Sydney Health Literacy Lab

Who we are…

We are a research group within the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health led by Professor Kirsten McCaffery FAHMS. Our mission is to give all people the opportunity to have the best health outcomes for themselves and their families.


What is Health Literacy…

Health Literacy refers to “the personal competencies and organizational structures, resources and commitment which enable people to access, understand, appraise and use information and services in ways which promote and maintain good health” (Nutbeam & Muscat 2023). While different definitions are used and health literacy is an evolving concept, there is agreement that health literacy means more than simply being able to "read pamphlets", "make appointments", "understand food labels" or "comply with prescribed actions" from a doctor (The World Health Organisation).

Within the field of Health Literacy, our research can be divided into six broad themes:

Shared decision making

Low Value Care/Overdiagnosis

Carbon Health Literacy

Equity

Implementation Science and Behavioural Insights

Applied and Translational Health Literacy Research

SHeLL In the News

  • The Health Literacy Editor

    The Sydney Health Literacy Lab has developed an online health literacy editor (SHeLL Editor). The Editor gives you real-time feedback on how easy your texts are to understand – not just the Grade reading score, but it will also point out things like uncommon words, public health jargon (and give you alternatives), passive voice, and use of acronyms.

    The Editor was launched with the Health Literacy Hub. Watch the presentations here.

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Our Services

We offer bespoke health literacy research and consultancy services. This includes health literacy intervention development and testing, organisational health literacy reviews, strategy and advice, and health literacy assessments of health information and materials.

Some of our current projects