Although the School of Population and Global Health has been participating in, and leading worldwide health initiatives for many years, it was during the 2016 renewal of the University structure that the School was formally recognised for their important work with the extension of its name.

While only one word change – Global – it acknowledges the incredible research initiatives the School of Population and Global Health undertakes in touching all four corners of the globe with health outreach. 

The School leads efforts in research, teaching and service to improve health at a population level and influence health policies and practices locally, nationally and internationally. 

Research within the School occurs across rural and metropolitan areas and with disadvantaged and marginalised groups. 

It is broad and varied and covers areas as diverse as chronic and infectious diseases, homelessness, prisoner health and women’s health, Indigenous health, mental, environmental and cardiovascular health; and health systems and policy. 

The School has a reputation for excellence in teaching and offers a Population Health major in the undergraduate Bachelor of Science and a suite of Masters of Public Health programs at postgraduate level as well as teaching into the UWA medical program.  

Below are just some of the worldwide health initiatives the School is undertaking:

1. Smoking in Vietnam – working to reduce the preventable burden of tobacco related diseases in Vietnam and the Philippines.
2. Research related to refugee populations:

• Funded by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) to develop best practice principles to underpin interventions for perpetrators of family and domestic violence from refugee backgrounds.
• Undertook first study that examined the nature, understanding and impact (individual, family, community, settlement) of domestic and family violence in refugee communities post settlement.
• Undertaken evaluations of community-based responses to domestic and family violence in refugee communities.

1. International field trips to India and Nepal, funded by the New Colombo Plan and Endeavour Awards.
2. How to use data for international comparisons in cancer screening evaluations through the World Universities Network.
3. International study of 20+ cohort studies examining mortality after release from prison. A  NHMRC grant with the University of Melbourne.

Media references

Professor Colleen Fisher (Head of School of Population and Global Health) +61 8 6488 2193