South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly, has established a network of academics working across Australia to further research into menstruation. Their areas of research are diverse and include specialisations in business, health, education and the environment.
Members include:
- Dr Mike Armour, Principal Research Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm/about_us/people/researchers/mike_armour
- Dr Dani Barrington, Senior Lecturer, School of Population and Global Health, Western Sydney University: https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/dani-barrington
- Dr Christina Curry, Senior Lecturer, Secondary Education, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/WSU/doctor_christina_curry
- Dr Sarah Duffy, Senior Lecturer, Hospitality, Marketing and Sport, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/WSU/doctor_sarah_duffy
- Dr Tania Ferfolja, Associate Professor, Primary Education, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/WSU/associate_professor_tania_ferfolja
- Dr Alex Hawkey, Research Support Program Fellow, Social Equity and Mental Health, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/WSU/doctor_alex_hawkey
- Dr Julie Hennegan, Senior Research Fellow, Co-Head, Global Adolescent Health Working Group, Burnet Institute: https://www.burnet.edu.au/people-of-burnet/people/julie-hennegan/
- Dr Erin Hunter, Lecturer and Clinical Educator Speech Pathologist, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney: https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/erin-hunter.html
- Dr Ruth Knight, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/ruth.knight
- Dr Nina Lansbury, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Queensland: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/4151
- Professor Gita Mishra, NHMRC Leadership Fellow, School of Public Health, University of Queensland: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/1324
- Dr Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University: https://directory.westernsydney.edu.au/search/name/Michelle%20O’Shea
- Dr Felicity Roux, Research Officer, Curtin Medical School, Curtin University: https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/felicity-roux-e0fad64a/
- Dr Sam Ryan, Associate Research Fellow, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thri/team/members/samantha_ryan
- Dr Jessie Shipman, Senior Lecturer Social Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University: https://www.flinders.edu.au/people/jessie.shipman
- Professor Caroline Smith, Emeritus Professor, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thri/team/adjuncts/caroline_smith
- Professor Jane Ussher, Professor of Women’s Health Psychology, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/uws_profiles/professor_jane_ussher
- Dr Jannine Williams, Researcher, Faculty of Business & Law, School of Management, Queensland University of Technology: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/jannine.williams
- Angela Semanda, Student, Flinders University: https://www.flinders.edu.au/international/apply/scholarships/gobeyond/vc-scholarship/angela-semanda
Any academics in Australia wishing to join this network should contact emma.houghton@sa.gov.au.
Recent menstrual research projects undertaken by Australian academics include:
Professor Ruth Knight has published the preliminary results of an Australian study into how periods impact the lives of those who menstruate. The report provides valuable insights into the impact of periods and period poverty on the lives of young people. Read More
How women see their premenstrual bodies, by Samantha Ryan, Professor Jane Ussher and Alexandra Hawkey. Mapping the abject: Women’s embodied experiences of premenstrual body dissatisfaction through body-mapping. Samantha Ryan, Jane M Ussher, Alexandra Hawkey, 2022 (sagepub.com)
Christina Bradley from TAFE Queensland and her team won the TAFE Qld Diversity and Cultural Contribution Award in September for their work to introduce free period products to TAFE venues on the Gold Coast. Read More
Menstruation advice online: A team from Western Sydney University developed a new website on menstrual cycles and conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, PMS and more. It also provides evidence-based self-care menstrual management strategies including yoga postures, breathing exercises and dietary advice. Read More
Identifying the drivers of menstrual material disposal and washing practices, by Hannah Robinson and Dr Dani Barrington: Watch Here
Overcoming the barriers to menstruation management in remote communities, by Dr Nina Lansbury Hall, Professor Sandra Creamer AM and Minnie King: Read More