Associate ProfessorJulie Mooney-Somers

Julie's research focuses on health equity and the relationships between sex, gender, sexuality and health. Her work spans sexual and reproductive health, alcohol and other drug use, healthcare access, service experiences and health system improvement, with particular expertise in women’s health and LGBTQ+ health. Through qualitative, participatory and community-engaged research, she works in partnership with communities, health services and policymakers to generate evidence that informs practice, policy and more equitable health outcomes. She has contributed to the conceptualisation, measurement and inclusion of sex, gender and sexuality diversity in health research and population health surveillance.

Current research projects

SWASH - in partnership with ACON, Julie leads the world's longest-running periodic survey of lesbian, bisexual and queer women's health and wellbeing.

Lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s sexual wellbeing – ARC funded project led by the Centre for Social Research in Health at UNSW, bringing together researchers and community partners to advance understanding of LBQ+ women’s sexual and reproductive health; Julie is a Chief Investigator.

Optimise+ - an MRFF-funded program building on the strengths of LGBTQ+ community-controlled mental health and AOD services across Australia to enhance service provision. Led by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe it brings together leading researchers and 13 of Australia’s leading LGBTQ+ community-controlled health and wellbeing organisations; Julie is a Chief Investigator.

Interconnect - an MRFF-funded program of work to develop co-designed, integrated, person-centred models of care to improve the physical and mental health of people with innate variations of sex characteristics (intersex variations/differences of sex development). Run by a national consortium of researchers, community groups and clinicians; Julie is a Chief Investigator.

Private Lives –Australia's largest national survey on the health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and asexual adults. Led by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society; Julie is a Chief Investigator on the study.