The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) is a leading research and knowledge translation centre housed in the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University. Founded in 1993, we have expertise in the areas of sex and sexual health, gender and sexuality, family violence, and alcohol and other drug consumption, as well as numerous other aligned topics. We also have extensive experience developing the capability of health and human services to integrate evidence into practice.
Located on the La Trobe University Bundoora campus in Melbourne, ARCSHS is a community of nearly 50 academic, knowledge translation and professional support staff from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. We have a longstanding and successful higher degree research program – with over 20 students – where we support future generations of researchers to build their skills to work in areas relevant to our purpose.
Our purpose is to create and translate knowledge that enables inclusion, equity, health and wellbeing, particularly as they relate to sex, gender, sexuality and relationships. Through our research and knowledge translation work, we support better understandings of, and solutions for, social problems facing communities in Australia and the world today.
ARCSHS is one of four national centres funded to undertake strategic research as part of Australia's national response to HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections. This includes research that directly informs indicators in these strategies, including quality of life of people living with HIV, and sexual health among young people.
We are also an important provider of research-based training, resources and workforce development programs, particularly in the areas of sexuality education, blood-borne viruses, and LGBTI-inclusive practice. Much of our research involves international collaboration, particularly our work on HIV and viral hepatitis.