Professor Christy Newman

Christy Newman (they/them) is Professor at the UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health and Associate Dean Engagement and Impact for UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture. 

Christy is a qualitative social researcher of health, sexuality, and gender. They have worked in collaborative partnership with community, clinical and policy organisations for almost 20 years, exploring the social dimensions of bloodborne viruses, sexual and reproductive health, and LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing more broadly. Christy has also had the opportunity to work across the intersecting fields of mental health, Aboriginal health, harm reduction, cancer prevention, disability studies, violence prevention, child and family wellbeing, and gender and sexuality studies.

They have authored >120 peer reviewed publications, received >20 research grants totaling $6 million, and they regularly contribute research-informed perspectives to media, professional and community discussions of diverse genders, sexualities, relationships, and families. Recent media contributions include an SBS Insight episode on multi-gender attraction, a Centre for Ideas digital conversation on gender, faith and family with author/broadcaster Daniel M. Lavery, and podcast interviews on trust in digital health among LGBTQ+ communities and those affected by the stigma associated with HIV and STIs.

Selected past projects include: 

• Waiting to be seen: social perspectives on trans health
• my health, our family: documenting stories of family life in the context of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• Trust in digital health among communities affected by BBVs and STIs in Australia
• Queer generations: belonging and citizenship among gender and sexual minority youth
• Understanding disparities in PrEP access
• StraightMSM study: heterosexually-identified men who have sex with men
• HIV general practice workforce project
• Cultural politics of health magazine reader letters
• Industries, genres and citizenships in dance music magazines