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About the project��

This project examines how cultural connections may be realised, transformed and effectively maintained for women in contexts of transition and forced migration. It uses arts-based and creative approaches to address the forced displacement crisis. It will explore the felt, sensed, experiential and storied dimensions of disconnection and help women from forced migrant backgrounds build bridges that connect them to their countries of origin while at the same time establishing their roots in settler colonial Australia. Through a series of participatory workshops, the project will develop creative tools and strategies that allow the women to actively and positively work through these tensions.

About the project��

While aviation organisations are committed to improving gender equity, little data exist on the experience of women in aviation. This project develops and pilots a barometer that will track attitudes and initiatives related to gender equity in aviation now and into the future, using a Delphi-process based method with subject matter experts. Yearly industry reports will be developed that can be used to benchmark, educate and prioritise strategies to improve gender equity. The reports will be made available to industry and serve as a driver of reflection and change.

About the project��

Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are a common and distressing health issue for women, yet treatment remains largely trial-and-error. This project will develop three-dimensional (3D) bladder tissue models using cells collected non-invasively from urine to investigate how antibiotic treatment affects both drug-resistant bacteria and the bladder lining. These lab-grown models better reflect the human body than current methods, offering a foundation for future personalised treatments. Aligning with the Women’s Wellbeing Academy’s focus on gender health equity, this project also supports ���������¼�’s strategic goals in advancing precision medicine and improving care for conditions that disproportionately affect women.

About the project��

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy. Current treatments for EC include chemotherapy drugs. However, these drugs only extend the survival of women with advanced EC by three years. Despite these poor outcomes, research into EC remains underfunded, preventing the development of more effective treatments. The team’s studies show fat production is elevated in EC cells and targeting the proteins that regulate this process (ACC enzymes) kills EC cells. Therefore, they will test whether targeting ACC enzymes with a new drug (ND-646) could be an effective new treatment for EC.

About the project��

Aboriginal women and girls have been described by members of the Mount Druitt community as the backbone of their community. They care for many in their own families as well as in the broader community and thereby support the wellbeing of young people and families in Mount Druitt.��

The project team will work with their community partner to gather, analyse and document the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) needs of Aboriginal girls and young women in Mount Druitt, and identify service, advocacy and other support priorities for meeting these needs. It responds directly to an emergent priority in the Mount Druitt community identified through the project team’s existing work with Mounty Aboriginal Youth and Community Services (MAYCS) which is the development and provision of specific community services and programs that respond to the unique needs of Aboriginal girls and young women in Mount Druitt. The critical importance and impact of Indigenous-led health and wellbeing programs has been emphasised by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which noted that they ‘lead to dramatically higher outcomes’ (AHRC 2024).��

By documenting the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) priorities of this group, the project will provide an evidence base for the design and delivery of such programs which will be Indigenous-led through Mounty Aboriginal Youth and Community Services (MAYCS).��

About the project��

This project analyses power relations that prevail in Cancer World and the implications this has for patients and healthcare professionals. The investigators have chosen testimonials and storytelling for their analysis of the power relations that prevail in the Australian oncology system and the implications these have for both patients and healthcare professionals. This approach was chosen in order to centre the participant’s experiences and shed light on ways of thinking about – and lived experiences with – cancer. By speaking with socially marginalised people who have had a cancer diagnosis and with cancer healthcare professionals, this project offers a unique insight into the lived experiences of oncology from “both sides of the desk”. Conversations with both patients and healthcare workers give an insider view and a deeper understanding of�� issues, relationships, and experiences. The team also uses an autoethnographic method to enable the CIs, each of whom has their own cancer diagnosis, to analyse their own cancer experiences while also reflecting on their dual roles as research observer/patient.

About the project��

Hormonal contraceptives produce adverse mental health side effects in up to 30% of users. However, we currently have no method to predict for whom, and why, this occurs. Dr Jodie Pestana aims to identify individual risk factors that increase the vulnerability to adverse mental health side effects of hormonal contraceptives. The outcomes of this project may lead to hormonal contraceptives being specifically tailored towards individuals to reduce their risk of mental health conditions. Moreover, this project will substantially advance our understanding of women’s mental health by generating new knowledge on the impact of hormonal contraceptives on anxiety regulation across development.

About the project��

The Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN) aim to provide an accessible, Simple English summary of the findings of ten of their most notable research projects. These research projects will provide guidance for workshop participants who were on human ethics panels and committees to in turn offer guidance to applicants.

These projects cover important topics such as financial abuse, LGBTQIA+ experiences of sexual violence, dowry abuse, child sexual abuse and gendered violence in the workplace. The audience for these summaries will be other researchers, students, professional university staff, government and interested members of the community. These summaries will be promoted on the GVRN website, LinkedIn, faculty communications and through their mailing lists as well as any other relevant communication method.

More than ever, gendered violence is a topic of importance to governments, universities and individuals. The National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Their Children has recently been renewed and, in the university sector, a new Action Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence has been released. This, along with the tireless, continuous work of victim-survivors and advocates, means that gendered violence is more relevant than ever and as such, now is a perfect time to promote the research and findings that GVRN has made.

About the project��

Following a successful version of this program in 2023 focusing on antiracism, Matraville Sports High School has expressed an interest in the program to continue to provide insight into the experiences of marginalised students. A ���������¼� team will work with Matraville staff and students to develop a Professional Learning (PL) session for Matraville teachers, educating them about female and nonbinary students’ experiences of gender at school. They will conduct workshops with Matraville students to both examine gender-based dynamics in school and society and to learn more about their own experiences at school, in order to tailor the PL session for staff based on anonymised actual student experiences.

About the project��

Bedrooms serve as sanctuaries and play a key role throughout various stages of a woman’s life, contributing to the formation of identities and the development of autonomy. Existing research on “women and bedroom use” has primarily focused on aspects of sexual health and privacy needs, exploring power dynamics, gender roles and sexuality. However, they do not address the evolving needs of women throughout the various stages of their lives, particularly in relation to contemporary demands on physical space. Studies suggest that further research on gendered interaction with material objects in a bedroom (such as beds) can provide deeper insights into how gender roles and identities are constructed. The bedroom environment impacts sleep quality, and today, inadequate sleep is considered as an under-reported health epidemic. Research findings show that many sleep disturbances are more prevalent among women and people from gender minority groups. There are no studies exploring the unique sleep requirements of women, which can guide the development of optimized bedroom environments. In the initial phase of this research, Dr Demet Dincer and Professor Oya Demirbilek will explore women’s bedroom needs, providing insights into their evolving requirements, identity reflection, and sharing dynamics.��

Subsequently, they will gain a more in-depth understanding of the arrangement and utilisation of bedroom space, which will be integrated with sleep data. As the first transdisciplinary collaboration between health and design experts (working with academic mentors Dr Christopher Gordon and Dr Rick Wassing from The Woolcock Sleep Institution at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research), this study will provide in-depth insights into women’s mental and physical needs related to their bedroom spaces.