Mission and Values

Our mission

NCHSR's mission is to inform and shape policy and practice through exemplary, reflexive and collaborative scholarly research regarding the social aspects of HIV infection, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections.

Our Values

Excellence: NCHSR is a national and international leader in the field of social research, with a history of exemplary scholarly work exploring the social aspects of risk, prevention, treatment and care. Our research reflects our commitment to rigorous, world-class academic standards.

Best practice: Our research is consistent with the health promotion framework of the Ottawa Charter and with the guiding principles of the national strategies pertaining to HIV infection, viral hepatitis and sexual health.

Inclusion: NCHSR is committed to a research agenda that acknowledges individuals and communities as social beings. This perspective locates the agency of individuals within relational networks of culture, community and collectives that generate social understandings, meanings and practices.

Collaboration and engagement: We work together at the national and international levels with government departments and committees, community organisations and other researchers including social and public health scientists, epidemiologists and human rights lawyers. We undertake our research with the intention of informing and influencing the development of programs and the implementation of policy.

Interdisciplinarity: Our staff and students come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds such as anthropology, sociology, linguistics, psychology, cultural studies, public health and medicine. This diversity has been a key ingredient in the success of NCHSR.

Respect: NCHSR is committed to a research framework that is reflexive, collaborative, responsive and respectful of the rights, agency and subjectivity of affected communities. Our research acknowledges the value of co-participation of researchers and researched in research activities, and draws on the diverse experience of co-participants.

Advocacy: Our research necessitates a focus on marginalised and disadvantaged communities affected by HIV infection, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections. As we work alongside these communities, our research provides a medium through which their voices are heard.