Healthy people, families & communities: our research centres
Our researchers build clinical capability and policy expertise to enhance individual and community wellbeing, reduce disease, and create equitable health solutions for all.
Our research centres
The Centre for Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation and Recovery aims to transform the health and wellbeing of people with aphasia and their families through research that leads to enhanced, cost-effective and sustainable interdisciplinary aphasia rehabilitation and community services.
We are a national research centre based at La Trobe led by Professor Miranda Rose, with Chief Investigators based at numerous universities and institutes Australia-wide.
The $2.5 million centre is funded by the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Through research, consultancy and educational activities the Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing advances knowledge and promotes quality improvement and consumer driven evidence-based practice in all areas of:
- primary health
- community health
- aged care.
The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society conducts world-class research and education on the social dimensions of sexuality, gender, health and human relationships. We work collaboratively with other researchers, communities, community-based organisations, government and professionals to advance knowledge and promote positive change in policy, practice and people’s lives.
The Centre seeks to make a substantive contribution to answering today’s pressing questions on sexual and gender equity and inclusion, and the changing social dynamics of sex, drug use, health and wellbeing.
The Centre for Alcohol Policy Research is a world-class academic unit at the forefront of alcohol research. Alcohol use results in a range of health and social harms. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises alcohol as a causal factor in more than 60 major types of disease and injury, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, cancer, road traffic accidents, violence and foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. In Australia, alcohol misuse is a leading preventable cause of death, illness and injury.
Our research aims to build and disseminate the evidence needed for effective public health-oriented alcohol policies.
To achieve this aim, we focus our attention on six streams of research:
- Measurement and monitoring: examining trends and patterns in consumption trends, purchasing and harm, as well as contexts of consumption and predictors of harmful drinking.
- Intersections of drinking cultures: health outcomes, social determinants of health and policy contexts.
- Alcohol-related harm: harm from others’ drinking, family violence, child abuse and neglect.
- Alcohol, media and emerging technologies: alcohol exposure in social media and artificial intelligence.
- Priority populations: reducing harms from alcohol and drug use for populations which face systemic inequities.
- Alcohol policies and social responses: taxation, trade agreements, liquor outlets and policy changes.
The Centre for Health Communication and Participation aims to improve the health of consumers by supporting their participation in health care through effective communication with health care providers. We have an applied focus, with three principal roles:
- Coordinating the production and publication of evidence on interventions to communicate with people about health
- Generating innovative research on communication issues that have been neglected, such as multimorbidity
- Getting evidence into practice and policy and making the results of our research accessible to healthcare professionals, consumers and patients.
The Centre for Sport and Social Impact strives to change the future of sport management practices and policy and their impact on society through real world research and engagement with industry and government.
The Centre draws from the disciplines of organisational behaviour, management, marketing, economics, law, sociology and public policy to investigate issues that impact on the efficacy of sport organisations operating in the corporate, public and non-profit sectors of the economy and their impact on society.
Gabra Biik, Wurruwila Wutja (Clever Country, Clever People) builds academic Indigenous knowledge and research capacity within La Trobe by facilitating Indigenous community research partnerships and providing a culturally safe space for Indigenous researchers.
The John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research is dedicated to the development and implementation of a program of research that makes a difference to the wellbeing of a diverse range of older people living in rural communities.
The Centre is involved in four key research areas:
- Ageing in place
- Health and aged care
- Workforce and informal care
- Technology
The Judith Lumley Centre is a multidisciplinary health research centre. We are part of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe. Our research addresses major public health issues for women, children and families. We aim to conduct outstanding interdisciplinary applied research to improve the health and wellbeing of women, children and families.
We lead research in the following areas:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family health
- breastfeeding
- child, family and community health
- mother and infant health and maternity services
- reproductive health and planned parenthood
- preventing and reducing violence against women and children
- transition to contemporary parenthood - preparation and support
- work and family
La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre’s purpose is to lead, conduct and
disseminate world-class research to optimise an individual’s chosen level of participation and performance in sport, exercise, physical activity, work, leisure, family and social life.
Our research and impact activities target all people, from the recreational to elite athlete, people of all abilities and ages, in health and disease.
We are a world-leading collaborative centre for sport and exercise medicine research. Our research impacts on policy, clinical practice, activity participation, and health and well-being both here in Australia and internationally.
Our mission is to:
- Conduct world-class research in sport and exercise medicine
- Disseminate sport and exercise medicine research
- Foster sport and exercise medicine research training at La Trobe
- Translate sport and exercise medicine research into policy
- Develop an international profile through collaboration and exchange
The mission of the Living with Disability Research Centre is to improve the social inclusion and participation of people with cognitive disability. We improve evidence to facilitate the development of practices, programs and policies in order to enable participation of people with cognitive disability and promote their social inclusion.
Our vision is to:
- be recognised as a national and international centre of excellence for research about the social inclusion and participation of people with cognitive disability and its translation to policy, practice, advocacy and social programs
- continue to be the focal point for researchers in the area of social inclusion and participation of people with cognitive disability
- be the recognised source of expertise in the translation of research about living with disability into policy and practice outcomes
The mission of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre is to advance knowledge of autism and to study and develop evidence-based strategies for supporting affected individuals and families. Our objectives are to:
- facilitate large and/or ongoing research projects
- facilitate collaboration with other research centres both nationally and internationally
- foster and support a National Research Network
- conduct campaigns to improve the public profile of autism research, thereby attracting additional research funds via grants and donations
- provide opportunities for student and early career research and mentoring programs
- foster knowledge transfer to families and practitioners within the field.
The Bouverie Centre is focused on the delivery of family therapy and the investigation of best practice in this field. We combine clinical family therapy, model development, academic teaching, qualitative and quantitative research, workforce development and community education in one integrated service.
The Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research undertakes world-class studies aimed at narrowing the gulf between metropolitan health outcomes and those in regional, rural and remote areas.
For almost every health indicator, the disparities between metropolitan and rural health are striking. Rates of chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer are higher in rural communities, so too are mental health issues and rate of suicides. Our researchers partner with rural communities to address these challenges, build an evidence-base, prioritise initiatives and translate findings into practice.
Projects occur across the lifespan and address the challenges facing a range of community groups including those with mental illness, disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, refugees and those who are homeless.
Additional research centres
The following research centres are also committed to conducting important work in this research theme:
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research
- Centre for Technology Infusion
- Cisco Centre for AI and Internet of Things
- Centre for Human Security and Social Change
- Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology
- Research Centre for Data Analytics and Cognition
- Research Centre for Extracellular Vesicles
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes
- Holsworth Research Initiative