Health justice
Connecting research, policy and practice to advance health equity.
At UNSW Law & Justice, we are committed to advancing health justice and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can lead a healthy life.
Our work in this area spans research, advocacy and teaching, and is grounded in a strong commitment to social justice, interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement. We focus on the legal, structural and social factors that shape health outcomes, and on reforms that promote equity, dignity and access to care.
Our leadership
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The Kingsford Legal Centre Health Justice Project delivers integrated legal and health services to vulnerable communities through partnerships with Prince of Wales Hospital and the Eastern Suburbs Mental Health Service.
By embedding legal assistance within healthcare settings, the project addresses legal and social determinants of health such as housing insecurity, employment issues and debt, all of which can significantly affect wellbeing.
This initiative also provides students with practical experience working at the intersection of law and health, reinforcing the role of legal advocacy in improving health outcomes.
Read more: The free legal service providing justice in a health crisis
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The Health+Law collaboration brings together legal scholars, public health experts and community advocates to tackle systemic barriers to healthcare access.
A key focus of this work is led by Scientia Associate Professor David Carter, whose research seeks to improve access to justice and quality of life for people living with Hepatitis B or HIV in Australia. By identifying and addressing legal barriers to testing, treatment and support, this work aims to contribute to a more equitable and effective healthcare system.
Learn more: Health+Law
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The Australian Human Rights Institute plays a central role in advancing health justice through a human rights framework.
Its interdisciplinary research explores the intersection of health, law and human rights, with a particular focus on vulnerable and marginalised communities. From advocating for equitable access to healthcare to examining the legal implications of health policy, the Institute contributes to national and international efforts to build fairer and more inclusive health systems.
Learn more: Australian Human Rights Institute
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UNSW criminologists are at the forefront of research into the criminalisation of health-related behaviours, including drug use and mental illness. Dr Phillip Wadds and Dr George (Kev) Dertadian explore how punitive responses to addiction and illness can exacerbate harm, advocating instead for human-rights-based models of care. Their work intersects with public health and legal reform, particularly in areas such as drug testing, harm reduction and policing practices.
This research contributes to national and international debates on decriminalisation and informs policy that prioritises care over punishment, especially for marginalised populations.
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UNSW Law & Justice’s Initiative for Biolegality examines the entanglement of law and biology in the 21st century. We research how this relationship orders our knowledge and regulates, allows or limits what can legally be done – or undone.
Across research and teaching, we explore issues such as patient rights, the criminalisation of illness, and the legal frameworks that shape the quality, safety and equity of healthcare services. This cross-disciplinary approach supports more responsive and just health systems.
Our impact
