Background

Professor Power retired (Dec 2019) from his key leadership roles at Burnet but will continue in a consultancy capacity across several research and public health projects for the Institute in 2020.

Professor Robert Power is a social scientist who has worked in the field of HIV prevention and social behavioural research since 1985, with several posts within Medical Schools in the University of London. His main focus has been on community-level public health interventions and research into social determinants of health amongst marginalised populations.

He was the technical director on major Australian Aid and USAID bilaterals in Indonesia, as well as Program Director for Australian Aid’s Tibet Health program. He completed seven years a technical director of UKAID’s main regional HIV prevention program in Central Asia.

Robert has consulted in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Balkans, South-East Asia and China. He was instrumental in developing rapid assessment methodologies, completing such studies in Croatia and Egypt, the Czech Republic and Vietnam. Other areas of his work include: the broad empirical and theoretical aspects of harm reduction; monitoring and evaluation; ethnography and innovative participatory research methods.

Appointments

• 2005: Professorial Fellow, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• 2007: Adjunct Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
• 1995-2005: Reader in Social & Health Sciences Research, Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Research, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College, London, United Kingdom
• 1988-1995: Senior Research Fellow & Honorary Senior Lecturer, The Centre for Research on Drugs & Health Behaviour, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom
• 1985-1988: Research Fellow, Drug Indicators Project, Department of Politics & Sociology, Birkbeck College, University of London, United Kingdom

Positions

• 2020: Consultant on key projects, Burnet Institute
• 2017: Head of International Operations, Burnet Institute
• 2013-17: Head of Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
• 2008: Principal for Harm Reduction, Senior Principal Fellow, Burnet Institute, Victoria, Australia
• 2005-2008: Director of the Centre for Harm Reduction, Burnet Institute, Australia

Qualifications

• 1982: PhD, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
• 1982: Post Graduate Certificate in Education, University of London, United Kingdom
• 1978: BSc (Econ) London School of Economics, United Kingdom

Awards

• 2008: Shortlisted: Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, Victoria, Australia
• 2007: Commended: International Healthcare Project of the Year; Technical Director of DfID’s Central Asia Regional HIV/AIDS Program. Awarded by British Department of Health, United Kingdom
• 1998: Ministry of Health Medal: Egypt
• 1992: Society for the Study of Addiction: Travel Fellowship USA (University of Chicago; University of California; University of Denver) USA

Projects (9)

Current (3)

• 

  Fleming Fund Country Grant – Papua New Guinea

• 

  Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• 

  SCOOP: Strengthening COVID-19 Communication in Pregnancy

Publications (69)

2023 (1)

• "Tell us what's going on": Exploring the information needs of pregnant and post-partum women in Australia during the pandemic with 'Tweets', 'Threads', and women's views.
  Caddy C, Cheong M, Lim MSC, Power R, Vogel JP, Bradfield Z, Coghlan B, Homer CSE, Wilson AN
  PLoS One. 2023 Jan; 18(1):e0279990

2021 (4)

• TIGER C19 - Timely integration of user-generated responses about C19. (PUBLIC HEALTH REORT)
  Power R, Cheong M
  Know-C19. 2021 Oct
• The Optimise Study: Information access and communication about COVID-19. (PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT)
  Saich F, Kwong E, Heath K, Altermatt A, Munari S, Merner B, Hill S, Stoové M, Wilson A, Caddy C, Lim M, Vogel J, Power R, Coghlan B, Cheong M, Bradfield Z, Homer C, Pedrana A, Gibney K, Hellard M
  Optimise Study. 2021 Sep; Report 10:1-13
• 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
  Optimise Study. 2021 Aug; Report 9:1-15
• 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
  Optimise Study. 2021 Jul; Report 8:1-12

2018 (1)

• Methamphetamine-type stimulant use in Lao PDR: qualitative findings from users aged 15-25 years in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane Province.
  Sychareun V, Santavasy B, Chanlivong N, Fischer A, Thomson N, Power R, Durham J
  Harm Reduct J. 2018 Apr; 15(1):17

2017 (1)

• "We Might Get Some Free Beers": Experience and Motivation for Transactional Sex Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in Vientiane, Laos.
  Bowring AL, Pasomsouk N, Hughes C, van Gemert C, Higgs P, Sychareun V, Hellard M, Power R
  Arch Sex Behav. 2017 May; 46(4):1047-1059

2016 (1)

• Public injecting and public amenity in an inner-city suburb of Melbourne, Australia.
  Dwyer R, Power R, Denham G, Dietze P
  J Subst Use. 2016 Feb; 21(2):162-169

2015 (2)

• Factors Influencing Access to Sexual Health Care Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in Vientiane, Laos: A Qualitative Exploration.
  Bowring AL, Pasomsouk N, Higgs P, Sychareun V, Hellard M, Power R
  Asia Pac J Public Health. 2015 Nov; 27(8):820-834
• A response for substance and harm reduction in Pacific Island countries and territories.
  Power R, Schmich L, Nosa V
  Harm Reduct J. 2015 Oct; 12(1):48

2013 (1)

• The quality of health research for young Indigenous Australians: systematic review.
  Azzopardi PS, Kennedy EC, Patton GC, Power R, Roseby RD, Sawyer SM, Brown AD
  Med J Aust. 2013 Feb; 199(1):57-63

2012 (2)

• Injecting drug use and related health behaviours in a small case series of East African migrants in Melbourne.
  Horyniak D, Higgs P, Degenhardt L, Cogger S, Power R, Dietze P
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2012 Dec; 36(6):586-587
• "The Young Ones are the Condom Generation": Condom Use amongst Out-of-School Adolescents in Rural Southwest Uganda.
  Nobelius AM, Kalina B, Pool R, Whitworth J, Chesters J, Power R
  J Sex Res. 2012 Feb; 49:88-102

2011 (2)

• Drug and Alcohol Use in Fiji: A Review
  Paumaul ES, Roberts G, Schmich L, Power R
  Pacific Health Dialog. 2011 Mar; 17(1):165-171
• Sexual partner types and related sexual health risk among out-of-school adolescents in rural south-west Uganda.
  Nobelius AM, Kalina B, Pool R, Whitworth J, Chesters J, Power R
  AIDS Care. 2011 Feb; 23(2):252-259

2010 (4)

• The Regai Dzive Shiri project: results of a randomized trial of an HIV prevention intervention for youth.
  Frances M Cowan, Sophie J S Pascoe, Lisa F Langhaug, Webster Mavhu, Samson Chidiya, Shabbar Jaffar, Michael T Mbizvo, Judith M Stephenson, Anne M Johnson, Robert M Power, Godfrey Woelk, Richard J Hayes
  AIDS. 2010 Oct; 24(16):2541-2552
• "You still need to give her a token of appreciation": the meaning of the exchange of money in the sexual relationships of out-of-school adolescents in rural southwest Uganda.
  Nobelius AM, Kalina B, Pool R, Whitworth J, Chesters J, Power R
  J Sex Res. 2010 Sep; 47(5):490-503
• Delaying sexual debut amongst out-of-school youth in rural southwest Uganda.
  Nobelius AM, Kalina B, Pool R, Whitworth J, Chesters J, Power R
  Cult Health Sex. 2010 Aug; 12(6):663-676
• Sexual and reproductive health information sources preferred by out-of-school adolescents in rural southwest Uganda
  Nobelius AM, Kalina B, Pool R, Whitworth J, Chesters J, Power R
  Sex Education. 2010 Jan; 10(1):91-107

2009 (3)

• Heroin-gel capsule cocktails and groin injecting practices among ethnic Vietnamese in Melbourne, Australia.
  Higgs P, Dwyer R, Duong D, Thach ML, Hellard M, Power R, Maher L
  Int J Drug Policy. 2009 Jul; 20(4):340-346
• Is handedness associated with health outcomes for people who inject illicit drugs?
  Aitken C, Dwyer R, Spelman T, Power R
  Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. 2009 May; 16(5):471-477
• Prevalences and correlates of non-viral injecting-related injuries and diseases in a convenience sample of Australian injecting drug users.
  Dwyer R, Topp L, Maher L, Power R, Hellard M, Walsh N, Jauncey M, Conroy A, Lewis J, Aitken C
  Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009 Feb; 100(1-2):9-16

2008 (8)

• Risky sexual behaviour in context: qualitative results from an investigation into risk factors for seroconversion among gay men who test for HIV.
  Elam G, Macdonald N, Hickson FCI, Imrie J, Power R, McGarrigle CA, Fenton KA, Gilbart VL, Ward H, Evans BG
  Sex Transm Infect. 2008 Nov; 84(6):473-477
• Gender, culture and harm: an exploratory study of female heroin users of Vietnamese ethnicity.
  Higgs P, Owada K, Hellard M, Power R, Maher L
  Cult Health Sex. 2008 Oct; 10(7):681-696
• The Regai Dzive Shiri Project: a cluster randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of a multi-component community-based HIV prevention intervention for rural youth in Zimbabwe--study design and baseline results.
  Frances M Cowan, Sophie J S Pascoe, Lisa F Langhaug, Jeffrey Dirawo, Samson Chidiya, Shabbar Jaffar, Michael Mbizvo, Judith M Stephenson, Anne M Johnson, Robert M Power, Godfrey Woelk, Richard J Hayes
  Trop Med Int Health. 2008 Oct; 13(10):1235-1244
• What is 'sex' exactly? Using cognitive interviewing to improve the validity of sexual behaviour reporting among young people in rural Zimbabwe.
  Mavhu W, Langhaug L, Manyonga B, Power R, Cowan F
  Cult Health Sex. 2008 Aug; 10(6):563-572
• A very low response rate in an on-line survey of medical practitioners.
  Aitken C, Power R, Dwyer R
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2008 Jun; 32(3):288-289
• Managing information: using systematic data collection to estimate process and impact indicators related to harm reduction services in Myanmar.
  Baldwin S, Boisen N, Power R
  Int J Drug Policy. 2008 Apr; 19 Suppl 1:S74-S79
• Harm reduction ethics: Acknowledging the values and beliefs behind our actions.
  Fry CL, Khoshnood K, Power R, Sharma M
  Int J Drug Policy. 2008 Feb; 19(1):1-3
• Challenges in providing drug user treatment services in Russia: providers' views.
  Bobrova N, Rughnikov U, Neifeld E, Rhodes T, Alcorn R, Kirichenko S, Power R
  Subst Use Misuse. 2008 Jan; 43(12-13):1770-1784

2007 (2)

• Injection drug users' perceptions of drug treatment services and attitudes toward substitution therapy: a qualitative study in three Russian cities.
  Bobrova N, Alcorn R, Rhodes T, Rughnikov I, Neifeld E, Power R
  J Subst Abuse Treat. 2007 Dec; 33(4):373-378
• "But there are no snakes in the wood": risk mapping as an outcome measure in evaluating complex interventions.
  Power R, Cowan F, Langhaug L
  Sex Transm Infect. 2007 Jun; 83(3):232-236

2006 (4)

• HIV/AIDS harm reduction in Iran.
  Razzaghi E, Nassirimanesh B, Afshar P, Ohiri K, Claeson M, Power R
  Lancet. 2006 Aug; 368(9534):434-435
• Illicit drug use and responses in six Pacific Island countries.
  Devaney ML, Reid G, Baldwin S, Crofts N, Power R
  Drug Alcohol Rev. 2006 Jul; 25(4):387-390
• Barriers to accessing drug treatment in Russia: a qualitative study among injecting drug users in two cities.
  Natalia Bobrova, Tim Rhodes, Robert Power, Ron Alcorn, Elena Neifeld, Nikolai Krasiukov, Natalia Latyshevskaia, Svetlana Maksimova
  Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006 Apr; 82 Suppl 1:S57-S63
• A formative evaluation of the potential role of nurse practitioners in a central London HIV outpatient clinic.
  C Griffiths, K Miles, N Penny, B George, J Stephenson, R Power, P Twist, G Brough, S G Edwards
  AIDS Care. 2006 Jan; 18(1):22-26

2005 (1)

• Injecting drug users' experiences of targeted harm reduction in the Russian Federation.
  Robert Power, Natalya Nozhkina, Igor Kanarsky
  Drug Alcohol Rev. 2005 Jan; 24(1):69-77

2004 (1)

• Developing complex interventions for rigorous evaluation--a case study from rural Zimbabwe.
  R Power, L F Langhaug, T Nyamurera, D Wilson, M T Bassett, F M Cowan
  Health Educ Res. 2004 Oct; 19(5):570-575

2003 (3)

• An agenda for future research on HIV and sexual behaviour among African migrant communities in the UK.
  M Kesby, K Fenton, P Boyle, R Power
  Soc Sci Med. 2003 Nov; 57(9):1573-1592
• Social support, substance use, and denial in relationship to antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV-infected persons.
  Rachel Power, Cheryl Koopman, Jonathan Volk, Dennis M Israelski, Louisa Stone, Margaret A Chesney, David Spiegel
  AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2003 May; 17(5):245-252
• Improving young people's access to reproductive health care in rural Zimbabwe.
  L F Langhaug, F M Cowan, T Nyamurera, R Power
  AIDS Care. 2003 Apr; 15(2):147-157

2002 (2)

• School based HIV prevention in Zimbabwe: feasibility and acceptability of evaluation trials using biological outcomes.
  Frances M Cowan, Lisa F Langhaug, George P Mashungupa, Tellington Nyamurera, John Hargrove, Shabbar Jaffar, Rosanna W Peeling, David W G Brown, Robert Power, Anne M Johnson, Judith M Stephenson, Mary T Bassett, Richard J Hayes
  AIDS. 2002 Aug; 16(12):1673-1678
• The value of process evaluation in sustaining HIV harm reduction in the Russian Federation.
  Robert Power, Natalya Nozhkina
  AIDS. 2002 Jan; 16(2):303-304

2001 (3)

• Mapping as a method for analysing policy response in the management of health services.
  L Luger, J Carrier, R Power
  Health Serv Manage Res. 2001 Nov; 14(4):220-228
• Developing a strategy for community-based health promotion targeting homeless populations.
  R Power, G Hunter
  Health Educ Res. 2001 Oct; 16(5):593-602
• Checklists for improving rigour in qualitative research. Never mind the tail (checklist), check out the dog (research).
  R Power
  BMJ. 2001 Sep; 323(7311):514-515

2000 (2)

• An evaluation of peer-led STD/HIV prevention work in a public sex environment.
  R French, R Power, S Mitchell
  AIDS Care. 2000 Apr; 12(2):225-234
• The empirical and methodological comparative value of the rapid assessment of drug use patterns.
  Power, R.
  Int J Drug Policy. 2000 Mar; 11(1-2):181-191

1999 (1)

• Health, health promotion, and homelessness.
  R Power, R French, J Connelly, S George, D Hawes, T Hinton, H Klee, D Robinson, J Senior, P Timms, D Warner
  BMJ. 1999 Feb; 318(7183):590-592

1998 (3)

• The role of qualitative research in HIV/AIDS.
  R Power
  AIDS. 1998 May; 12(7):687-695
• The drug-use situation in the Czech Republic.
  M Tyrlik, T Zuda, P Bem, R Power
  Bull Narc. 1998 Jan; 48(1-2):89-98
• Rapid assessment of the drug-injecting situation at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
  R Power
  Bull Narc. 1998 Jan; 48(1-2):35-52

1997 (1)

• Why do homosexual men continue to practise unsafe sex? A critical review of a qualitative research paper.
  K A Fenton, R Power
  Genitourin Med. 1997 Oct; 73(5):404-409

1996 (1)

• "Just using old works": injecting risk behaviour in prison.
  P J Turnbull, R Power, G V Stimson
  Drug Alcohol Rev. 1996 Sep; 15(3):251-260

1994 (3)

• Potential development of community oriented HIV outreach among drug injectors in the UK.
  G V Stimson, G Eaton, T Rhodes, R Power
  Addiction. 1994 Dec; 89(12):1601-1611
• The sharing of injecting paraphernalia among illicit drug users.
  R Power, G M Hunter, S G Jones, M C Donoghoe
  AIDS. 1994 Oct; 8(10):1509-1511
• Assessing HIV prevention among injecting drug users in European Community countries: a review.
  G Rezza, M C Rota, E Buning, D Hausser, P O'Hare, R Power
  Soz Praventivmed. 1994 Jan; 39 Suppl 1:S61-S78

1993 (2)

• Treatment and services for drug users in Britain.
  C Franey, R Power, B Wells
  J Subst Abuse Treat. 1993 Nov; 10(6):561-567
• Household bleach as disinfectant for use by injecting drug users.
  M C Donoghoe, R Power
  Lancet. 1993 Jun; 341(8861):1658

1992 (4)

• The role of significant life events in discriminating help-seeking among illicit drug users.
  R Power, R Hartnoll, C Chalmers
  Int J Addict. 1992 Sep; 27(9):1019-1034
• Assessing AIDS prevention for injecting drug users; some methodological considerations.
  G V Stimson, R Power
  Br J Addict. 1992 Mar; 87(3):455-465
• Help-seeking among illicit drug users: some differences between a treatment and nontreatment sample.
  R Power, R Hartnoll, C Chalmers
  Int J Addict. 1992 Jan; 27(8):887-904
• A computerized information system for monitoring and evaluating substance misuse services.
  H Olearnik, R Power
  Drug Alcohol Rev. 1992 Jan; 11(3):265-274

1991 (1)

• Towards a process evaluation model for community-based initiatives aimed at preventing the spread of HIV amongst injecting drug users.
  R Power, A Dale, S Jones
  AIDS Care. 1991 Jan; 3(2):123-135

1990 (2)

• Misuse of dihydrocodeine tartrate (DF 118) among opiate addicts.
  H Swadi, B Wells, R Power
  BMJ. 1990 May; 300(6735):1313
• Drug prevention and HIV policy.
  R Power, G V Stimson, J Strang
  AIDS. 1990 Jan; 4 Suppl 1:S263-S267

1989 (1)

• Participant observation and its place in the study of illicit drug abuse.
  R Power
  Br J Addict. 1989 Jan; 84(1):43-52

1988 (1)

• Drug injecting, AIDS, and risk behaviour: potential for change and intervention strategies.
  R Power, R Hartnoll, E Daviaud
  Br J Addict. 1988 Jun; 83(6):649-654

1987 (1)

• Monitoring the demand for treatment by problem drug takers: a case study of a London drug dependency unit.
  E Daviaud, R Hartnoll, R Power, L Griffiths, C Chalmers
  Br J Addict. 1987 Nov; 82(11):1225-1234

News Articles (41)

2023 (1)

• Extension for project tackling antimicrobial resistance in PNG

2022 (8)

• 2022 in Review: January to June
• What have half a million social media posts told us about Australians’ feelings towards COVID-19?
• Australians polarised about 'return to normal' social media analysis shows
• Deaths due to COVID-19 and impacts of long COVID top concerns on social media
• COVID-19 still featuring on social media radar
• Boost for major project to tackle AMR in PNG
• Social media analysis reveals return to work concerns
• Australia Day Honours

2021 (5)

• Social media analysis reveals new insights into antivax movement
• Social media analysis shows support for public health measures
• Australians remain stoic and community focused as lockdowns continue, social media analysis shows
• Australians frustrated with COVID-19 vaccine rollout and communications, social media analysis shows
• Exploring social media for attitudes to COVID

2019 (2)

• Vale Jimmy Dorabjee
• Running to save lives

2018 (1)

• A 20-year success story: Burnet in Tibet (China)

2017 (2)

• Key partnership to improve health for Papua New Guineans
• Burnet welcomes trial of safe injecting facility

2016 (5)

• Myanmar trek drawing near
• Ambassador's new insights
• Evidence is clear in ANCP workshop
• Dr Elissa Kennedy wins Gust-McKenzie Medal
• Burnet hosts Vietnam MoH delegation

2015 (3)

• 2015 in Review: July - December
• Tick for Myanmar Drop-in Centres
• Burnet hosts Myanmar Australia Awards Fellows

2014 (4)

• 2014 In Review: July - December
• Professor Robert Power delivers Fenner Lecture
• Professor Robert Power to deliver the 2014 Fenner Lecture
• AIDS 2014: Conversation Hour at Burnet Institute

2013 (3)

• HIV specialist by day, novelist by night
• Report reveals adverse impact of public injecting in Nth Richmond
• New leadership team for Centre for International Health

2012 (4)

• CAHHF achievements praised
• Suboxone® in Australia: focus of CREIDU Colloquium
• Burnet researcher publishes first novel
• Supervised injecting facilities: Do they work?

2011 (3)

• Substance abuse growing in Pacific Islands
• The Age Letter to the Editor - Safe Injecting Facility
• Reflections on the 22nd International Harm Reduction Conference