The DECRA scheme provides focused research support for early career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions. 

Alfred Deakin Professor Fethi Mansouri, Director of ADI, said:

“This is a wonderful achievement for Joe and Renae and reflects their much-deserved recognition of their truly impactful work in core academic areas for ADI and Deakin and of immediate relevance to our society.” 

ADI’S SUCCESS PROJECTS ARE: 

Dr Joe Latham will investigate how practitioners and LGBTIQ+ patients engaged in long term psychological support experience telehealth and navigate continuity of care ($393,488)

About the Project

This project aims to investigate how practitioners and LGBTIQ+ patients engaged in long term psychological support experience telehealth and navigate continuity of care in their experience of this support. This project expects to generate new knowledge to support the provision of best practice in telehealth support for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. 

This project will enhance understanding of how practitioners and patients navigate continuity of care and psychological support via telehealth and practice-ready resources for medical providers. This should provide significant benefits such as expanded accessibility, improved service delivery, usability and effectiveness in mental healthcare in Australia. 

About Dr Joe Latham 

Dr J. R. Latham is a social scientist and feminist theorist with expertise in health and medicine, transgender and sexuality studies, and literary studies. His work combines critical concepts of ‘drugs’, ageing and narrative with bioethics, queer theory, and science and technology studies (STS) with a focus on improving healthcare for marginalised people. Dr Latham is an award-winning writer and has been recipient of the Feminist Theory Essay Prize for best article of the year and the Symonds Prize for excellence at the intersections of psychoanalysis and cultural theories of gender and sexuality.   

Dr Renae Fomiatti will investigate the advertising, regulation and use of cosmeceuticals ($444,662) 

About the Project 

Cosmeceuticals are a new category of product at the intersection of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals taken to prevent and treat the physical signs of ageing. This project aims to investigate the advertising, regulation and use of cosmeceuticals, drawing on an innovative theoretical approach and qualitative methods. 

This project expects to generate new knowledge on the relationship between cosmeceuticals and contemporary experiences of health, ageing and gender. Expected outcomes include recommendations to improve healthcare and regulation and public outputs to help consumers navigate anti-ageing imperatives. This should provide significant benefit by reducing consumer harms and the associated social, health and economic consequences. 

About Dr Renae Fomiatti 

Dr Renae Fomiatti is an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sociology, in the School of Humanities and Social Science at Deakin University. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, in the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University. She conducts qualitative research on the social, cultural, political and gendered dimensions of alcohol and other drug use, treatment, health and recovery. Her research is informed by contemporary feminist theory, feminist science studies and science and technology studies. She previously held appointments in the Drugs, Gender and Sexuality (DruGS) Program at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, and at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University. 

The full list of 2023 Discovery Early Career Researcher Award recipients and their project summaries are available on the ARC website.