I'm writing a series of blogs about SWASH, a repeated cross-sectional survey of the health and wellbeing of community-connected lesbian, bisexual, queer (LBQ) and other non-heterosexual identifying women in Sydney. It is run by a collaboration of researchers (myself and colleague Rachel Deacon) and ACON Health (Australia's largest community health organisation specialising in LGBTQ health). I've been... Continue Reading →
Changes in social networks are associated with lesbian, bisexual and queer women quitting smoking
We've just published a paper in Drug and Alcohol Review based on formative survey research we conducted for the Smoke Free Still Fierce smoking cessation campaign (ACON developed with funding from Cancer Institute NSW). We produced a community report on the survey but this is a more sophisticated analysis that aimed to understand the differences... Continue Reading →
Thinking about SWASH as a community-engaged research project: the report
SWASH is a repeated cross-sectional survey of the health and wellbeing of community-engaged lesbian, bisexual, queer (LBQ) and other non-heterosexual identifying women in Sydney. It provides a snapshot, and allows us to track changes, demographics including sexuality and gender; community engagement; sexual practice, sexual partners, relationships; cervical cancer/breast cancer/STI/HIV screening, HPV vaccine uptake; smoking, alcohol... Continue Reading →
Sex and the Country Women’s Association… Community-oriented research translation for LBQ women.
The CWA - Country Women's Association are the largest women's organisation in Australia and work to improve the conditions of women and children in the country. They've been around since the 1920s. They are an Australian institution no doubt, famous for their cookbooks and cake competitions. Their motto is all God, throne, country... For me,... Continue Reading →
Australia’s longest running regular survey of lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s health is collecting data…
Every two years since 1996 the SWASH survey has been asking lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Sydney about their sexual health, mental health, experiences of violence and abuse, tobacco and drug use, alcohol consumption, and health service engagement. In 2010, the survey started running biennially in Perth (as WWASH), and in 2014/5 we... Continue Reading →
Tobacco-control project targeting lesbians, bisexual and queer women
The Cancer Institute NSW (the cancer control agency for NSW) awarded an Evidence to Practice grant to ACON (NSW’s leading health-promotion organisation specialising in HIV and LGBTI health). I'm delighted to be the research partner on the grant.The grant is titled “Tobacco-control project targeting lesbians, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women” and will run until mid-2016. The grant was... Continue Reading →
Homophobia in our healthcare system – Sydney Morning Herald
Homophobia in our healthcare system - a very worthwhile read from Friday's Daily Life, Sydney Morning Herald. Written by Melissa Davey (coincidentally a student at Sydney School of Public Health), it was prompted by a very interesting research article on lesbian mothers' experience of the healthcare system. What I especially liked about the research article... Continue Reading →
ACON community forum on lesbian and gay drug trends – TUESDAY @ Oxford Hotel
Delighted to have been invited to speak at this community forum with Dr Toby and Miss Tokyo and community representatives... SWASH survey has a lot of data on alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The main message from me will be: we need to talk about smoking... twice the rate. Still. I'll be interested to... Continue Reading →
Questions in the house about lesbian and bisexual women’s health
21 June 2012, Ms Clover Moore (Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (until September 2012) and Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney) asked a question of Jillian Skinner (Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research): "With respect to the joint Sydney University and ACON "Health Check - Sydney Women and Sexual... Continue Reading →
