Young people experience high levels of substance use disorders, risky sex with consequent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), blood-borne viruses (BBVs), unintentional injuries and interpersonal violence.

Burnet has a strong track record of using innovative methods to understand the key issues affecting young people and implement programs to reduce risk events.

Research and Public Health Focus

• ICT spreading health message to young people
• Leading the way using SMS for sexual health promotion
• Smart phone apps and alcohol

Current Projects

• Attitudes to drug use among East African migrants in Melbourne’s western suburbs
  This project aims to explore alcohol and drug use among marginalised young African migrants.
• Evaluation of the Multicultural Drug and Alcohol Service
  Formative and outcome evaluations of a new alcohol and drug service for South Sudanese youth, their families and communities.
• Exploring alcohol and other drug use among migrant communities in Victoria
  A qualitative study supported by the Wyndham City Council.
• Improving Hepatitis B Virus screening in general practice in Victoria
  Knowledge, attitudes and practices of HBV screening by GPs in Victoria, and an intervention to improve screening among priority populations.
• New media and technology in health promotion practice
  Investigating new media/technology interventions in health promotion practice in Australia.
• Pornography and Young People
  Exploring trends in pornography use among young people in the Australian context.
• Sex, Drugs, and Rock'n'Roll (Big Day Out Study)
  A landmark study since 2005 of young people's risk behaviours including sex, drug use and alcohol.
• Social Networks and the Hepatitis C Virus
  The Networks study aims to produce a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of IDU networks to see if they can be altered to reduce HCV entry and spread.
• SRH survey of Chinese-speaking international students
  A survey of international students' sexual behaviors, knowledge of STIs, sexual education and pornography.
• TRYP: Transitions and Risk in Young People project
  Investigating the influence of peer groups on behaviour in the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Past Projects

• Children and teenagers' exposure to risk online and methods to reduce harm
  Understanding experiences of parenting children in the age of online technology and pornography.
• A study to improve the health and rights of Myanmar men who have sex with men
  This research evaluated the effectiveness of ‘Link Up’ services, in men who have sex with men.
• Adolescent reproductive health in Myanmar
  Adolescent reproductive health in Myanmar
• Alcohol advertising on social media
  Exploring young people’s opinions to inform future advertising policies and health promotion.
• Altered States: An evaluation of VAC drug and alcohol services
  An evaluation of drug and alcohol services at the Victorian AIDS Council targeting GLBTI individuals.
• Assessing adolescent friendly health services in Nepal
  Young people in Nepal have poor access to quality, non-discriminatory health services.
• Compass: Women's and Children's Health Knowledge Hub
  To increase the effectiveness of aid for women’s and children’s health in Asia and the Pacific
• Defining sexual transmission of hepatitis C among gay men
  Defining risk and mechanisms of transmission for acute HCV infection within high-risk populations.
• e-TEST: Enhancing STI/HIV testing in high-risk gay men
  eTEST is an intervention and surveillance system that aims to increase STI/HIV testing.
• Fitspiration and Social Media
  “Fitspiration” promotes exercise and health, but emerging research shows this can impact body image.
• Friendly HIV services for young key populations in Bandung, Indonesia
  A pilot project to increase testing and decrease new HIV infections in Bandung.
• HIV services for young key populations in the Philippines
  The Philippines is considering changing laws that require adolescents to seek parental consent for HIV testing. This project will explore options and contribute to better understanding of how new laws might result in improved practices.
• HIV testing among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar
  Examining factors associated with HIV testing uptake among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar.
• Ma Ma Oo - Maternal and Child Health Radio Series Myanmar
  Establishing a health radio program for effective community messaging regarding maternal and child health.
• Menstrual hygiene management in Indonesia
  Understanding the impact that menstrual hygiene practices can have on females in developing countries.
• MIDY: The Mobile Intervention for Drinking in Young People (pilot)
  Testing a mobile phone-based intervention delivered during drinking events in young people.
• Opportunities to improve the health of behaviourally bisexual men in Vientiane, Laos
  Men with bisexual behaviour in Laos engage in high-risk behaviours with low access to sexual health care.
• POINTED Study
  POINTED will investigate some of the factors and correlates associated with alcohol-related violence in licensed venues and night0time entertainment precincts across five Australian cities.
• Review of clinical and health promotion services for sex workers within Western Australia
  A review of programs, including sexual health promotion programs and clinical services, aimed at the prevention and control of HIV, STIs and blood borne viruses among sex workers in WA.
• SEXT ME UR (.)(.) An investigation of the prevalence and practice of sexting among young Australians
  ‘Sexting’ is the sending of sexual content via phone or online. This project will examine how common sexting is among young Australians.
• SMS for Health: An acceptability trial of SMS to deliver adolescent sexual and reproductive health and anti-smoking messages to young people in Indonesia
  The trial is investigating whether communication technologies can be used to improve sexual and reproductive health knowledge and awareness, access and utilisation of services, and improve awareness of harms related to smoking, in Indonesia.
• Social networking sites for sexual health promotion: a review
  Identifying strategies for the use of social networking websites in sexual health promotion.
• Strengthening Monastic School Education in Myanmar
  Building capacity and improving quality of the monastic school system via community involvement.
• Substance use and related harms among young people in the Solomon Islands
  Quantitative and qualitative research into youth substance use in the Solomon Islands.
• TAP: Treatment and Prevention Hep C study
  Does treating people who inject drugs for their hep C reduce transmission and prevalence?
• The Last Taboo: Menstrual hygiene interventions in the Pacific
  Research in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to understand the challenges around menstruation.
• WASH: Interventions for monastic schools in Myanmar
  Evaluating the impact of a water, sanitation and hygiene program across three states of Myanmar.