ARCSHS

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Mission

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) is a centre for social research into sexuality, health, and the social dimensions of human relationships. It works collaboratively and in partnership with communities, community-based organisations, government and professionals in relevant fields to produce research that promotes positive change in policy, practice and people’s lives.

Aims

1. Increase the quantity, quality and impact of multi-disciplinary social research into sexuality, health, and the social dimensions of human relationships;
2. Build and promote an evidence base to influence policy, professional and research practice to support Victorian, inter-state, national and international strategic responses to health issues;
3. Maintain and expand capacity-building for social researchers through teaching, training and mentoring;
4. Increase research collaboration in Australia and internationally, and maintain partnerships to support strategic research;
5. Improve workplace wellbeing and sustainability for the future.

Organisation and location

ARCSHS was founded in 1993. It sits within the Faculty of Health Sciences at La Trobe University in Melbourne. The Centre’s mission and aims provide a framework for a diverse range of research projects, bringing together staff from a variety of disciplines – sociology, psychology, anthropology, cultural studies, epidemiology, gender and sexuality studies, public health and community education.

ARCSHS specialises in community-focused, multi-disciplinary research. It works with marginalised and difficult-to-reach communities, and utilises a partnership approach at all stages of the research process – including prioritisation of research topics, conceptualisation, implementation, and dissemination and application of results.

The Centre receives funding from a range of sources including national competitive grant schemes, and government consultancies and commissioned research funding, and consultancies for non-government organisations.