Reproductive Health and Gender
Who we are
GenderHealth@UNSW are a multi-disciplinary group of researchers and practitioners in the fields of public health, law, ethics, psychology, anthropology, sociology and medicine and who share an interest in gender, sexual and reproductive health issues particularly in the Asia Pacific region. The group is auspiced by the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW.
GenderHealth aims to:
- promote, support and develop research and education in sexual, reproductive health and gender;
- nurture multidisciplinary collaborative research across UNSW and with external partners; and
- facilitate networking between researchers, policymakers and practitioners working in the area of sexual, reproductive health and gender in the Asia Pacific region
How we work
The values underlying GenderHealth’s approach include commitments to health as a human right, to promoting equity in health, and to developing sustainable partnerships with key institutions and groups in low and middle income countries particularly in the Asia Pacific region and amongst indigenous groups in Australia. A unifying concept of our work is that of enhancing gender competence - the ‘capacity to identify where difference on the basis of gender is significant, and act in ways that produce more equitable outcomes for men and women’ (Monash University, 2004).
Our capacity
Members of GenderHealth have extensive experience in the areas of sexual and reproductive health; conflict and violence; gender sensitive health care for vulnerable populations; and education and training. A summary of our current capacity is available on request. GenderHealth was established in 2005 and we are rapidly expanding our network of partners and associates.
Our priorities
GenderHealth’s priorities are divided into six streams, each of which has a coordinator/s:
1. Safe motherhood- A/Prof Anna Whelan/Dr Elizabeth Sullivan
2. Sexual health- Dr Anna McNulty
3. Health and human rights- Professor Daniel Tarantola
4. Reproductive health and conflict- Professor Anthony Zwi
5. Gender competent education- Dr Gabrielle Casper/Dr Alison Rutherford
6. Human resources in sexual/reproductive health- Dr Anna Whelan/Dr John Dewdney
Cross cutting issues across these streams in which we have particular expertise are:
- HIV/AIDS and sexually transmissible infections
- Family planning and contraceptive technologies
- Gender based violence
- Gender mainstreaming in health services
- International human rights law
- Assessment and evaluation methodologies
- Policy development and analysis
- Capacity building and Train the Trainers methods
Current projects
- Short course in Sydney in September 2006: ‘Gendered Health in the Asia Pacific Region: Implementing Best Practices in Sexual and Reproductive Health’ [see Subject guide of resources - PHCM9606 ]. International participants supported by ARC Asia Pacific Futures Network and AusAID ISSS.
- Hosted the 9th Interagency Working Group (IAWG) on Reproductive Health Response in Crisis Situations, October 2-4th 2006. [See www.rhrc.org for the report. Powerpoint slides available on request - Presentations from 9th IAWG meeting in Sydney, October 204 2006 [Compressed Zip file: 36mB]. Supported by UNFPA and WHO.
- ‘A strategy to produce gender competent doctors’- audit and curriculum development for the undergraduate medical curriculum at UNSW – UNSW Equity Initiative Grant scheme 2006.
- Research proposal developed on People Living with HIV/AIDS in Rehabilitation Centres in Vietnam: sexual and reproductive health needs, care and choices of current and former detainees and their sexual partners – to AusAID 2006.
- Research proposal developed on Making Pregnancy Safer: Human Resource in Reproductive Health in Cambodia, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste – Hirshman Foundation 2007-2008.
- Research proposal developed on Sexual and Reproductive Health Program in Crisis and post-crisis situation in East, Southeast Asia-Pacific Issues – to AusAID 2007.
- Participation in MSIA proposal and field visit for PNG Integrated Sexually Transmitted Infection Management and Prevention Program, October 2006.
We are partners with the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance (ARHA) on their new e-newletter Asia Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters.
Convenors
Dr Anna Whelan
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW
T: +61 (2) 9385 3593
F: +61 (2) 9313 1036
E: a.whelan@unsw.edu.au
Dr Alison Rutherford
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW
T: +61 (2) 9385 2510
F: +61 (2) 9313 1036
E: a.rutherford@unsw.edu.au
Founding Members
Dr Gabrielle Casper (conjoint)
School of Women and Children’s Health, UNSW
Dr Anna McNulty (conjoint)
Sydney Sexual Health Centre; Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine, RACP
Dr Husna Razee
Professor Anthony Zwi
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW
Dr Elizabeth Sullivan (conjoint)
AIHW National Perinatal Statistics Unit; School of Women and Children’s Health, UNSW
Professor Daniel Tarantola
UNSW Chair of Health and Human Rights
Professor Andrew Byrnes
A/Professor Andrea Durbach
Australian Human Rights Centre, UNSW
Partners and Associates
GenderHealth is currently formalising links with a broad network of Partners and Associates in Australia, the Asia Pacific region and Europe. Further details are available on request.
We would like to acknowledge funding from the ARC Asia Pacific Futures Network and AusAID ISSS for the workshop and the UNSW Equity Initiative Grant for curriculum work.
If you wish to suggest a new resource, please
email us.