Health Sciences

Research fellow.

Health science, gender studies, sociology, inter-disciplinary studies cultural studies.

I work predominantly using qualitative methods, however, I am also experienced using mixed methods, particularly in relation to evaluation. My theoretical paradigm tends towards post structural, however this incorporates an understanding that discursive and material elements are always intertwined in the social. I am particularly interested in creative, cross, multi and inter-disciplinary approaches to social research.

Broadly speaking, the main focus of my work concerns the social and cultural meanings of the lived experience sexuality and gender.

Student Supervision

I am co-supervising two post-graduate students:

• Lizzie Smith: Unpacking ethics of care of the self in sex work
• Amie O’Shea: Sexuality and women with an intellectual disability.

2008/9: Evaluation of the project Fair Game: Respect Matters. Intervention in 33 community football clubs in Victoria.

2008: Parents as sexuality educators with their children. Research for the Western Australian Department of Health.

2008/9: Catching On Everywhere: a whole school learning approach to sexuality education. Victorian Department of Education

2008: National survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health Community Liaison Manager

Dyson, S., Pitts, M., Lyons, A. (In press)." Providing high quality information about HPV for women after treatment for high grade cervical dysplasia." Sexual Health.

Rosenthal, D., S. Dyson, et al. (2007). "Australian women’s understanding of the human papilloma virus (HPV): A qualitative study of the challenges to accepting a vaccine." Women and Health 45(2).

Pitts, M., S. Dyson, et al. (2007). "Knowledge and awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV): attitudes towards HPV vaccination among a representative sample of women in Victoria, Australia." Sexual Health 4: 177 - 180

Agius, P. A., S. Dyson, et al. (2006). "Two steps forward and one step back? Australian secondary students' sexual health knowledge and behaviours 1992-2002." Journal Adolescent Health 38(3): 247-52.

Dyson, S. (2006). A whole school approach to sexuality education: is it any different? (Abstract).Sexologies: European Journal of Sexual Health 15(S1): S39.

Dyson, S. and Fox, C. (2005) Guest Editor, Gay and Lesbian Issues in Psychology Review

Dyson, S. and Fox, C. (2005) Editorial: Diversity within diversity: Health in Difference 5 Conference. Gay and Lesbian Issues in Psychology Review

Dyson, S. and A. Mitchell (2005). Sex Education and Unintended Pregnancy: are we seeing the results? Australian Health Review 29(2): 135-139.

Horsley, P. & Dyson, S.. From the Outside Looking in – Illumining Research with Lesbians in Researching the Margins. Pitts, M. &. Smith, A (Eds.) Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke (pp. 66-83).

Dyson, S., Szirom, T. (1989) Far, Far Greater Things, YWCA of Victoria, 1989 (a sequel to Greater Expectations).

Dyson, S. & Szirom, T. (1987) Feeling Good About Yourself, Joint Board of Christian Education, (book about adolescence and puberty for teenagers).

Szirom, T and Dyson, S. (1984) Greater Expectations, A Source Book For Women and Girls, YWCA of Australia, reprinted 1985. (Also published in the UK by LDA).

Dyson, S., Szirom, T., et al (1982). Taught not Caught: Strategies for Sexuality Education. Spiral Publications, Melbourne (also published in the UK by LDA).

Smith, A., Agius, P., Dyson, S., et al. (2004). "Secondary students, sexual health and HIV/AIDS: Results of the national surveys of Australian secondary students". 16th Annual Conference for HIV Medicine, Canberra.

Dyson, S., A. Mitchell, et al. (2003). "Don't ask, don't tell hidden in the crowd : the need for documenting links between sexuality and suicidal behaviours among young people". Monograph series ; no. 45. Melbourne, Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society La Trobe University.

Smith, A., S. Dyson. (2003). "Secondary students and sexual health 2002 : results of the 3rd National Survey of Australian Secondary Students, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health". Monograph series ; no. 47. Melbourne, Australian Research Centre in Sex Health & Society: 1 v. (various pages).

Dyson, S. (in press). The hidden life of girls: games of stance, status and exclusion. Culture, Health & Sexuality

Dyson, S. (2006).  The Anne Oakley reader; Gender, women and social science". Culture, Health and Sexuality 8(5): 483 - 485.

Dyson S. (2008) Fair Game Respect Matters. Respect and Responsibility Program Australian Football (culture change kit for use in community football clubs).

Dyson, S. (2008). Catching On Everywhere. Sexuality Education Program Development for Victorian Schools. Part One: Program Planning, Concepts and Policy. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Melbourne.

Dyson, S. (2008). Catching On Everywhere. Sexuality Education Program Development for Victorian Schools. Part Two: school practice in sexuality education. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Melbourne.

Dyson, S. (2008) Respect and Responsibility: Creating Safe and Inclusive Environments for Women and Girls in Community Football Clubs. (research report) Australian Football League, Melbourne

Dyson, S., Flood, M.(2007). Building cultures of respect and non-violence. A review of literature concerning adult learning and violence prevention with men. Respect and Responsibility Programs, Australian Football League, Melbourne.
Dyson, S., Fox, C. (2007). Evaluation of the AFL Respectful Behaviours in Sport Training. The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne. Research Report 46 pages.

Dyson, S. and C. Fox (2006). An Evaluation of the Sexual Health and Relationships (Share) Project 2003 - 2005. Sexual Health and Relationships (Shine) South Australia

Dyson, S., A. Mitchell, et al. (2004). Conducting Effective Sexual Health and Relationships Education with Young People in Schools - Factors for Success: A Literature Review. Sexual Health and Relationships (Shine) South Australia.

Dyson, S. (2007) Practiced Ways of Being: Theorising Lesbians, Agency and Health. Doctoral thesis, La Trobe University, Melbourne

Dyson, S. (2001). Gender & Diversity: A Workbook for an Equity Approach to Practice. Melbourne, Women’s Health in the South East.

Dyson, S. (2001). Lesbian Visibility in Health Services: A manual for Service Providers Melbourne, Women’s Health in the South East.

Dyson, S. (2007). Deficit subject or sexual citizen? Lesbian conception, pregnancy and birth experiences 1980 – 2000, in Victoria, Australia. Fourth Global Conference Persons and Sexuality: Probing the boundaries, Salzburg, Austria

Dyson, S. (2007). On being an insider/researcher and the risk of the “compulsive extroversion of interiority”. Second Annual Work in Progress Conference, Warwick University, Coventry, UK

Dyson, S. (2006). (Ms)recognition and domains of speakability: coming out in heterosexualised spaces. The Hetero Factory Conference, Norrkoping, Sweden.

Dyson, S. (2006).Practised ways of being: Lesbians negotiating gender and sexuality in clinical spaces. Thinking Gender - The NEXT Generation, Leeds, United Kingdom.

Dyson, S. (2006). A whole school approach to sexuality education: is it any different? 8th Congress of the European Federation of Sexology, Prague, Czech Republic.

Dyson, S. (2003). American Association of Public health. 'Practiced Ways of Being: lesbians, agency and health' (PhD project). San Francisco, Ca

Dyson, S. (2008): (Invited keynote speech) The Connections Between Sexuality Education and Violence Prevention. Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships (Western Australia).

Dyson, S. (2006). Report on the evaluation of the Share Project. Teaching it Like it is Conference, Adelaide.

Dyson, S. (2005). A Permanent Discourse Within My Skin: the implications of historical and contemporary regulation and control of lesbianism for coming out/disclosure in the consulting room. Health in Difference: 5th National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Health Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Dyson, S. (2005). The Trouble with Gender - homophobia and heterosexism as gender discrimination. 5th Australian Women's Health Conference, Melbourne.

Dyson, S. McNair, R., A. Kavanagh, et al. (2004). Comparing mental health indicators and health service usage of young lesbians and bisexual women, with heterosexual women (presented by Sue Dyson). National Lesbian Health Conference, University of Chicago.

Smith, AMA, Agius, P., Dyson, S. & Pitts, M. (2004) Secondary Students, Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS: Results of the National Surveys of Australian Secondary Students. (Presented by M. Pitts).16th Annual Conference for HIV Medicine, Canberra.

Dyson, S. (2003). The youth suicide data collection project. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society National Research Forum. Melbourne.

Mc Nair, R. and S. Dyson (1999). Lesbian Visibility in Health Services. Health in Difference 3, Adelaide.

2008: Department of Education and early Childhood Development, to deliver a series of forums for regional Department staff, reporting back on Catching on Everywhere research.

2008/9: VicHealth for a two year project (2008 -9) in partnership with AFL Victoria, Respect and Responsibility: Making Community Football Clubs safer, and more inclusive for women.

2007: Recipient of an inaugural Harold Mitchell Foundation travelling fellowship for developing scholarship and personal connections in an area of study (lesbian health).

2007: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, to evaluate and document 5 school sexuality education programs  in Victoria, Australia.

2007: University of Tasmania, to develop and write a 13 week online course on Ageing, sexuality and gender.

2007: Australian Football League, to conduct focus groups with women on safety, access and equity in community football clubs, and prepare a resource for use by clubs to implement the respect and responsibility policy.

2006: Australian Football League, to evaluate the Respectful Behaviours in Sport Training and review literature concerning violence prevention programs with men.

2005: La Trobe University, Melbourne. Faculty Grant for new and emerging researchers to investigate the health promotion messages for women concerning HPV.

Email: s.dyson@latrobe.edu.au

Phone: 9285 5125