Dr Stephanie Munari
PhD candidate; Senior Research Officer

Background
Steph is a PhD candidate at the Burnet Institute and University of Melbourne. Her PhD is looking at how chlamydia management can be strengthened in primary care to reduce the risk of reproductive complications and disease transmission. Steph is also a public health physician through the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, and has particular interests in communicable disease epidemiology, disease prevention and the social determinants of health.
Qualifications
- 2023: Fellow, Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- 2019: Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University
- 2018: Emergency Medicine Certificate, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
- 2014: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Deakin University
- 2010: Bachelor of Biomedicine, University of Melbourne
Awards
- 2025: Pauline Speedy Biomedical Research Travel Fellowship
- 2023: Burnet Institute Domestic Travel Award
- Rural Australian Medical Undergraduate Scholarship (RAMUS)
Positions
- 2022 – present: PhD candidate
- 2020 – present: Senior Research Officer
- 2018: Senior Resident Medical Officer, Central Australia Health Services
- 2015 - 2017: Hospital Medical Officer, Alfred Health
Reports + Policy Briefs
2021 (8)
- The Optimise Study:- Impacts of the COVID-19 response on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Heath K, Altermatt A, Menon V, Munari S, Merner B, Hill S, Shearer F, Gibbs L, Coelho A, Fletcher-Lartey S, Stoové M, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. December, 2021.
- COVID-19 testing and vaccination. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S, Merner B, Hill S, Stoové M, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. October, 2021.
- The Optimise Study: Vaccination knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Kwong E, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S. Merner B, Hill S, Stoové M, Griffiths D, Collie A, Lim M, Eddy S, Meagher N, McDougall C, Marinkovic Chavez K, Carpenter L, Fletcher-Lartey S, Price D, Gibbs L, Shearer F, Power R, Cheong M, Caddy C, Pedrana A, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. August, 2021.
- The Optimise Study: Impact of government restrictions on risk mitigation strategies. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Kwong E, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S. Merner B, Hill S, Power R, Cheong M, Caddy C, Griffiths D, Collie A, Stoové M, Pedrana A, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. July, 2021.
- The Optimise Study: The impact of COVID-19 on income and finances. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Kwong E, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S. Merner B, Hill S, Griffiths D, Collie A, Stoové M, Pedrana A, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. June, 2021.
- The Optimise Study: Gendered differences in coping and responding to COVID-19. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Kwong E, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S. Merner B, Hill S, Stoové M, Pedrana A, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. May, 2021.
- The Optimise Study: Social networks and mixing patterns. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S, Merner B, Hill S, Lusher D, Radhitio Sadewo G, Wang P, Pedrana A, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. April, 2021.
- The Optimise Study: Vaccine preparedness. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT) Saich F, Heath K, Altermatt A, Merner B, Hill S, Pedrana A, Munari S, Horyniak D, Walker S, Wallace J, Block K, Gibbs L, Gibney K, Hellard M. The Optimise Study. March, 2021.
Reports and other work
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General Practice engagement: STI, HIV and viral hepatitis care
Early detection and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and hepatitis B and C are vital to minimise the harm they cause.
General Practice engagement: STI, HIV and viral hepatitis care -
The Optimise Study: COVID-19 worry and perceptions about infection and potential severity. (PUBLiC HEALTH REPORT)
This report evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants’ lives: their main concerns, risk perception, and confidence in the State and Federal Governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report focusses on trends over the past six months (between September 2021 and February 2022).
The Optimise Study: COVID-19 worry and perceptions about infection and potential severity. (PUBLiC HEALTH REPORT) -
The Optimise Study: Social networks and mixing patterns
This report focuses on: Average overall contacts between October 2020 and March 2021, Average contacts per setting, over time, The impact of contacts on mood and the influence of people's social network on attitudes toward vaccination.
The Optimise Study: Social networks and mixing patterns
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The Optimise Study: The impact of COVID19 on income and finances. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)
The Optimise Study is a partnership between Burnet Institute and Doherty Institute in collaboration with University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology, Monash University, La Trobe University, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health, and the Health Issues Centre.
The Optimise Study: The impact of COVID19 on income and finances. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)
Burnet publications
View 8 moreYoung people’s preferences and motivations for STI partner notification: observational findings from the 2024 Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll survey
Sexual Health
Stephanie Munari
Streamlining documentation in patient electronic medical records: An example of chlamydia consultation shortcuts
Australian Journal of General Practice
Jane L. Goller et al
Priority populations’ experiences of isolation, quarantine and distancing for COVID-19: protocol for a longitudinal cohort study (Optimise Study)
BMJ Open
Alisa Pedrana et al