La Trobe University > Research > Research centres and institutes > Healthy people, families & communities > Centre for Alcohol Policy Research > About us

About us

The Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) is a world-class academic unit at the forefront of alcohol research. Our discoveries are used to promote and inform the development of evidence-based, effective alcohol policy in Australia and internationally.

Our aim

We aim to conduct world-leading alcohol research, in order to build and disseminate the evidence needed for effective public health oriented alcohol policies. To achieve our aim, we conduct research in four broad areas. Please find information on our research here.

Our role in policy

We serve as a vital resource on the evidence-base about alcohol for the public health community, social and government agencies, the media, and society. We pursue this objective in a number of ways, such as:

  • publishing original research findings, scholarly reviews and commentaries
  • responding to requests concerning evidence from government, public health and media organisations
  • advising public health-oriented alcohol policy agencies and coalitions on the relevant research on emergent alcohol policy issues
  • working with the public health agencies (such as the World Health Organization) and research groups, both in Australia and abroad, to develop an international base of knowledge concerning drinking patterns, alcohol-related harms, and effective alcohol policies
  • pursuing and producing reports on agreed upon alcohol policy-relevant research topics for FARE and other non-government funders
  • disseminating CAPR’s research, situating our findings in the context of the field’s knowledge base, presenting at community, governmental and professional meetings, and through participating in public seminars and events
  • regularly sending representatives to serve on the Alcohol Policy Coalition (APC), a coalition of five Victorian public health agencies working on matters concerning alcohol policy.
  • contributing to the development of a workforce of scholars competent in policy-relevant alcohol research in Australia and internationally; achieving this through such means as postgraduate training, postdoctoral placements, internships and scholarly visits and exchanges

CAPR Advisory Committee

Guided by La Trobe University’s Research Centre Strategic Framework, a volunteer advisory board of stakeholders oversees our activities and gives independent guidance and support to help us meet our aims. We are grateful to the members for their time and dedication.

Advisory Committee members:

External experts

  • Professor Rob Moodie, Deputy Head of School and Professor in Public Health, School of Population and Global Health (MSPGH), University of Melbourne (Chair)
  • Professor Alison Ritter, Director, Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP) at the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at the University of New South Wales
  • Chris Christoforou, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA)

La Trobe University

  • Professor Monica Thielking, Dean and Head of School, Psychology and Public Health
  • Professor Richard Gray, University Human Ethics Committee; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Industry Engagement Office
  • Margo Powell, Chief Advancement Officer, Office of Alumni and Advancement
  • Professor Adam Bourne, Director, Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS)

CAPR

  • Professor Emmanuel Kuntsche, Director
  • Distinguished Professor Robin Room, Founding Director
  • Dr Amy Pennay, Deputy Director, Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellow and head of the Intersections of Drinking Cultures, Health and Policy research stream
  • Professor Kylie Lee, Professor of Public Health and head of the Priority Populations research stream

CAPR Annual Report