La Trobe University > Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society > ARCSHS Events > ARCSHS 30th Birthday

ARCSHS 30th Birthday

ARCSHS Acting Director Adam Bourne stands at a lectern on a stage in a function room, in front of a slide reading 'ARCSHS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS', next to a banner with 'Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society' in front of an audience of people

In 2023, ARCSHS celebrated 30 years since the establishment of the Centre.

Formally launched in 1993, ARCSHS (then known as the Centre for the Study of Sexually Transmissible Diseases) was funded by a grant from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth). The Centre became known as the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society in 1998, as a reflection of the rapid expansion of the focus of research being undertaken.

ARCSHS celebrated this landmark birthday with an event held at the Arts Centre Melbourne, MC’d by Emeritus Professor Anne Mitchell, with guest speaker Benjamin Law. The event featured messages from all four of the Centre’s previous directors, as well as messages from dignitaries and partner organisations.

A big thank you from ARCSHS to all those who sent in videos to wish us well as we reached this milestone.

Watch the full video messages from supporters and partner organisations:

Speakers:

  1. Professor John Dewar AO
  2. The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG
  3. The Hon. Harriet Shing - Minister for Equality
  4. Emeritus Scientia Professor Peter Aggleton - Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW
  5. Brent Clifton - Deputy Director, NAPWHA
  6. Tracey Hutt - CEO, Family Planning Alliance Australia
  7. Jayde De Bondt - Co-Chair, LGBTIQ Ministerial Taskforce
  8. Ro Allen - Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner
  9. Emeritus Professor Gary Dowsett
  10. Professor Martin Holt - Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW
  11. Son Vivienne - CEO, Transgender Victoria
  12. Ian Seal - Executive Director & Founder, Many Coloured Sky
  13. Nick Parkhill - CEO, ACON
  14. Nicky Bath - CEO, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
  15. Darryl O'Donnell - CEO, Health Equity Matters
  16. Simon Ruth - CEO, Thorne Harbour Health
  17. Joe Ball - CEO, Switchboard Victoria
  18. Richard Keane - CEO, Living Positive Victoria
  19. Anna Brown OAM - CEO, Equality Australia

Watch the video messages from ARCSHS previous directors:

Speakers:

  1. Emeritus Professor Doreen Rosenthal
  2. Emeritus Professor Marian Pitts
  3. Professor Jayne Lucke
  4. Professor Suzanne Fraser

Highlights from our 30th birthday celebrations: