Research Directions

Our fact sheets give an overview of research at the University. An archive of fact sheets for 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005 is also available. For more information on each project, please see the fact sheet contact details. Media enquiries: Office of Public Affairs.  

2009

OSPREY Flies High for Maternity Health Services (PDF, 77Kb)
Professor Louisa Jorm and Dr Hilary Bambrick from the School of Medicine, in collaboration with researchers from the Universities of Sydney and Western Australia, the Sax Institute and eminent national and international mentors, are leading the OSPREY research program (Outcomes, Services and Policy for the Reproductive and Early Years), which will use linked health service data for research to inform improvements in health services for mothers, babies and children. This research program was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Moving Along With Chinese Herbal Medicine (PDF, 99Kb)
Professor Alan Bensoussan from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research and Associate Professor John Kellow from the Gastrointestinal Investigation Unit of the Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney University are evaluating the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine in treating constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS). This research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Healthy Tourism (PDF, 96Kb)
Associate Professor Robyn Bushell from the Centre for Cultural Research and Associate Professor Brent Powis from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health are investigating ways to promote the protection of tourists and locals from emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). The study is part of the project  ASEAN Plus Three Initiative on Healthy Tourism (Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) under the ASEAN Plus Three Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme funded by AusAID, the Australian Government’s overseas aid program.

Household mortgage distress (PDF, 94Kb)
An interdisciplinary team headed by Professor Phillip O’Neill, Director of the Urban Research Centre, is investigating the effects of mortgage distress on Australian households. The team consists of members of the Urban Research Centre and the Social Justice and Social Change Research Centre, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Sydney. The research has received financial support from the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Who uses HACC? (PDF, 73Kb)
Professor Louisa Jorm and Dr Hilary Bambrick from the School of Medicine are collaborating with Professor Hal Kendig and Dr Robert Pedlow from University of Sydney, and Associate Professor Julie Byles and Dr Lynne Parkinson from University of Newcastle to explore the link between accessing Home and Community Care Services and use of hospital inpatient services through a Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care NSW HACC Research Grant.

Patient Pathway Process Management (PDF, 86Kb)
Mr Dariush Forghani, Dr Premaratne Samaranayake and Dr Anneke Fitzgerald from the Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies together with Dr Kathryn Zeitz, the director of Patient Pathway from the Royal Adelaide Hospital have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership Program grant to develop a holistic criteria for evaluating the impact and benefits of the Patient Pathways program initiatives at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Classroom groups for positive growth (PDF, 68Kb)
Dr Sue Roffey from the Centre for Educational Research is investigating the effectiveness of Circle Time as a universal social and emotional development tool in schools. The impact of the experience of Circle Time on prospective teachers is also examined. This research is funded by the Minister for Education and Training and administered by the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Come up for air (PDF, 67Kb)
Dr Sue Reed from the School of Natural Sciences has collaborated with the Blue Mountains City Council to study air quality in the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains.

Developing Critical Practice (PDF, 96Kb)
Dr Michael Houlbrook from School of Social Sciences, Ms Peri O'Shea and Associate Professor Michael Darcy from the Social Justice Social Change Research Centre, together with Family Worker Training and Development Programme Inc., Western Sydney Community Forum and Community Resource Network (CRN) Inc., have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership Program grant to investigate results based accountability.

Reassessing multicultural education (PDF, 110Kb)
Dr Megan Watkins and Associate Professor Greg Noble from the Centre for Cultural Research are collaborating with the Multicultural Programs Unit of the NSW Department of Education and Training to explore approaches to multicultural education in NSW government schools.

Studying Racism (PDF, 63Kb)
Professor Kevin Dunn from the School of Social Sciences is undertaking a systematic collection of data about racism in Australia, through funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Living in Harmony Program. The aim is to better understand regional variations in the intensity and nature of intolerance.

Sexuality and Intimacy after cancer (PDF, 62Kb)
Professor Jane Ussher, Dr Janette Perz and Dr Emilee Gilbert from the School of Psychology are collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team comprised of Ms Gillian Batt and Dr Kendra Sundquist from the Cancer Council of NSW (CCNSW), Ms Sue Carrick from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), Dr Gerard Wain and Ms Kim Hobbs from Westmead Hospital, and Dr Laura Kirsten from Nepean Hospital, to explore the effect of cancer and cancer treatments on sexuality and intimacy in relationships through an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project grant.

The Cost of Adolescent Mental Health Issues (PDF, 75Kb)
Professor Beverley Raphael and Professor Louisa Jorm from the School of Medicine are exploring the current and future social and economic costs of not dealing adequately with child and adolescent mental health problems, through an Australian Health Management (ahm) Research Project Grant.

Creating community at end of life (PDF, 80Kb)
Dr. Debbie Horsfall and Associate Professor Rosemary Leonard from the Social Justice Social Change Research Centre, together with Kerrie Noonan from HOME Hospice and Cancer Council NSW have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership Program grant to explore if, and how, providing care for the dying at home contributes to the development of social capital.

Herbal medicines and healthy ageing (PDF, 85Kb)
Professor Nikolaus Sucher from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, together with LIPA Pharmaceuticals Ltd have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership Program grant to test the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines thought to promote healthy ageing and longevity.

That Time of the Month (PDF, 60Kb)
Professor Jane Ussher and Dr Janette Perz from the School of Psychology are collaborating with Dr Edith Weisberg from Family Planning New South Wales to explore the effectiveness of a couple-based psychological intervention on Premenstrual Syndrome through an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grant.

Small things make a big difference (PDF, 66Kb)
Associate Professor Ian Anderson from the Centre for Plant and Food Science is investigating how the diversity and activity of forest soil microbes is affected by climate change, through a Life Sciences Research Award from the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research.

Really Hyperactive? (PDF, 59Kb)
Indigenous Scholar Mister Anthony Dillon, with Professor Rhonda Craven and Dr Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews from the Centre for Educational Research, Professor Ian Wilson from the School of Medicine, and Dr Helen Correia from the School of Psychology, is critically analysing the issues and decisions of parents with children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder through a three year ARC Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Grant.

Staying on at school (PDF, 80Kb)
Professor Margaret Helen Vickers and Dr Katrina Barker from School of Education together with the NSW Department of Education & Training have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership Program grant to examine what schools can do to encourage young people to stay on, rather than leave school early.

Advancing Scientific Collaboration (PDF, 82Kb)
Professor Bill Price from the Nanoscale Organisation and Dynamics Group is taking a leading role in a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional consortium to integrate access and use of magnetic resonance facilities to enhance research collaborations through a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy grant.

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