Our Health in a New Home project team brings an exceptional range of relevant skills targeting all aspects of the research required to achieve the project aims.
Investigators
Prof Angela Dawson, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Angela Dawson is a public health social scientist, Professor of Public Health and Associate Dean Research at UTS and a conjoint Professor in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW.
She is a nationally and internationally recognised expert in health services, health promotion and prevention research for culturally and linguistically diverse populations (CALD), including refugees.
Angela is a highly skilled qualitative researcher. She has extensive experience undertaking research in sensitive areas and interviewing vulnerable participants and health professionals engaged in their care.
Prof Andrew Hayen, University of Technology Sydney
Andrew Hayen is Professor of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at UTS. Andrew's research is in the application of statistical and epidemiological methods in public health and clinical research. He has more than 15 year’s experience in working on complex, linked data analyses using routinely collected data.
Andre Renzaho, Western Sydney University
Andre Renzaho is a Distinguished Professor of Humanitarian and Development Studies at Western Sydney University. Renzaho has extensive experience in refugee health national and internationally. Andre’s research interests include international development practice, public health prevention and systems in emergency response in resource poor settings, health promotion and policy, disaster epidemiology, and the health and socio-economic impacts of migration.
Assoc Prof Anita Heywood, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Anita Heywood is an Associate Professor and infectious diseases epidemiologist at the School of Population Health, UNSW. Her research identifies disparities in infectious disease risks, factors associated with vaccine uptake among at-risk groups, and the impact of Australia’s immunisation program. Her research has informed Australia’s national immunisation program.
Dr Abela Mahimbo, University of Technology Sydney
Abela Mahimbo is an overseas trained medical doctor, an early career researcher, and a lecturer in Public Health at UTS. She is skilled in qualitative research, implementation science and health policy analysis. Her research has significantly contributed to the body of evidence on the health of vulnerable populations including refugees, migrants and the elderly.
Assoc Prof Sally Nathan, University of New South Wales
Sally Nathan is a public health social scientist who actively partners with nongovernment organisations, including the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health (ACCH) Sector, to improve health equity for vulnerable young people, disadvantaged groups and communities in society. Her research program involves collaboration with academics across UNSW, in other leading academic institutions and with leading NGOS in Australia.
Associate Investigators
Dr Mitchell Smith
Mitchell Smith is a public health physician involved in the health care of refugees for over 20 years, overseas (Pakistan and Hong Kong) and in Australia. Since 1999, he has been Director of the NSW Refugee Health Service. Mitchell is a member of the NSW TB Advisory Committee and of the Refugee Health Network of Australia and member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Working Party on Refugee Health. Mitchell is a Conjoint Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales. Clinical Associate Professor General Practice, Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney. He is a Fellow of Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Doctors Reform Society, Medical Association for Prevention of War.
Dr Adele Murdolo
Adele Murdolo is the Executive Director of the Victorian Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health a national centre of health promotion, research and advocacy for immigrant and refugee women. She is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne. As Executive Director for 17 years, she provides strong leadership, expert advice and input into policy. She has a PhD in History and Women’s Studies, and her research and publication areas include women’s health, violence against women and feminist history and activism in Australia.
Assoc Prof Melissa Kang, University of Sydney
Melissa Kang is a public health academic and medical practitioner working with marginalised young people in the public sector in western Sydney. Her access research has been cited in Youth Health policies in NSW and other jurisdictions and recognised by the Sax Institute Research Action Award in 2019. In 2011 in her clinical role, she led the implementation of a clinical refugee health screening program in an Intensive English Centre in Western Sydney.
Prof David Isaacs, Children’s Hospital at Westmead
David Isaacs is a Clinical Professor in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney and a Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Prof. Isaacs is a strong advocate for quality health care and the protection of refugees. He heads the Health Assessment for Refugee Kids (HARK) clinic and delivers clinical care to refugee children. Prof. Isaacs co-wrote the guidelines for the post-arrival health assessment for people from refugee-like backgrounds endorsed by the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases and Refugee Health Network of Australia.
Research staff
Dr Heidi Merrington, University of Technology Sydney
Dr Heidi Merrington is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UTS. Heidi has 15 years of experience conducting qualitative and ethnographic research in Public Health. Her research to date has focused on the factors that create health inequalities and the development of responsive health and support services for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, people who inject drugs and autistic people. Her other research interests include end of life care and explanatory models of health, illness, prevention and treatment. Heidi has a strong track record of participatory research and collaborating with a range of stakeholders and policy makers. She is also an Occupational Therapist who has worked in varied hospital, community and education settings.
Dr Peter Lekkas, University of Technology Sydney
Dr Peter Lekkas is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the School of Health, UTS.
Peter has a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology. His interests are in health equity and more broadly social justice, applying these interests to research which centres on the intersecting role of individual, social, and structural factors in shaping population-levels of health and wellbeing to promote public health action.
Professional staff
Ms Evie Heap, University of Technology Sydney
Evie Heap is a Project Coordinator and PhD student in Public Health at UTS. With an interest in mental health and wellbeing, Evie’s research centres on self-harm among adolescents and young people from refugee backgrounds. Evie holds a Master of Public Health and has experience supporting research projects. She also has experience as a secondary school tutor and receptionist in varied settings.