Conferences, seminars, workshops
NCHSR is committed to significantly contributing to practice by working in partnership with community organisations, government and other research organisations. Our work supports the development of policies and programs through dissemination of research knowledge via workshops, seminars, and conferences.
silence&articulation: 12-13 April 2012
12th Social Research Conference on HIV, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases
How society understands and approaches stigmatised illnesses, sexualities and illicit drug use has evolved significantly over the past two decades towards a greater emphasis on human rights, non-discrimination and informed debate. One important reason for this shift has been the diversification of voices that contribute to the production of knowledge, such as medical scientists, social researchers, political activists, policy makers, media, clinicians, public health advocates and affected communities. These voices have not only highlighted and challenged prejudices and ignorance, but have also given rise to discourses that define risks, priority populations, prevention and treatment strategies in relation to blood-borne viruses, drug use and sexual health. What counts as evidence, knowledge and facts in these discourses are not neutral, but depend on a range of social, political and institutional agendas, priorities, interests and established practices. Like any knowledge system, certain ideas and meanings are emphasised and authorised, while others are excluded or sidelined because they are deemed objectionable, incorrect, unhelpful, or dangerous. The aim of this conference is to consider what can and can’t be said about HIV, hepatitis C, drug use and sexual practices; what is emphasised and what is muted, what is seen as acceptable and unacceptable, and what such silences and articulations achieve and why.
silence&articulation conference abstract book (PDF) (4 Mb)
For more information go to the conference website.
NCHSR Consortium workshops
The Consortium members include the National Centre in HIV Social Research and the Social Policy Research Centre, both at The University of New South Wales, ACON, Positive Life NSW, Hepatitis NSW, Multicultural HIV/AIDS Hepatitis C Service, the NSW Users and AIDS Association, the NSW Health Workforce Development Program, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, and representatives of the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch of NSW Health.
Workshops conducted by the Consortium aim to:
- assess the research needs of the HIV, hepatitis C and related diseases sector
- investigate new and innovative research methods, and
- provide non-researchers with the opportunity to learn basic research methods.
Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship program
The Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowship, an AusAID-funded scheme, aims to develop leadership, address priority regional development issues, and build partnerships and linkages between Australian organisations and partner organisations in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Australian organisations have the opportunity to build and strengthen links with organisations in developing countries by offering professional development opportunities in Australia that will build expertise and leadership capacity.
NCHSR successfully applied for AusAID funding to conduct two important leadership programs in collaboration with the Comprehensive AIDS Research Centre (CARC) at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. CARC is a cross-disciplinary research centre co-established by Tsinghua University’s Schools of Medicine, Journalism and Communication, and Humanities and Social Sciences to make meaningful contributions to AIDS prevention not only in China, but regionally and internationally.
Two 3-week programs were hosted by NCHSR at The University of New South Wales in 2011. The first entitled Capacity building on HIV and the law for chinese leaders in public health, HIV and the law was held in April and the second, Promoting enabling social environments for HIV prevention: fostering capacity amongst leaders of Centres for disease control in China, was held in August.
2011 Capacity building on HIV and the law for chinese leaders in public health, HIV and the law
The long-term objective of this program was to learn from the success and failure of the HIV response in Australia and China. To this end, twelve Chinese leaders in public health, HIV and the law engaged in intensive workshops and fieldtrips with a focus on promoting human rights for vulnerable communities. Professor Margaret Harding, Professor Mark Wainwright and Dr Kristy Muir represented the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of New South Wales and delivered speeches at the opening. Distinguished guest lecturers included Michael Kirby, Bill Bowtell, Don Baxter, Alex Wodak and John Godwin and delegates were introduced to representatives of NSW Health and other highly influential communities representing HIV clinicians. HIV social researchers, gay men, drug users and sex workers. At the conclusion of the program, delegates had increased their awareness of the importance of not only building an enabling legal framework in order to deliver a more effective HIV response but also the contribution of social research into populations susceptible to and living with HIV.
2011 Promoting enabling social environments for HIV prevention: fostering capacity among leaders of Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in China
Following the highly successful April program, this second program aimed to further contribute to strengthening China’s capacity to combat HIV/AIDS particularly through promoting a supportive social environment and building capacity to address social issues related to HIV prevention, treatment and care. This forum highlighted the human rights perspective of China’s HIV response and provided examples of highly effective community involvement in dealing with the HIV epidemic. The program heightened awareness of the social aspects of the HIV epidemic, enhanced capacity to identify and respond to HIV-related social issues, and provided networking opportunities to further Chinese/Australian collaboration for leaders of the Centres for Disease Control in China.
A further two 3-week programs are being hosted by NCHSR at The University of New South Wales in 2012
2012 Fostering capacity on HIV and social policy among leaders in schools of the Communist Party of China
In February, in collaboration with the Centre for HIV Policy at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, NCHSR hosted 17 Chinese leaders in the Party Schools of the Chinese Communist Party from 14 provinces who undertook a three week training program in Sydney. The main aim was to foster capacity on HIV and social policy among these leaders in this field. Key issues on HIV policy which were addressed included policies related to HIV testing and treatment, human ethics, behavioural and biomedical interventions, and policy advocacy. NCHSR is grateful to the UNSW Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and our community partners AFAO, ACON, Scarlett Alliance, NUAA, Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Kirkton Road Centre, ASHM and St Vincent’s Hospital for arranging field visits and briefings for the delegates.
2012 Empowering civil society for HIV prevention, treatment and care in China
In March, NCHSR will host another group comprising 13 Chinese non-government organisation (NGO) leaders in the field of HIV. This program aims to empower civil society with the information needed to facilitate HIV prevention, treatment and care in China and to foster links between Chinese NGO leaders and their Australia counterparts. Key issues to be addressed focus on NGOs’ major challenges of financial and human resource management, program development and implementation, partnerships with other organisations, policy analyses and advocacy, as well as technical support for HIV testing, counselling and treatment, legal aid and care and support for people living with HIV, and meaningful participation in HIV responses by the most affected communities.
Seminar series 2012
NCHSR hosts a series of research seminars where NCHSR staff, postgraduate students and other stakeholders share their work with academics, both from within and outside the Centre. These seminars are also attended by a range of professionals who work with people affected by HIV, viral hepatitis and illicit drugs.
| Febuary 14 | Asha Persson, NCHSR Critical reflections on the concept of ‘risk’ in serodiscordant couples |
| March 13 | Maude Frances, UNSW TBA |
| April 10 | Cancelled due to the ‘silence&articulation’ conference on April 12-13 |
| May 8 | Jeanne Ellard and Loren Brener, NCHSR The Heptagon Study |
| June 12 | Carla Treloar, NCHSR Economic costings project of the South Court Needle and Syringe Program |
| July 10 | Christy Newman, NCHSR TBA |
| August 14 | TBA |
| Sept 11 | TBA |
| October 9 | Kenneth Yates, NCHSR TBA |
| November 13 | Henrike Korner and Max Hopwood, NCHSR TBA |
| December 11 | Asha Persson and Christy Newman, NCHSR HIV-positive children transitioning to adolescence and adulthood |
