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Professor Emma Kirby

Professor Emma Kirby

Associate Dean

PhD (Sociology) University of Newcastle (Australia) 2009; BSc - Hons (Human Geography) Loughborough University (UK) 2003

Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
Executive

Emma (she/her) is a Professor of Sociology and leader ofÌýThe Care LabÌýin the School of Social Sciences. She is also the Associate Dean Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement for the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA), and Chairs the faculty's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She has previously held roles as a ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Scientia Fellow and an Australian Research Council DECRAÌýin the Centre for Social Research in Health.ÌýShe is interested in the sociology of health, illness, and care, and her research draws on a range of case studies to provide a critical sociological analysis of advanced illness and end of life care, mapping its character and significance. Her program of research comprises a series of projects focused on relationships in/and health care, health care practice, diversity and social justice.
Phone
02 9385 9065
E-mail
emma.kirby@unsw.edu.au
Location
152 Morven Brown Building
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Kirby E; Newton G; Smith L; Strnadova I; Churchill B; Hoffstatter L; Judd-Lam S; Newman CE, 2024, 'When caring ends: Exploring the hidden aspects of loss in trajectories out of caring in Australia', in Understanding the Grief and Loss Experiences of Carers Research Practitioner and Personal Perspectives, pp. 110 - 122,
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Smith L; Philipson L; Newman C; O'Shea A; Watson-Kirby E, 2024, 'Ageing, disability, dementia and gender and sexuality diversity: what do the intersections tell us about models of care?', in Ned L; Rivas Verlade M; Singh S; Swartz L; Soldatic K (ed.), The Routledge International Handbook of Disability and Global Health, Routledge,
    Book Chapters | 2023
    McLaughlan R; Watson-Kirby E, 2023, 'Quiet Casualties', in Brownell B (ed.), The Pandemic Effect: Ninety Experts on Immunizing the Built Environment, Chronicle Books
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Broom A; Kirby E, 2014, 'Traditional health services utilization among cancer patients in Western countries', in Cockerham W; Dingwall R; Quah S (ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health and Society, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Broom A; Kirby E, 2014, 'Traditional health services utilization among cancer patients in developing countries', in Cockerham W; Dingwall R; Quah S (ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health and Society, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Kirby E; McLaughlan R; Bellemore F; Swanson R; Gissing J; Chye R, 2025, 'On comfort in palliative care', Health Sociology Review, 34, pp. 25 - 41,
    Journal articles | 2025
    MacArthur ND; Kirby E; Mowll J, 2025, 'Caring at the end of life: Bereaved family members' experiences of preparedness, readiness, and anticipation fatigue', Social Science and Medicine, 380,
    Journal articles | 2025
    Stevens B; Kirby E, 2025, 'Neuroqueer in/and social work: A scoping review of theory and practice', The British Journal of Social Work,
    Journal articles | 2025
    Watson A; Watson-Kirby E, 2025, 'Affective routes in interviews: Participants exploring a digital map as a live elicitation method', Qualitative Research, 25, pp. 243 - 262,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Borgstrom E; Driessen A; Krawczyk M; Kirby E; MacArtney J; Almack K, 2024, 'Grieving academic grant rejections: Examining funding failure and experiences of loss', Sociological Review, 72, pp. 998 - 1017,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Newton G; Kirby E; Carah N; Gray RW, 2024, 'On the sensations of direct-to-consumer DNA testing: realisations, resemblance and relationships', EMOTIONS AND SOCIETY,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Newton G; Kirby E; Hofstätter L; Judd-Lam S; Smith L; Churchill B; Strnadová I; Newman CE, 2024, '‘Is There Anything Else You’d Like to Tell Us About Your Experience?’ Orientations Towards Listening to Open-Ended Survey Responses', Sociological Research Online,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Watson A; Kirby E; Churchill B; Robards B; LaRochelle L, 2024, 'What matters in the queer archive? Technologies of memory and Queering the Map', Sociological Review, 72, pp. 99 - 117,
    Journal articles | 2024
    van Toorn G; Kirby E; Hamilton M; MacArtney J, 2024, 'What socio-cultural, emotional and relational factors shape older people's experiences of death and dying in residential aged care? A scoping review', Ageing and Society, 45, pp. 901 - 924,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Kirby E; MacArtney JI, 2023, 'Pandemic delay: social implications and challenges for palliative care', Palliative Care and Social Practice, 17,
    Journal articles | 2023
    McLaughlan R; Kirby E, 2023, 'Palliative care environments for patient, family and staff well-being: an ethnographic study of nonstandard design', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Padigos J; Reid S; Kirby E; Anstey C; Broom J, 2023, 'Nursing experiences in antimicrobial optimisation in the intensive care unit: A convergent analysis of a national survey', Australian Critical Care, 36, pp. 769 - 781,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Kirby E; Kenny K; Broom A; Lwin Z, 2022, 'Chronicity in/and cancer: a qualitative interview study of health professionals, patients, and family carers', Critical Public Health, 32, pp. 472 - 484,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Kirby E; van Toorn G; Lwin Z, 2022, 'Routines of isolation? A qualitative study of informal caregiving in the context of glioma in Australia', Health and Social Care in the Community, 30, pp. 1924 - 1932,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Macarthur N; Watson-Kirby E; Mowll J, 2022, 'Bereavement affinities: A qualitative study of lived experiences of grief and loss', Death Studies, 47, pp. 836 - 846,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Plage S; Kirby E, 2022, 'Reconfiguring time: optimisation and authenticity in accounts of people surviving with advanced cancer', Health Sociology Review, 31, pp. 96 - 111,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Broom A; Kenny K; Kirby E; Davis M; Dodds S; Post J; Broom J, 2021, 'The modern hospital executive, micro improvements, and the rise of antimicrobial resistance', Social Science and Medicine, 285,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Broom A; Lewis S; Parker R; Williams Veazey L; Kenny K; Kirby E; Kokanović R; Lwin Z; Koh ES, 2021, 'Personhood, belonging, affect and affliction', Sociological Review, 69, pp. 1051 - 1071,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kirby E; Broom A; MacArtney J; Lewis S; Good P, 2021, 'Hopeful dying? The meanings and practice of hope in palliative care family meetings', Social Science and Medicine, 291,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kirby E; McLaughlan R; Wallworth L; Chappell L; Bellemore F; Chye R, 2021, 'Connection, comfort and COVID-19 in palliative care', Palliative Care and Social Practice, 15, pp. 26323524211001389,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kirby E; Newton G; Hofstätter L; Judd-Lam S; Strnadova I; Newman C, 2021, '(How) Will it end? A qualitative analysis of free-text survey data on informal care endings', International Journal of Care and Caring, pp. 1 - 17,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kirby E; Watson A; Churchill B; Robards B; LaRochelle L, 2021, 'Queering the Map: Stories of love, loss and (be)longing within a digital cartographic archive', Media, Culture & Society, 43, pp. 1043 - 1060,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Lewis S; Kenny K; Broom A; Kirby E; Boyle F, 2021, 'The social meanings of choice in living-with advanced breast cancer', Social Science and Medicine, 280,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Padigos J; Reid S; Kirby E; Broom J, 2021, 'Knowledge, perceptions and experiences of nurses in antimicrobial optimization or stewardship in the intensive care unit', Journal of Hospital Infection, 109, pp. 10 - 28,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Broom A; Kenny K; Kirby E; George N; Chittem M, 2020, 'Improvisation, therapeutic brokerage and antibiotic (mis)use in India: a qualitative interview study of Hyderabadi physicians and pharmacists', Critical Public Health, 30, pp. 16 - 27,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Broom A; Kenny K; Kirby E, 2020, 'Entangled and Estranged: Living and Dying in Relation (to Cancer)', Sociology, 54, pp. 1004 - 1021,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Broom A; Parker R; Raymond S; Kirby E; Lewis S; Kokanović R; Adams J; de Souza P; Woodland L; Wyld D; Lwin Z; Koh ES, 2020, 'The (Co)Production of Difference in the Care of Patients With Cancer From Migrant Backgrounds', Qualitative Health Research, 30, pp. 1619 - 1631,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Kenny K; Broom A; Kirby E; Oliffe JL; Wyld D; Lwin Z, 2020, 'Reciprocity, Autonomy, and Vulnerability in Men’s Experiences of Informal Cancer Care', Qualitative Health Research, 30, pp. 491 - 503,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Kirby E; Broom A; Overton K; Kenny K; Post JJ; Broom J, 2020, 'Reconsidering the nursing role in antimicrobial stewardship: A multisite qualitative interview study', BMJ Open, 10, pp. e042321,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Lewis S; Broom A; Kenny K; Kirby E, 2020, 'Cancer caregivers' experiences of prognosis in Australia: a qualitative interview study', BMJ Open, 10,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Wong WKT; Broom A; Kirby E; Lwin Z, 2020, 'What lies beneath? Experiencing emotions and caring in oncology.', Health (London), 24, pp. 348 - 365,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Broom A; Kirby E; Kokonavic R; Woodland L; Wyld D; de Souza P; Koh S; Lwin Z, 2019, 'Individualising difference, negotiating culture: Intersections of biography and cancer care', Health,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Broom A; Parker RB; Kirby E; KokanoviÄ R; Woodland L; Lwin Z; Koh ES, 2019, 'A qualitative study of cancer care professionals' experiences of working with migrant patients from diverse cultural backgrounds', BMJ Open, 9, pp. e025956,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Broom J; Broom A; Kirby E, 2019, 'The drivers of antimicrobial use across institutions, stakeholders and economic settings: A paradigm shift is required for effective optimisation', Infection, Disease & Health, 24, pp. S7 - S7,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Broom J; Broom A; Kirby E, 2019, 'The drivers of antimicrobial use across institutions, stakeholders and economic settings: A paradigm shift is required for effective optimization', Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 74, pp. 2803 - 2809,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Kirby E; Broom A; Karikios D; Harrup R; Lwin Z, 2019, 'Exploring the impact and experience of fractional work in medicine: A qualitative study of medical oncologists in Australia', BMJ Open, 9,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Kirby ER; Kenny KE; Broom AF; Oliffe JL; Lewis S; Wyld DK; Yates PM; Parker RB; Lwin Z, 2019, 'Responses to a cancer diagnosis: a qualitative patient-centred interview study', Supportive Care in Cancer, 28,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Broom A; Gibson A; Kirby E; Davis M; Broom J, 2018, 'The private life of medicine: accounting for antibiotics in the ‘for-profit’ hospital setting', Social Theory and Health, 16, pp. 379 - 395,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Broom A; Kenny K; Kirby E; Lwin Z, 2018, 'The collective/affective practice of cancer survivorship', British Journal of Sociology, 70, pp. 1582 - 1601,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Broom J; Broom A; Kirby E; Post JJ, 2018, 'Improvisation versus guideline concordance in surgical antibiotic prophylaxis: a qualitative study', Infection, 46, pp. 541 - 548,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Broom J; Broom A; Kirby E, 2018, 'Context-sensitive antibiotic optimization: a qualitative interviews study of a remote Australian hospital setting', Journal of Hospital Infection, 100, pp. 265 - 269,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Gibson AF; Broom A; Kirby E; Wyld DK; Lwin Z, 2018, '‘… My biggest worry now is how my husband is going to cope’: women’s relational experiences of cancer ‘care’ during illness', Journal of Gender Studies, 27, pp. 901 - 913,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kirby E; Broom A; Gibson A; Broom J; Yarwood T; Post J, 2018, 'Medical authority, managerial power and political will: A Bourdieusian analysis of antibiotics in the hospital', Health United Kingdom, 22, pp. 500 - 518,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kirby E; Kenny K; Broom A; Macartney J; Good P, 2018, 'The meaning and experience of bereavement support: A qualitative interview study of bereaved family caregivers', Palliative and Supportive Care, 16, pp. 396 - 405,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kirby E; Lwin Z; Kenny K; Broom A; Birman H; Good P, 2018, '"It doesn't exist...": Negotiating palliative care from a culturally and linguistically diverse patient and caregiver perspective', BMC Palliative Care, 17, pp. 90,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Wong WKT; Kirby E; Broom A; Sibbritt D; Francis K; Karapetis CS; Karikios D; Harrup R; Lwin Z, 2018, 'A mixed methods analysis of experiences and expectations among early-career medical oncologists in Australia', Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 14, pp. e521 - e527,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom A; Broom J; Kirby E; Gibson A; Davis M, 2017, 'Antibiotic optimisation in ‘the bush’: Local know-how and core-periphery relations', Health and Place, 48, pp. 56 - 62,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom A; Broom J; Kirby E; Scambler G, 2017, 'Nurses as Antibiotic Brokers: Institutionalized Praxis in the Hospital', Qualitative Health Research, 27, pp. 1924 - 1935,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom A; kenny K; Kirby E, 2017, 'On waiting, hauntings and surviving: Chronicling life with cancer through solicited diaries', The Sociological Review, 66, pp. 682 - 699,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom A; kirby E; Gibson A; Post J; Broom J, 2017, 'Myth, manners, and medical ritual: Defensive medicine and the fetishisation of antibiotics', Qualitative Health Research, 27, pp. 1994 - 2005,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom J; Broom A; Kirby E; Gibson A; Post J, 2017, 'Individual care versus broader public health: A qualitative study of hospital doctors' antibiotic decisions', Infection, Disease & Health, 22, pp. 97 - 104,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom J; Broom A; Kirby E; Gibson AF; Post JJ, 2017, 'How do hospital respiratory clinicians perceive antimicrobial stewardship (AMS)? A qualitative study highlighting barriers to AMS in respiratory medicine', Journal of Hospital Infection, 96, pp. 316 - 322,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom JK; Broom AF; Kirby ER; Gibson AF; Post JJ, 2017, 'Clinical and social barriers to antimicrobial stewardship in pulmonary medicine: A qualitative study', American Journal of Infection Control, 45, pp. 911 - 916,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Broom JK; Broom AF; Kirby ER; Post JJ, 2017, 'How do professional relationships influence surgical antibiotic prophylaxis decision making? A qualitative study', American Journal of Infection Control, 46, pp. 311 - 315,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Gibson AF; Broom A; Kirby E; Wyld DK; Lwin Z, 2017, 'The social reception of women with cancer', Qualitative Health Research, 27, pp. 983 - 993,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kenny K; Broom A; Kirby E; Wyld D; Lwin Z, 2017, 'Terminal anticipation: entanglements of affect and temporality in living with advanced cancer', Subjectivity,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kirby E; Broom A; Good P; Bowden V; Lwin Z, 2017, 'Experiences of interpreters in supporting the transition from oncology to palliative care: A qualitative study', Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 13, pp. e497 - e505,
    Journal articles | 2017
    MacArtney JI; Broom A; Kirby E; Good P; Wootton J, 2017, 'The Liminal and the Parallax: Living and Dying at the End of Life', Qualitative Health Research, 27, pp. 623 - 633,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Murthy V; Adams J; Broom A; Kirby E; Refshauge KM; Sibbritt D, 2017, 'The influence of communication and information sources upon decision-making around complementary and alternative medicine use forÌýback pain among Australian women aged 60–65Ìýyears', Health and Social Care in the Community, 25, pp. 114 - 122,
    Journal articles | 2017
    kenny K; Broom A; Kirby E; Ridge D, 2017, 'In one’s own time: Contesting the temporality and linearity of bereavement', Health: an interdisciplinary journal for the social study of health, illness and medicine, 23, pp. 58 - 75,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Broom A; Broom J; Kirby E; Adams J, 2016, 'The social dynamics of antibiotic use in an Australian hospital', Journal of Sociology, 52, pp. 824 - 839,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Broom A; Gibson AF; Broom J; Kirby E; Yarwood T; Post JJ, 2016, 'Optimizing antibiotic usage in hospitals: a qualitative study of the perspectives of hospital managers', Journal of Hospital Infection, 94, pp. 230 - 235,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Broom A; Kirby E; Kenny K; MacArtney J; Good P, 2016, 'Moral ambivalence and informal care for the dying', Sociological Review, 64, pp. 987 - 1004,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Broom A; Plage S; Broom J; Kirby E; Adams J, 2016, 'A qualitative study of hospital pharmacists and antibiotic governance: Negotiating interprofessional responsibilities, expertise and resource constraints Organization, structure and delivery of healthcare', BMC Health Services Research, 16,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Broom A; Wong WKT; Kirby E; Sibbritt D; Karikios D; Harrup R; Lwin Z, 2016, 'A qualitative study of medical oncologists' experiences of their profession and workforce sustainability', Plos One, 11, pp. e0166302,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Brosnan C; Kirby E, 2016, 'Sociological perspectives on the politics of knowledge in health care: introduction to themed issue', Health Sociology Review, 25, pp. 139 - 141,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Macartney JI; Broom A; Kirby E; Good P; Wootton J; Adams J, 2016, 'Locating care at the end of life: Burden, vulnerability, and the practical accomplishment of dying', Sociology of Health and Illness,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Macartney JI; Broom A; Kirby E; Good P; Wootton J; Adams J, 2016, 'Locating care at the end of life: Burden, vulnerability, and the practical accomplishment of dying', Sociology of Health and Illness, 38, pp. 479 - 492,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Sibbritt D; Lauche R; Sundberg T; Peng W; Moore C; Broom A; Kirby E; Adams J, 2016, 'Severity of back pain may influence choice and order of practitioner consultations across conventional, allied and complementary health care: A cross-sectional study of 1851 mid-age Australian women', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17,
    Journal articles | 2015