Dr. Janette Perz

• Biography
• Areas of Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Publications
• Professional Affiliations
  
• Contact details
  

Biography

Janette is an established researcher with a record of research and scholarly activity demonstrating her commitment to the application of psychology through multi-disciplinary collaborations and approaches. She researches in the field of women's health, in the areas of reproductive and mental health, and the field of primary care and early intervention. She has initiated, resourced, conducted and supervised research in key areas of women's health psychology and primary care practice. Janette is an executive board member of several national and state level community mental health associations and has worked with community and health groups on research and program evaluation steering and reference committees. Her research activities have been disseminated in refereed academic journals and presented at international conferences across the fields of Psychology and Behavioural Medicine.   She has been awarded research funds and research contracts from competitive external and institutional sources totalling over $1.5 million, and has supervised PhD, Honours, and professional Masters students with projects in health psychology. Janette is the Deputy-Leader of Gender, Culture & Health Research: PsyHealth.

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Areas of Expertise

Health Psychology: Women's reproductive health; Mental Health

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Grants / Current Projects

2009 Cancer Institute NSW
Randomised controlled trial of acupuncture to reduce fatigue post breast cancer treatment: a pilot study.
Smith, C., Ussher, JM. & Perz, J.

2009 ARC Discovery Grant
Evaluation of the relative efficacy and mechanisms of a couple based intervention for Premenstrual Syndrome through a randomised control trial using mixed methods.
Ussher, JM, & Perz, J

2008 ARC Linkage Grant
Multiple perspectives on sexuality and intimacy post-cancer, leading to the development and evaluation of supportive interventions.
Ussher, JM, Perz, J. Gilbert, E., Sundquist, K. Batt, G., Hobbs, K. Kirsten, L.

2008 ARC Discovery Grant
Evaluation of the relative efficacy and mechanisms of a couple based intervention for Premenstrual Syndrome through a randomised control trial using mixed methods.
Ussher, JM, Perz, J & Weisberg, E

2008 Research Contracts. Panthers on the Prowl
Panther Bytes: An examination of the effects and impacts of a mobile healthy lifestyle program and Tackle it Now: An examination of the effects and impact of a support program for children at risk of developing antisocial behaviour.
Perz, J. & Ussher, J.M.

2008 UWS Internal Research Grants Scheme
Narrative Analysis of Gendered Health - An International Visiting Fellow Professor Catherine Riessman.
Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J.

2008 UWS International Research Initiatives Scheme (IRIS).
A pilot pragmatic randomised controlled trial of acupuncture on psychosocial outcomes for women experiencing infertility. Smith, C., Ussher, J.M.  Perz, J., DeLacy, S

2007 Research Contract. Panthers on the Prowl
'Local Answers' - A pilot study examining the effects and impact of a school community support program.
Perz, J., Chessor, D., Gilbert, E., & Ussher, J.M.

2007 Research Contract. Nepean Division of General Practice. After Hours General Practice Care: An investigation of patient access issues to the Nepean After Hours GP Clinic.
Haw, J. & Perz, J.

2007 Research Contract. Nepean Division of General Practice. Pink Link: Pilot study evaluating the efficacy of access to allied psychological services for antenatal patients through general practice.
Perz, J.

2006 UWS Internal Research Grants Scheme
The development and evaluation of a couple based intervention for PMS.
Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J.

2005 Research Contract. Centre for Health Equity Training Research & Evaluation.
An examination of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for unemployed individuals.
Perz, J. & Ussher, J.M.

2005 ARC Discovery.
An examination of the development. Experience and construction of premenstrual symptoms: A comparative study of relationship types and contexts.
Ussher, J.M., Perz, J., Lee, C., Nicolson, P. & James, K.

2005 Research Contract. Nepean & Hawkesbury Divisions of General Practice.
Gender issues in presentation and treatment of mental health problems.
Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J.

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Publications

Book Chapters

Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J. (2010). Disruption of the Silenced-Self: The Case of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome.  In D.C. Jack & A. Ali (Eds.), The depression epidemic: International perspectives on women’s self-silencing and psychological distress. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 435-456.

Perz, J. & Ussher, JM.  (2009). Connectedness, communication and reciprocity in lesbian relationships: implications for women’s construction and experience of PMS. In: Hammock, PL & Cohler, B.J.  Life Course and Sexual identity: Narrative perspectives on gay and lesbian identity. Oxford University Press, 223-250. 

Recent Refereed Journal Articles

Ussher, J.M., & Perz, J. (2010). Gender Differences in self-silencing and psychological distress in informal cancer carers. Psychology of Women Quarterly 34, 228-242.

Ussher, M.,  Mount, C., Greenberg, S., Goodair, C. & Perz, J. (2009). Perceived effects of the menopause among women master swimmers, International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 3(4), 27–42.

Ussher, J.M., Perz, J.,  Hawkins, Y., & Brack, M. (2009). Evaluating the efficacy of psycho-social interventions for informal carers of cancer patients: A systematic review of the research literature. Health Psychology Review, 3(1), 85-107.

Hawkins, Y., Ussher, J.M., Gilbert, E., Perz, J., & Sandoval, M. (2009). Changes in sexuality and intimacy following the diagnosis and treatment of cancer: the experience of informal cancer carers.  Cancer Nursing: An International Journal for Cancer Care, 34(4), 271-280.

Gilbert, E., Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J. (2009). (Re)negotiating the sexual relationship in the context of cancer care: Informal carers’ experiences of caring and gender practices in couple relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior, DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9416-z.

Wong, W.K.T., Ussher, J.M., & Perz, J. (2009). Strength through adversity: Bereaved cancer carers’ accounts of rewards and personal growth from caring. Palliative and Supportive Care 7, 187-196.

Chessor, D., Gilbert, E., Perz, J., & Ussher, J.M. (2008). Celebrity football players as teacher’s aides to enhance the learning of children displaying challenging behaviours. International Journal of Learning, 154(4), 285-291.

Mooney-Somers, J., Perz, J. & Ussher, J.M. (2008). A risky negotiation: Women's experiences of naming and not naming PMS in couple relationships. Women and Health, 47(3), 57-77.

Perz, J. & Ussher, J.M. (2008). The horror of this living decay: Women’s negotiation and resistance of medical discourses around menopAUDe and midlife. Women’s Studies International Forum, 31(6) 293-299.

Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J. (2008). Empathy, egalitarianism and emotion work in the relational negotiation of PMS: The experience of lesbian couples. Feminism and Psychology, 18(1) 87-111.

Ussher, J.M., Perz, J., Mooney-Somers, J. (2007). The Experience and Positioning of Affect in the Context of Intersubjectivity: The Case of Premenstrual Syndrome. International Journal of Critical Psychology, 21, 145-165.
 
Perz, J. & Ussher, J.M. (2006). Women’s Experience of Premenstrual Syndrome: A Case of Silencing the Self. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 24(4) 289-303.

Ussher, J.M. & Perz, J. (2006). Evaluating the relative efficacy of a self-help and minimal psycho-educational intervention for moderate premenstrual distress conducted from a critical realist standpoint. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 24(4) 347-362.

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Professional affiliations include:

• Executive Board Member of the Mental Health Association NSW
  
• Board Director Karitane
  
• Member: Australian Psychological Society (APS), APS Science, Academia & Research Advisory Group, APS College of Health Psychologists, Society Australasian Social Psychologists, International Menopause Society, European Health Psychology Society, Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynecology, Australian Women's Health Network, Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, International Society for Critical Health Psychology,
  
• Registered Psychologist (NSW)

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