Research Fellow, Community Liaison Officer
Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Public Health and Human Biosciences Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and SocietyMelbourne (City)
PhD; Grad Dip Creative & Experiential Arts; Cert IV Workplace Assessment and Learning, BAppSc
I began my career as a nurse working in residential aged care. It was in this context that my interest in sexual health and ageing grew. I developed strategies to resource staff to respond affirmatively to sexual expression and noticed how this improved the quality of person centred care we provided. Since moving into the university sector I have continued to working in the area of sexual health. I currently coordinate a number of research and education projects around sexual health and ageing and have a particular interest in the development of resources and the provision of education that takes a systemic approach to improvement.
- Sexual health and ageing
Workshops and seminars provided for health and human services include:
Federal Ministerial Advisory Committee: representative for the National LGBTI Alliance. Home and Community Care Diversity Working Group at the Aged Care Branch of the Department of Health, Victoria
Peer reviewed publications
Leonard, W., Duncan, D. and Barrett, C. (in press) “What a difference a gay makes: The constitution of the ‘older gay man’” in Kampf, A., Marshall, Petersen, A. (eds.) Aging Men: Masculinities and Modern Medicine. London, Routledge.
Barrett, C (2011). Storyboarding: using the arts to promote the sexual health and emotional wellbeing of older Australians. Culture, Health and Sexuality. Supplemental volume. 13 (1).
Barrett, C (2011). Auditing organisational capacity to promote the sexual health of older people. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology. 7(1): 31-36.
Barrett, C., Mitchell, A., Craig, L., Crock, L. (2010). Ready or not: Addressing stigma and promoting wellbeing of people living with HIV in aged-care. HIV Australia, 8(3), 35-37.
Barrett, C (2009). Orgasm and the West: a history of pleasure from the sixteenth century to the present (Book review). Culture, Health and Sexuality. 11 (6). P. 673 674
Bouras, C. and Barrett, C (2007). Strategies to enhance patient-centred care in a cardiothoracic surgical unit. Practice Development in Health Care, 6, 150-164.
Barrett, C., Angel, J., Gilbert, M., Bouras, C., Thompson, K. & Singleton, E (2005). Systematic processes for sustainable practice development. Practice Development in Health Care, 4 (1), 5-13.
Barrett, C., Borthwick, A; Bugeja, S; Parker, A; Vis, R; Hurworth, R. (2005) Emotional labour: Listening to the patient’s story. Practice Development in Health Care, 4 (4), 213-223.
Reports
Barrett, C and Stephens, K. (2011). Beyond ‘we treat everyone the same’. A report on the 2010 – 2011 program How 2 create a GLBTI inclusive service. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society. Available from: www.glhv.org.au/files/HowTo.pdf
Barrett, C., Harrison, J., & Kent, J (2009). Permission to speak. Towards the development of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex friendly aged care services. Melbourne, Matrix Guild Victoria Inc and Vintage Men Inc (available at www.matrixguildvic.org.au).
Dyson, S., Barrett, C and Platt, M. (2011). ‘Breaking The Silence’ Schools Program. Evaluation Report. The schools a calmer place – promoting cultures of respect in schools. White Ribbon Foundation, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (available at http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/uploads/media/wrf-principals-program-eval-report.pdf)
Barrett, C. Gahan, L. Mitchell, A. Allen, J. McLaren, S and Tinney, J (2010). Everyday angels: celebrating the achievements of staff working in aged care. Melbourne (available at www.everydayangels.org.au) Melbourne, Australia: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.
Barrett, C (2008). My people: Exploring the experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex seniors in aged care services. Melbourne, Matrix Guild Victoria Inc and Vintage Men Inc (available at www.matrixguildvic.org.au).
Smith, A. M. A., Agius, P. A., Mitchell, A., Barrett, C., & Pitts, M. K. (2009). Secondary Schools and Sexual Health: Results of the 4th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students – HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health. ARCSHS Monograph 70. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.
Barrett, C. (ed) (2004). Gastrostomy care: A guide to practice. Ausmed Publications, Melbourne.
Hetzel, C. Barrett, C. & Bowen, S (2004). Reintroducing meal choices. In Gastrostomy Care: A Guide To Practice. p. 119-132. Ausmed Publications, Melbourne.
Barrett, C & Darzins, P (2004). Making decisions on tube feeding. In Gastrostomy Care: A Guide To Practice. p. 21-42. Ausmed Publications, Melbourne.
Hill, K. Barrett, C. Smith, R. Lindeman, M (2004). Falls (aged care) in Aged care nursing: A guide to practice. Carmody S and Forster S (eds). Chapter 9. Ausmed publications Melbourne.
2011 – current: The primary prevention of the sexual assault of older women
Chief Investigator for project funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to develop a data base of evidence on the sexual assault of older women (interviews/survey/literature review) and strategies for primary prevention. The project is a collaboration with The National Ageing Research Institute; The McCaughey Centre; Centre for Women's Health, Gender and Society; The Council on the Ageing Victoria and the Alzheimer's Australia Consumer Dementia Research Network.
2012 – current: Sexuality after stroke
Project coordinator for a program developed in conjunction with the Victorian Stroke Clinical Network and funded by the Department of Health Victoria to support subacute services provide information to clients on sexuality after stroke.
2010 – current: The Rainbow Tick
Coordinator of a project undertaken by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and the Quality Improvement Council (QICSA) and funded by the Department of Health Victoria to develop national standards to accredit the extent to which health and human service organisations are GLBTI inclusive.
2010 – current: How2 create a GLBTI inclusive service
Developed an annual program for Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria to coach organisations through the process of developing GLBTI inclusive practice. The Program includes working with change champions in participating organisations to audit practices, implement and evaluate improvements. In 2011 the program was facilitated in rural Victoria in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health.
2012: GLBTI inclusive intake and assessment for HACC services
Coordinator of a project in collaboration with the Municipal Association of Victoria to develop, implement and evaluate a resource and training program for intake and assessment workers in HACC services in Victoria. Project funded by the Department of Health Victoria.
2011: Happy birthday! The social construction of sexuality and ageing
Coordinator of a project exploring the social construction of sexuality and ageing through the analysis of representations of older people’s sexuality in humorous birthday cards; in conjunction with sociology intern from Swinburne University.
2010: Well Proud Women
Recipient of a grant from the Australian Lesbian Medical Association to work with Breast Screen Victoria to enhance their capacity to be inclusive of lesbian, bisexual and trans women.
2008: Well Proud
Coordinated a project conducted by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and funded by the Department of Health that resulted in the development of guidelines for GLBTI inclusive health and human services in Victoria.
2010 – 2011: Real people, core business
Evaluator for the program Living safer sexual lives: respectful relationships for people with intellectual disability. Adapted an Empowerment Evaluation/creative arts approach to evaluate a program developing and implementing a peer led primary prevention of violence program for people with intellectual disabilities.
2010: White Ribbon Foundation workshops for school principals
Assisted in the evaluation of workshops to support school principals addressing the primary prevention of violence against women in Australia