Honours Program, School of Health & Society

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Project title

Decolonial and indigenous interventions in public health, social sciences or social work.

Description

Globally, calls to decolonise public health, social sciences or social work have grown louder. This has created room for researchers to contribute to society by exploring what is being done or not to build a society that values all worldviews as opposed to the current status quo that values Western philosophy at the expense of other philosophies.

This research asks questions like: How is decolonisation happening? What Indigenous knowledge and practices are being recognised and revalued in the process and how? Who is doing what and what are the roles?

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Dr Rugare Mugumbate
Co-supervisors: TBC

External stakeholders 

• Professional bodies
• Non-government organisations
• Institutions of higher education outside Australia

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)
• Social Work (BSW Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Alternative research methods
• Decolonial research methods
• Indigenous research methods

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• Using a decolonial lens to review available literature
• Appreciation of alternative research methods
• Interaction with service providers outside Australia

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

Students interested in Indigenous and decolonial practice, research and education

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

 Linkage to external institutions

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• A student interested in international work
• A student interested in local and global Indigenous research
• International students

Project title

Alcohol and drug practitioners' knowledge and experience of (N²O) use by young people.

Description

This study involves developing a survey and conducting interviews with Alcohol and other Drug (AOD) practitioners.

The pleasurable and intoxicating effects of psychoactive substances result in widespread use. However, deaths and injuries from psychoactive substance use, particularly among young people, are a global public health problem.

Nitrous oxide (N²O) is a dissociative anaesthetic that is used recreationally. Prevalence has doubled in recent years and presentations to emergency departments for N²O-related illness and injury have increased. However, research on non-medical N²O use is limited and the cultural, contextual and personal reasons for using N²O have not been investigated. These are the critical factors in developing an effective harm reduction response.

We currently are not aware of what, if any interventions and responses are being conducted by Alcohol and other Drug (AOD) practitioners OR what their knowledge is regarding young people and their N²O use.

The research team will then use the study findings to work with drug and alcohol practitioners to develop and disseminate harm reduction resources on N²O use. This study is supported by a recently pre-published review, A Systematic Review of Recreational Nitrous Oxide Use: Implications for Policy, Service Delivery and Individuals It will also be supported by findings from a current 2023 Honours student study interviewing young people about their N²O use.

Supervisors

Primary supervisors:  Dr Jacqui Cameron and Dr Helen Simpson
Co-supervisor: Dr Julaine Allan - Charles Sturt University

External stakeholder

• Illawarra Alcohol and Drug Services

Discipline 

• Social Work (BSW Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Mixed method
• Survey of AOD workers (n=50+)
• Interviews with AOD workers (n=10)

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• Research methods, including quantitative & qualitative research
• Understanding of the role of harm reduction in responses to substance use
• Contributing to the development of harm-reduction materials.

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

• Working in research
• Working in substance use
• Pathway to HDR

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

Expertise in all aspects of research, and fortnightly supervision, support to publish a peer-reviewed publication at the end of the project. NOTE: This study already has ethics approval – an amendment will be required.

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

We require a social work student, with an interest in

• reducing the harmful impacts of substance use
• substance use harm reduction
• quantitative & qualitative research

 NOTE: This project will not criticise or punish drug use. Interested students must learn about and practice a harm-reduction stance.

Project title

Social work students’ attitudes towards people with comorbidity: Lived experience vs prior education and training - Implications for degree level teaching and learning.

Description

Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders are common (Benson et a. 2023). In fact, two or more conditions are so common among those experiencing mental health or substance use problems that “comorbidity is seen as the rule rather than the exception” (Lai et al., 2015, p. 8). As well as co-morbidity and co-occurring disorders, this phenomenon is also commonly referred to as dual diagnosis or dual disorders (Rao, 2022).

Social workers have an important role in reducing the impacts of comorbidity (Allan & Cameron 2023; Benson et al. 2023). However, education and training for AOD for social workers has largely been ignored and comorbidity is not an area of current study. It is uncertain what attitudes and perceived competencies social workers bring to their practice in relation to comorbidity. As these practices are developed in the formative years, it is crucial that we have an improved understanding of social work student attitudes and perceived competencies for working with clients with comorbidity. We currently are also not aware of what, if any previous attitudes impact the learning of social work students regarding comorbidity.

This study involves developing a survey for undergraduate and postgraduate students in two cohorts undertaking subjects related to comorbidity and the lived experience of these groups.

1. What are the attitudes of social work students towards people who use alcohol and other drugs?

2. Is there an association between (1) lived experience, and (2) education and training; and social work student attitudes to people who use alcohol and other drugs?

3. What are the attitudes of social work students toward people with comorbidly (alcohol and drug use and mental health)? The research team will use the study findings to support educators to inform future development of teaching resources for students in undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Supervisors

Primary supervisors: Dr Jacqui Cameron and Dr Alankaar Sharma 
Co-supervisor: Dr Jane Fisher - Flinders University

External stakeholder

• College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University

Discipline:

• Social Work (BSW Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Mixed method
• Survey of BSW students (25+)
• Survey of MSW(Q) (25+)
• Interviews with students (n=5)

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

 Research methods, including ethics, quantitative & qualitative research. Contributing to student learning and development of peer-review publication.

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

 Working in research. · Working in comorbidity. · Pathway to HDR.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

Expertise in all aspects of research, and fortnightly supervision, with support to publish a peer-reviewed publication at the end of the project. NOTE: This study will require ethics approval. The student will need to work with the research team to submit ethics in early 2024.

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

We require a social work student, with an interest in

• reducing the harmful impacts of substance use
• substance use harm reduction
• quantitative & qualitative research

NOTE: This project Will not criticise or punish drug use. Interested students must learn about and practice a harm reduction approach and support a recovery-led position for mental health.

References 

Allan, J., & Cameron, J. (2023). The intersection of social work, substance use and mental health – where are we now? Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 16(2), 69-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/ADD-05-2023-052

Benson, C., Cameron, J., & Allan, J. (2023). Social work, mental health, and substance use: A scoping review. Advances in Dual Diagnosis. https://doi.org/10.1108/ADD-12-2022-0031

Lai, H., Cleary, M., Sitharthan, T. and Hunt, G. (2015), “Prevalence of comorbid substance use, anxiety and mood disorders in epidemiological surveys, 1990–2014: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 154, pp. 1-13.

Rao, R. (2022), “Dual diagnosis: what’s in a name?”, Advances in Dual Diagnosis, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 149-51.

Project title

The experience of safety planning in child to parent violence.

Description

This study will investigate parents’ experience of safety planning for child to parent violence. The study will use narrative research methods to ascertain if and how safety planning is helpful for parents experiencing child to parent violence.

Child to parent violence is complex, and interventions to address the violence vary from parenting strategies to emotional regulation for children. Research currently indicates the use of safety planning for this violence as a supportive response. However, the details of what safety planning entails with this population, and how it is or isn’t supportive, is not investigated. This study seeks to address this gap.

This project will work in partnership with Coral Tree Family Services, part of Northern Sydney Local Health District.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Chye Toole-Anstey
Co-supervisors: Dr Michelle Townsend and Kristie McDonald - Coral Tree Family Services

External stakeholder

• Coral Tree Family Health Services

Discipline 

• Social Work (BSW Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

This study will utilise semi-structured narrative interviews with parents. The student will support the conducting of these with an experienced researcher.

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

The student will develop:

• Qualitative research methods and analysis
• Knowledge of family services
• Knowledge of mental health services
• Knowledge of addressing family violence
• Broad research skills from working with an experienced research team   

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

• Potential entry to PhD
• Family services and family violence response services
• Research roles, university and other academic employment

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

 The highly supportive research team are accessible and responsive to the honours student. This includes fortnightly supervision sessions. 

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

This opportunity is for an Honours student with:

• Literature review skills
• Strong writing skills
• Critical thinking skills
• An understanding of family violence and the impacts of the violence
• Previous experience of working (including placement) in a family violence or similar setting

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Project title

What are the social and ethical implications of direct-to-consumer artificial intelligence applications in health? A scoping review of the academic literature.

Description

The Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values (ACHEEV) houses a significant program of research focused on the ethical and social implications of health artificial intelligence (AI). One form of health AI is applications that users can access directly on their devices (consumer-facing apps). These apps allow us to access or manage information or recommendations about health in general or about our own health or risk of disease.

Consumers and communities have always had access to health information from sources outside of the formal healthcare system, but health apps arguably represent a new generation of ‘informal’ health advice, in that they go beyond passive information provision, potentially providing personalised recommendations to individuals.

This project is a systematic scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature, using standardised methods, to map what is already known about the social and ethical implications of these technologies, including the views of consumers.
Project information

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Professor Stacy Carter
Co-supervisor: Dr Patti Shih

External stakeholder 

• Professor Farah Magrabi, Macquarie University

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Systematic scoping review methods
• Data will be from academic databases and papers published in the peer-reviewed literature
• The analysis will use qualitative synthesis methods to develop insights across the existing literature

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• You will learn to work with information in a systematic way, keep careful records of data collection and extraction strategies, develop codes from data, build those codes into categories, and produce a meaningful interpretation that answers the research questions
• You will build your writing skills by drafting papers in collaboration with the research team
• You will also learn about AI ethics
• Assuming that you have made a significant contribution to the analysis and writing, you will be offered an opportunity to be a co-author on the resulting paper

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

Reviewing the literature, and undertaking qualitative analysis and writing are highly transferable skills! They are useful in roles such as policy analyst, community engagement professional, and communications officer – and of course, in research roles. The knowledge you will gain about AI ethics will also be useful, as the implementation of AI will be an increasingly prominent issue in health systems and services in the coming decades. 

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

You will receive regular supervision meetings and feedback on your work. You will be offered an on-campus workspace but will need to provide your own laptop. You will be welcome to participate in the regular activities of ACHEEV, which include a monthly reading group, monthly seminars with internal and external speakers, and regular special events like symposia and workshops. Our aim will be to integrate you into the life of the Centre during your honours project period.   

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• You will need to enjoy working with text
• Be willing to work systematically and keep good records
• Some knowledge about the health system would be useful but is not essential
• You don’t need to know a lot about AI – we can help with that

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Project title

How should we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Australian healthcare? Analysis of qualitative data from a world-first national citizens’ jury.

Description

In 2023, the Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values (ACHEEV) held the first-ever national citizens’ jury focused on how AI should be used in healthcare. Citizens juries are a way to ask the people who will be affected by a policy what they think about that policy.

An independent agency recruited a demographically diverse group of 30 Australians from every state and territory. We worked online for two weeks, giving them opportunities to learn from experts and ask questions. They then flew to Sydney and worked together over three days to produce a set of recommendations about the use of AI in healthcare. We have recordings and transcripts from their interactions: this honours project involves analysing those with a focus on what matters most to the participants.
Project information

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Professor Stacy Carter
Co-supervisor: Emma Frost (HAS PhD student)

External stakeholders 

• 30 Australians who participated in the citizens’ jury, are still receiving feedback on outcomes from the project and will be updated on the work that you do.
• Our professional stakeholders include three Australian Health Research Translation Centres and one Medical College.

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Qualitative data (recordings and transcripts – already collected)
• Qualitative data analysis

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• You will learn to work with qualitative data, develop codes, build those codes into categories, and produce a meaningful interpretation that answers the research questions
• You will build your writing skills by drafting papers in collaboration with the research team
• Assuming that you have made a significant contribution to the analysis and writing, you will be offered an opportunity to be a co-author on the resulting paper

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

Qualitative analysis and writing are highly transferable skills. They are useful in roles such as policy analyst, community engagement professional, and communications officer – and of course, in research roles. 

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

You will receive regular supervision meetings and feedback on your work. You will be offered an on-campus workspace but will need to provide your own laptop. You will be welcome to participate in the regular activities of ACHEEV, which include a monthly reading group, monthly seminars with internal and external speakers, and regular special events like symposia and workshops. Our aim will be to integrate you into the life of the Centre during your candidature.  

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• You will need to enjoy working with text and approach the project with respect for and curiosity about the perspectives of the participants
• Some knowledge about the health system would be useful but is not essential
• You don’t need to know a lot about AI – we can help with that

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Project title

Is Australian research in health artificial intelligence being reviewed by research ethics committees? A scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature.

Description

The Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values (ACHEEV) runs a significant program of research on the social and ethical implications of using artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. One of the ways that research in Australia is governed is via the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) process. Researchers write applications to HREC or HRECs, and these committees consider the ethical implications of the proposed research. They have the power to request changes to the protocol or refuse permission to proceed if the proposed research is not ethically acceptable. In Australia, human research ethics is underpinned by a National Statement, which outlines the requirements of researchers and projects.

AI research is strong in Australia relative to the size of our population. However, AI models can be developed based on existing datasets, and are often developed in disciplines such as information science where research ethics expectations may be less prominent than in health. Anecdotally, we are hearing from our partners that HREC members feel they do not know how to approach the assessment of proposals involving AI. In this project, we will conduct a systematic scoping review to determine whether Australian health AI research published in the peer-reviewed literature is undergoing review and approval by HRECs. This is the first step in building new frameworks to guide HRECs and researchers to ensure that health AI research conforms to community expectations.
Project information

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Professor Stacy Carter
Co-supervisor: Dr Yves Saint James Aquino

External stakeholders

This work is being completed with external partners who are involved in research ethics processes in Australia. We will meet regularly with them throughout the project.

• Dr Lisa Eckstein, University of Tasmania
• Professor Farah Magrabi, Macquarie University

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Systematic scoping review methods
• Data will be from academic databases and papers published in the peer-reviewed literature
• The analysis will use qualitative synthesis methods to develop insights across the existing literature

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• You will learn to work with information in a systematic way, keep careful records of data collection and extraction strategies, develop codes from data, build those codes into categories, and produce a meaningful interpretation that answers the research questions
• You will build your writing skills by drafting papers in collaboration with the research team
• Assuming that you have made a significant contribution to the analysis and writing, you will be offered an opportunity to be a co-author on the resulting paper
• You will also learn about research ethics and the systems that exist for assessing the ethical conduct of research

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

Reviewing the literature, and undertaking qualitative analysis and writing are highly transferable skills. They are useful in roles such as policy analyst, community engagement professional, and communications officer – and of course, in research roles. The knowledge you will gain in AI will also be useful, as AI will be an increasing feature of health systems and services in the coming decades.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

You will receive regular supervision meetings and feedback on your work. You will be offered an on-campus workspace but will need to provide your own laptop. You will be welcome to participate in the regular activities of ACHEEV, which include a monthly reading group, monthly seminars with internal and external speakers, and regular special events like symposia and workshops. Our aim will be to integrate you into the life of the Centre during your honours project.

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• You will need to enjoy working with text and approach the project with respect for and curiosity about the perspectives of the participants
• Some knowledge about the health system would be useful but is not essential
• You don’t need to know a lot about AI – we can help with that

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Project title

Empowering adults with disabilities to manage their own medications.

Description

Older adults with disabilities often require a number of daily medications. They face a variety of challenges in independently managing their medications and exercising self-determination. This project will investigate effective and ethical strategies that will enable older adults with a disability living in assisted living settings to be empowered to manage their own medications.

The goal is to co-design evidence-based guidelines that can be implemented by care providers in partnership with people with a disability that enable self-determination whilst maintaining safe medication management.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Dr Robyn Gillespie
Co-supervisor: Professor Judy Mullan - UOW Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health

External stakeholder 

• The Cram Foundation - an Illawarra disability support services provider

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Systematic literature review to determine existing effective strategies, document analysis of existing policy guidelines and existing carer training content
• Co-design of guidelines with care providers and people with a disability living in assisted living contexts

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• Critical analysis of an existing body of intervention research
• Knowledge synthesis
• Problem solving
• Co-design principles
• Knowledge translation
• Academic writing skills
• Awareness of the complexity of delivering support services to people with complex support needs

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

This project will provide pathways into strategic roles working with National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers, disability support and aged care sectors. In response to recent Royal Commissions the disability sectors and aged care sectors are facing challenges to ensure their clients are afforded self-determination in all areas of care provision.

This project will allow the student to gain a strong understanding of the needs of the sector and allow the student to demonstrate their ability to translate knowledge to determine effective and ethical solutions to current challenges.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

Both Robyn and Judy have extensive experience researching safe medication management in a variety of contexts. We can provide on-campus study space and regular fortnightly supervision meetings throughout the project. Judy has a well-established relationship with the Cram Foundation and has supervised many HDR students to completion.  

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• A student who is interested in doing qualitative document analysis
• A student who has a strong interest in promoting and protecting the autonomy of people who may not be able to express their own preferences
• A student who is interested in translating knowledge into practice that will make a difference in the day-to-day lives of others

Project title

First Bite – Get it Right: Collection and analysis of First Bite program evaluation, a program aimed at increasing children’s consumption of vegetables.

Description

A cluster randomised controlled trial to increase vegetable consumption in children aged 3-5 years in Early Childhood Education and Care services in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage. First Bite is a multi-component intervention that primarily aims to improve 3-5-years-old children’s vegetable intakes in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services and at home.

Targeted strategies will be used to increase behavioural intentions and opportunities of children to eat vegetables and include repeated exposure to vegetables, hands-on experiential learning reinforcement of this learning at home and positive eating environment and educator practices within ECEC services. Proposed strategies for children include a daily vegetable break at ECEC services and 12-week curricula including hands-on experiential learning activities at ECEC services focused on vegetables.

This Honours project will support the evaluation of the First Bite program, including the measurement of children’s vegetable intakes and vegetable provision during days in care.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Bridget Kelly
Co-supervisor: Dr Megan Hammersley

External stakeholders 

• NSW Health
• Western Sydney & Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health Districts
• University of Wollongong Early Start

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• The student will contribute to the collection and analysis of outcome measures for the First Bite program evaluation
• The student will be involved in site visits for data collection at ECEC services at baseline and at completion of the 12-week intervention. Data collected will include the provision of vegetables from home (lunchbox audit), vegetable consumption during days in care (plate waste survey) and overall vegetable intakes (skin carotenoid assessment)
• The student will be primarily responsible for the collection and analysis of lunchbox audit data

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• Research skills include data gathering via lunchbox audits
• Quantitative data analysis

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

Further research opportunities especially in child nutrition and obesity prevention. Working within public health teams promoting and supporting the Munch & Move program.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

A total of 30 ECEC services will be surveyed at baseline and follow-up. The student will be part of a team of data collectors, including other UOW staff, a PhD student and representatives from local health districts. Data collectors will be split into at least two teams. The student will undertake site visits at a maximum of 15 ECECs on two occasions, with each visit taking approx. 4 hours.

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• Interest in health promotion research
• Able to work within a team
• Have independent transport
• Be happy to research in an ECEC environment

Project title

Helping health consumers understand big data.

Description

This project is part of a larger project focused on enhancing the public’s understanding of how general practice health records are being used for research purposes.

For this specific project, we are working with Health Consumers NSW to co-design a consumers’ guide to using health data for secondary purposes. Our student will work closely with Health Consumers NSW to locate and design resources for health consumers on how information from health records can and should be used for research.

The student will work with a team of consumers to evaluate and then revise these resources.

Supervisors

Primary supervisors: Professor Annette Braunack-Mayer and Dr Anthony Brown
Co-supervisor: Dr Heidi Green

External stakeholder

• Health Consumers NSW

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Data will be from internet sources, academic databases, papers published in the peer-reviewed literature and communication with key stakeholders
• Scoping literature methods Co-design frameworks with data collected with consumers

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• You will build your skills in project design and management, working collaboratively in a team, and enhancing your communication skills
• You will learn to communicate complex information in meaningful ways for a wide variety of audiences, particularly for health consumers
• You will also learn to keep careful records, critically evaluate findings and produce meaningful interpretations to evaluate findings
• You may also have the opportunity to design resources, including videos and discussion guides, to share with consumers

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

This project provides a unique opportunity for a student to work with the key health consumer organisations in NSW. It will suit students interested in pursuing a career in public health and/or social services in the public or not-for-profit sectors. It could also form a suitable base for students intending to pursue further research studies.

The skills you will develop in this project are transferable to almost every career path. They are useful in roles such as policy analyst, community engagement professional, evaluation officer, community advocate and communications officer – and of course, in research roles.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

The honours placement is offered by the Big Data team at the Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values (ACHEEV) and Health Consumer NSW.

Within this placement, the honours student will be supported via weekly team meetings, weekly individual meetings and other communications as required. The student will have the opportunity to experience working in a not-for-profit organisation with Health Consumers NSW and in ACHEEV, a research centre at the University of Wollongong. Remote work may be permitted where required.

The student will be supported by the primary supervisor Professor Annette Bruanack Mayer, who has extensive experience as a supervisor and expert knowledge of the subject and the research methods involved, and Dr Anthony Brown, who is the executive director of Health Consumers NSW. Dr Heidi Green will be on hand with day-to-day support and supervision.

You will be offered both an on-campus workspace and a workspace with Health Consumers NSW. You will need to provide your own laptop. You will be welcome to participate in the regular activities of ACHEEV, which include a monthly reading group, monthly seminars with internal and external speakers, and regular special events like symposia and workshops. You will also be welcome to participate in some wider Health Consumers NSW activities. Our aim will be to integrate you into the lives of ACHEEV and Health Consumers NSW during your honours project.

Health Consumers NSW may offer a small Honours Scholarship for this project

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• You will need to enjoy working with people and approach the project with respect for and curiosity about the perspectives of health consumers
• Some knowledge about the health system and skills in creating high-quality visual presentations and videos would be useful, but not essential
• You don’t need to know a lot about general practice data, data sharing or data linkage – we can help with that

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Project title

Investigating factors influencing breastfeeding rates in Southern NSW.

Description

This honours research project is a part of the initiative, "BRIGHT: Breastfeeding Research to Improve Growth, Health, and Translation."

The goal of this project is to comprehensively collect and analyse the breastfeeding rates in Southern NSW Local Health District (LHD) and identify potential factors affecting these rates. By assessing exclusive breastfeeding rates at different time points and examining the impact of localised programs, this study aims to provide data-driven insights to enhance breastfeeding strategies and support for families across the region.

This honours research project is part of a broader research initiative known as The Evidence-based Healthy Activity and Nutrition for Children and Environments (ENHANCE) research group, which operates under the umbrella of the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health Prevention Research Support Program (PRSP).

This program, generously funded by the NSW Ministry of Health, supports research organisations engaged in prevention and early intervention research that aligns with NSW Health priorities. The PRSP's support extends to enhancing research infrastructure and strategies to cultivate research capabilities, ultimately translating research findings into impactful policies and practices.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Professor Lisa Smithers
Co-supervisor: To be determined: Sarah Ryan or Pramesh Ghimire (Southern NSW LHD)

External stakeholder 

• Southern NSW Local Health District
• NSW Health

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• This project will involve a mixed-methods approach
• Quantitative data will be collected through surveys and records to assess breastfeeding rates at different time points within Southern NSW LHD
• Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, may be employed to understand the impact of localised breastfeeding support programs and to uncover barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

The student undertaking this project can expect to develop proficiency in data collection, quantitative analysis, survey design, qualitative interviewing, and data interpretation. They will gain valuable experience in navigating ethical considerations in research involving sensitive topics. Additionally, skills in report writing, communication, and collaboration with healthcare providers and mothers will be honed.  

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

Graduates of this project will acquire a skill set highly regarded in healthcare research, public health, and policy development sectors. Notably, collaborating with a NSW Local Health District offers a unique advantage, allowing students to gain insight into the workings of a government organization. This exposure will foster an understanding of healthcare administration, policies, and decision-making processes at the grassroots level.

Moreover, the student will have the opportunity to establish meaningful connections with professionals within the Local Health District, potentially opening doors to future career prospects. Graduates will be well-prepared for roles in research institutions, health departments, NGOs, and healthcare organisations, where they can leverage their expertise to drive evidence-based strategies for enhancing maternal and child health outcomes.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

Supervisors will provide guidance throughout the project, assisting with survey development, ethical considerations, data collection, and analysis. Dedicated time for regular meetings, data review, and feedback will be allocated. Access to relevant literature, research databases, and facilities will be offered to facilitate the student's research progress.  

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• A suitable applicant for this project would ideally possess a background in health sciences, public health, or a related field
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, strong quantitative or qualitative analysis skills and a compassionate approach to sensitive topics are important qualities
• Having an interest in maternal and child health, along with a desire to contribute to evidence-based practices, will make an applicant an ideal fit

Project title

'To be tracked or not to be' - patterns of locational-based technology use by individuals.

Description

This study involves the use of a survey to explore UOW students’ use of and exposure to location tracking devices (on Smart phones and/ or similar devices).

In recent times technology, such as Smart phones and the development of location-based applications, has allowed for the tracking of individuals with and without their consent. Some of this is by companies that collect information about individuals’ daily movements based on claims that:

• People consent to being tracked
• The data is anonymous, and
• The data is secure

However, location tracking devices can also be used to monitor the movements of individuals, and this has increasingly been reported within the context of domestic and family violence. There are also occasions where location-tracking devices are used consensually, for instance where parents or partners give access to their location-tracking devices to loved ones for safety reasons.

Currently, we don’t know how many people knowingly give access to their location to other individuals or why, nor how common the discovery of tracking is amongst individuals. This study would consider these questions in relation to UOW students.

Supervisors

Primary supervisors: Dr Delia Rambaldini-Gooding and Dr Helen Simpson

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Survey methodology

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

 Research methods, including quantitative research, understanding the patterns of interaction with Smart phone (or similar) location tracking devices.  

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

• Working in research
• Working in the area of domestic and family violence
• Data analysis (such as the Australia Bureau of Statistics)
• Pathway to HDR

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

 Expertise in all basic quantitative research, and fortnightly supervision (or as required), support to publish a peer-review publication.  

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• Interested In how technology is utilised in daily life
• Interested in domestic and family violence
• Interested in quantitative research

This subject would suit a student with interests in social sciences and/or criminology.

Project title

Protecting those who protect us: are our volunteers protected from bushfire smoke?

Description

Volunteer Firefighters are at risk:
The Bushfires during the Summer of 2019/20 highlighted the lack of an appropriate respiratory protection program for NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters. Images of exposed firefighters ill-equipped to protect their respiratory health bombarded the media daily.

Situation:
The NSW RFS is almost entirely made up of frontline responders who are members of the public. They routinely volunteer in firefighting and fire clean-up situations where they are exposed to high levels of bushfire emissions. The NSW RFS has 72,000 volunteers.

Are their respirators effective?
Recent publications by Cherry, Galarneau et al. 2020, Pardo, Li et al. 2020 have highlighted the risk to firefighters from PAHs, and previous studies by Burton, Whitelaw et al. 2016, and Whitelaw, Burton et al 2019, demonstrated the poor performance of commonly used respiratory protection against nanoparticles and other thermally generated particles such as bushfire smoke.

Response:
In response to these findings, the NSW RFS rolled out respiratory protection across its units in 2022-2023. With high fuel loads and dryer conditions, it is predicted that we will see an increase in fire activity in the 2024 fire season.

Evaluation:
It is vital our volunteers are kept safe from bushfire smoke. This study incorporates an online survey and focus groups designed to gain feedback from community volunteers on the availability, acceptability and barriers to the use of this respiratory protection designed to protect them from harmful respiratory agents. This project is translatable to all states of Australia with an estimated benefit for 400,000 Australians.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Jane Whitelaw
Co-supervisor: Dr Vinod Gopaldasani

External stakeholder

• NSW Rural Fire Service

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

This project will involve both quantitative (e.g., descriptive analysis of the study’s response rate) and qualitative (e.g., thematic analysis of focus group and interview data) research methods.

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• Data organisation and analysis
• Scientific communication and writing skills
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Time management
• Project management and delivery

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

The project can help establish vital skills for careers in higher degree research in social sciences, public health, OHS and human services.

The project will help the student develop skills in critical thinking and data analysis that benefit professionals in nearly every area of the workforce.

Research skills and knowledge of data analysis software can help the student pursue jobs as OHS and Public Health professionals as well as analysts and researchers in various industries. 

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

The student will be supported by primary supervisor Jane Whitelaw a Certified Occupational Hygienist and expert in respiratory protection, and Dr Vinod Gopaldasani an Occupational Physician. Both supervisors have expert knowledge of the subject and the research methods involved.

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• An undergraduate degree in public health, social sciences, exercise science, psychology, health science, health promotion
• The ability to work as part of a team
• Good interpersonal and communication skills

Project title

Examining the Physical Activity and Health Outcomes of the National Heart Foundation’s 'Skipping for Heart' Program: An Evaluation Study

Description

The 'Skipping for Heart' program is a 6-week intervention aimed at promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and heart health among children aged 5-12 years in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The program is an extension of the Heart Foundation's successful Jump Rope for Heart initiative and seeks to engage children in skipping activities in a community setting.

This proposed research project will conduct an independent evaluation of the 'Skipping for Heart' program, assessing its impact on children's physical activity levels, fundamental movement skills, and health-related fitness.
'Skipping for Heart' evaluation study PowerPoint presentation

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Distinguished Professor Anthony Okely
Co-supervisors:  To be advised

External stakeholders 

• National Heart Foundation (Elizabeth Calleja, Head of Physical Activity Programs)
• Skipping Australia
• ACT Government

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)
• Social Sciences (BSS Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

Process Evaluation

• Baseline registration data collected from parents/carers through an online tool
• End-of-cohort survey administered via Qualtrics, comparing baseline registration data with end-of-project outputs
• Attendance data collected through an attendance register

Outcome Evaluation

• Randomised Controlled Trial which will include pre- and post-intervention assessments
• Primary outcome will be participation in device-measured physical activity (accelerometry)
• Secondary outcomes will include fundamental movement skills, and health-related fitness.

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

The student involved in this research project will develop the following skills and competencies:

• Research design and methodology
• Data collection and analysis
• Survey administration
• Collecting data using accelerometry
• Ethical considerations in research
• Collaboration with external stakeholders
• Report writing and communication of findings and literature

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

The expertise gained through this research project will be valuable for career pathways in:

• Health research and evaluation
• Public health organizations
• Non-profit sector (health promotion and heart disease prevention)
• Academic research in health sciences and exercise science

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

Supervisor(s) will provide:

• Guidance on research design and methodology
• Access to project-related resources and literature
• Regular meetings and support throughout the project

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

An ideal applicant for this project would possess:

• An interest in physical activity, health promotion, or public health
• Strong quantitative research skills
• Willingness to collaborate with external stakeholders in a professional manner
• Attention to detail for data collection and analysis

Project title

Women travellers and PrEP for HIV prevention.

Description

Qualitative project discussing PrEP prescribing for Australian women.

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Assoc. Professor Catherine MacPhail
Co-supervisor: Alison Rutherford - Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD)

Discipline 

• Public Health (BPH Hons.)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of data and/or research methods will it involve?

• Qualitative interviews
• Literature review

What key skills and competencies can the student expect to develop? 

• Design and interpretation of qualitative data
• Nvivo software 

What career pathways and employment opportunities might value this expertise? 

These are valuable skills for any workplace that requires an understanding of particular situations and how to collect information from involved individuals. Will strongly develop communication and interpretative skills.

What resources, time commitment and other support are offered by the supervisor(s)?  

Weekly supervision meetings.

Who might be a suitable applicant for this project?

• Personable and curious
• Might better suit a female candidate interested in women’s health issues