PHAA Communications
Promoting and investing in a public health system that meets the needs of all people must be a priority in Australia.
As global health challenges become increasingly complex, it is critical that the public health profession continues to listen to, and advocate for, marginalised groups.
Collaboratively, we need to scale up efforts to ensure policymakers understand the unique health challenges of diverse groups and communities within Australia, in consideration of the broader international context.
The 2024 Australian Public Health Conference (APHC), to be held next month in Boorloo/Perth, will explore how we can continue to provide high value public health to all people in a complex world.
Dr Adam Bourne, Professor of Public Health and Director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University, will be speaking at the conference on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing.
Professor Bourne recently shared some reflections on his career in health psychology and public health, and how he’s channelled his energy into work that supports the health of marginalised communities and addresses stigmatised health issues.
What’s been your career trajectory to date, and why did you decide to lead ARCSHS?
I started out with a Bachelors and Honours degree in psychology and then went on to do a PhD in health psychology, specialising in the psychology of risk taking in sexual contexts.
It led me into a rewarding 10 years working in HIV social and behavioural research among gay and bisexual men, with projects in the UK, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
As time went by, I felt a drawn to explore and better understand the broader health needs and experiences of LGBTIQ+ communities. Until that point, I’d been able to do some interesting work in illicit drug use and mental health, but all through the prism of HIV.
Moving to a new role in Australia in 2017 gave me the opportunity to further develop a population-based program of work that spans a whole range of issues, drivers and contexts.
I find this extremely rewarding, particularly when I see the connections between our work and health policy and practice.
Taking on the role of ARCSHS Centre Director this year has been the latest big challenge, but one that I’m really enjoying.
This now sees me enabling and facilitating a wide range of research programs, all of which have, at their core, a commitment to furthering the wellbeing of marginalised populations and addressing stigmatised health issues.
How do you ensure your work is community-based and action-oriented?
Community-based research is a process, not an event.
It comes about through continuous, meaningful dialogue and connection.
At ARCSHS, we see our partners in community organisations as colleagues who are experts in their own domains, and we try to ensure that every project we initiate is informed by community needs and is designed in ways that can result in positive impact on their lives.
This can’t come about from a single conversation or a single workshop with community, but instead emerges over time and in the context of trusting relationships and respectful partnerships, including co-hosted events, reciprocal membership of advisory groups or shared advocacy positions.
What would you like APHC delegates to gain from your presentation about LGBTQI+ health and wellbeing?
We would like to ensure delegates leave the session understanding:
- The significant health disparities impacting health and wellbeing among LGBTIQ+ communities,
- The diverse and heterogenous nature of health disparities within the LGBTIQ+ community, including how health outcomes and experiences can be shaped by intersectional characteristics,
- The social and cultural forces that can shape or contribute to health disparities among LGBTIQ+ communities; and
- An understanding of practical steps they can take in public health practice or research to better engage LGBTQI+ communities.
We look forward to hearing from Professor Bourne, and our full suite of keynote speakers, in September.
View the list of speakers and register for the 2024 Australian Public Health Conference here.
Image: Supplied / Tourism WA
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