Alumni

Over the last decade my research has increasingly focused on the underlying determinants of health and social inequalities, and precarious housing is a significant factor in this regard. In my research with Aboriginal people, prisoners, and women and children impacted by domestic violence, the complex social determinants of homelessness were very evident. I also became increasingly aware that homelessness and mental health often cluster together. This heightened my interest in homelessness prevention research. Serendipitously, I read about the homelessness research work of the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) and Professor Paul Flatau a few years ago. So I decided to get in touch with him and asked if I could help out on any homelessness projects. I am now part of the CSI team, mainly researching the social impacts of homelessness prevention. One of the challenges I continually face is that it is hard to find funding sources for research that tackles complex social issues that do not fit neatly into a single research or policy silo. But I am persistent, and earlier this year I submitted a fellowship application to the National Health and Medical Research Council to undertake a program of research around homelessness and health.

We have just completed what we refer to as our sustaining tenancies study (funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute), which used linked de-identified data to look at changes in hospital and health service use among a large sample of public housing clients who were formerly homeless or at high risk of homelessness. The results are compelling. They show how the use of acute and emergency health services reduces when people experiencing homelessness are provided with public housing and support, with a flow on cost benefit to the health system. In an era where health and homelessness sectors are extremely strained, these findings have important policy implications.

In another recently commenced study, we are conducting a randomised control trial for Sacred Heart Mission in Melbourne to evaluate the second wave of their Journey’s to Social Inclusion initiative which provides individualised case management to end the cycle of long-term chronic homelessness. Another area of research is looking at how well mainstream health services meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. CSI has just been contracted by St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne to evaluate its unique suite of services for people who are homeless. Preventing the revolving door that often occurs between homelessness and the health system is something I am ardent about. Through my recent fellowship application, I am seeking funding to conduct research with Homeless Healthcare in Perth to look at how their mobile outreach services to homeless people help reduce hospital admissions and improve wellbeing.

I abhor the idea of being an ‘ivory tower’ researcher. I learn so much from meeting with people and organisations working at the coalface of providing services to alleviate homelessness. It is very humbling to sit in a waiting room alongside people whose adverse life circumstances have left them with no place to call home. I am a big advocate for the power of qualitative research that reminds us of the human stories behind the statistics, hence I try to include this in all my research.

As part of our sustaining tenancies project, we surveyed formerly homeless public housing tenants. As I read some of the open ended responses, I was reminded afresh why research to reduce homelessness is vital. One respondent shared, “Being unable to afford private housing and not having a safe place to stay long term is all consuming. Stress, anxiety and hopelessness become everyday occurrences”.

When I was conducting research in prisons, there were people who wanted to turn their lives around, but worried about where to live when they got out, and didn’t want to end up couch surfing with peers that might be a bad influence. I looked into the statistics and was shocked to learn that up to 40% of prisoners end up homeless within a month of their release. Breaking this cycle between prison and homelessness is critical, not just for the individuals impacted, but because building more prisons is not sustainable, costing society more in the long run.

Similarly, there is an urgent need to break the vicious cycle between mental health and homelessness. Upstream prevention of homelessness is not only more effective and less costly to society in the long run, but is also more humane.

I have been involved with UWA in various capacities for at last 25 years, as a student twice, as a postdoc fellow and then as staff. My first degree was a Bachelor of Commerce back in the days when they still used overhead projectors! I did Honours, with a thesis looking at the business ethics of multinational corporations; the early beginnings of my social justice research interests. It was on a graduate trainee program with the public service that I discovered the world of health promotion and the imperative for prevention.

Eventually, some 13 years and three children later, I came back to UWA to undertake a PhD in the School of Population Health. I have been at UWA ever since - mainly in research roles but also teaching health promotion and health leadership. I have held positions within Population Health and with the Centre for Social Impact – the latter being in the Business School which brings me back full circle to where I began at UWA. My connection with UWA also extends beyond work life. I love the campus, the meandering peacocks at Arts, films at the Somerville, and its proximity to the river are among my favourite things here. Plus the students of course!