Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service and Family Planning NSW.
Read on to learn how our research is informing women’s health policy development in Australia and overseas.
Violence Against Women
Our Violence Against Women research program has informed:
- The next National plan to reduce violence against women and their children (2021).
- The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence (2020).
- The 4th National plan to reduce violence against women and their children (2018).
- The National Women’s Health Strategy 2010-2020.
- Policy makers about women’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The 2021 Federal Budget, via the development of a report for the National Mental Health Commission on women’s mental health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthy Ageing
Our Healthy Ageing research program has informed:
- Presentations to the G20 and advice to the UK Government through collaborations with the World Health Organisation (Kobe Centre) and the International Longevity Centre (ILC) UK.
- Policy submissions including a series of responses to the Royal Commission on Quality and Safety in Aged Care and the Australian Association of Gerontology.
- Australian Institute of Health and Ageing (methods and outcomes).
- The Department of Health aged care indicators.
- The National Women’s Health Strategy 2010-2020.
- Written modules for RACGP Red and White Books.
WWOMB and Sexual and Reproductive Health
Our WWOMB research program and sexual and reproductive research initiatives have informed:
- Policy developments in Ethiopia through the development of working relationships with the Ethiopian Ambassador and the Director of Maternal and Infant Care for Ethiopia.
- The National Women’s Health Strategy 2010-2020.
- The Inquiry into Support for New Parents and Babies in NSW regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
- Policy makers about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health.
