Rigorous research, informed decisions and better health for diverse communities
We are a research group at the University of Sydney School of Public Health. Our mission is to give all people the opportunity to have the best health outcomes for themselves and their families. This means building health literacy skills and capacities in the population and ensuring the healthcare environment is sensitive to the needs of the whole community. Our goal is to support empowered patients and consumers to make better health decisions and achieve better health outcomes for all.
Rigorous research, informed decisions and better health for diverse communities
We are a research group at the University of Sydney School of Public Health. Our mission is to give all people the opportunity to have the best health outcomes for themselves and their families. This means building health literacy skills and capacities in the population and ensuring the healthcare environment is sensitive to the needs of the whole community. Our goal is to support empowered patients and consumers to make better health decisions and achieve better health outcomes for all.
Our research seeks to
Understand the diverse needs of the community.
Develop and test new knowledge or solutions to address those needs.
Implement these effectively in the community and health system.
Our research seeks to
Understand the diverse needs of the community.
Develop and test new knowledge or solutions to address those needs.
Implement these effectively in the community and health system.
We believe in collaboration
The Sydney Health Literacy Lab is located within the University of Sydney School of Public Health and the Westmead Health Literacy Hub. This ensures our work is conducted to the highest academic standards yet is firmly embedded within the community at Western Sydney – engaged with a network of clinical practices and community groups. The Lab is also a founding partner of Wiser Healthcare, an Australian research collaboration investigating overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Additional collaborative partnerships exist with the Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases and other international researchers. We work in the areas of cancer, primary care, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, endocrinology, women’s health, and maternal health.
News & Events
How to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment and get the health care you need – Kristen Pickles (17 March 2022)
Read the ABC News item about how medical 'maximisers' can end up overdiagnosed, overtreated and out of pocket, and the related 2021 JAMA Network Open paper.
New research shows the need to improve COVID responses for culturally diverse communities – Samuel Cornell (9 December 2021)
Read the Croakey Health Media article documenting examples of inequities at a very local level, for the culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) of Greater Western Sydney.
News & Events
How to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment and get the health care you need – Kristen Pickles (17 March 2022)
Read the ABC News item about how medical 'maximisers' can end up overdiagnosed, overtreated and out of pocket, and the related 2021 JAMA Network Open paper.