Health and wellbeing

This selection of CEGS projects has contributed toward addressing the following UN Sustainable Development Goals.

2 – Zero Hunger

3 – Good Health and Wellbeing

4 – Quality Education

5 – Gender Equality

8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

10 – Reduced Inequalities

11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities

12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

17 – Partnerships for the Goals

Postpartum Walk and Talk

UOW project leaders               

Dr Monique Francois, Lecturer, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health and Ms Meredith Kennedy, Placement Coordinator, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.

Community partners     

Ms Alison Webb, Manager and Illawarra Shoalhaven Diabetes Service.

Brief

Gestational diabetes (GDM), a form of diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy, is the fastest growing type of diabetes in Australia, now affecting 13-30 per cent of all pregnancies and overburdening our local health system. Post-pregnancy is a key time to intervene with lifestyle interventions; however, currently there are no intervention programs running in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD). Based on a successful program run by these researchers in Canada, this project proposes the ‘walk and talk’ program that will aim to prevent Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in women who have had GDM.

This project is working towards UN Sustainable Development Goal three.

Refinement of the ‘Life Happens’ Resource for High Risk Target Groups

UOW project leader

Associate Professor Kate Senior, School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

UOW partner - Laura Grozdanovski, School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Community partner

Illawarra Women’s Health Centre.

Brief

Life Happens is a game used to explore young people’s understanding of sexual health, sexual risk and decisions regarding their relationships. This project modified an existing game in order to address issues of relationships and domestic violence in two high risk groups: young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, as well as women with an intellectual disability.

This project is working towards the following UN Sustainable Development Goals three, four, five, 10, 11 and 16.

Project ADVOCATE

UOW project leaders

Associate Professor Michelle Eady, School of Education, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and Ms Kelly Lewer, Honorary Fellow, School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.

UOW partners - Dr Rebekkah Middleton, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, Mr Kenton Bell, School of Education, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Dr Alison Rutherford, Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health and Associate Professor Sharon Crozier-De Rosa, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Community partners

Domestic Violence New South Wales, Women’s Health New South Wales (Illawarra, Hunter and Leichardt Women’s Health Centres), NUW Alliance Academic Mentors - Professor Deb Loxton (University of Newcastle), Associate Professor Jan Breckenridge (University of New South Wales).

Brief

Domestic violence is a gendered issue of global proportions. Results from a 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics survey indicate that 18 per cent of women and 4.7 per cent of men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime by an intimate partner or former partner.

Project ADVOCATE has created an online professional development opportunity for university academic staff to enable better understandings of and support for university students who have experienced domestic violence. Upon completion of the professional development, university staff are provided with a certificate, digital badge, and an ‘ADVOCATE’ sticker for their office door to indicate their participation.

This project is working towards the following UN Sustainable Development Goals three, four, five, eight, 10, 11 and 16.

Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers

UOW project leader

Associate Professor Karen Charlton, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.

UOW partner - Associate Professor Karen Walton, Associate Dean Education, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.

Community partners

ALL Sustainable Futures Inc., Albion Park Rail Public School, Nowra East Public School, Nowra East Public School and Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Brief

It is estimated that one in seven children in New South Wales go to school without breakfast, making concentration and academic success difficult. This project rescued food destined for landfill from supermarkets, using it to redress disadvantage in schools and support student education.

This project is working towards the following UN Sustainable Development Goals two, three, four, 10, 11 and 12.