Associate Professor
Associate Professor Emma Kirby
PhD (Sociology) University of Newcastle (Australia) 2009; BSc - Hons (Human Geography) Loughborough University (UK) 2003
Arts,Design & Architecture
Centre for Social Research in Health
Emma is a UNSW Scientia Associate Professor, and former Australian Research Council DECRA in the Centre for Social Research in Health, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. She is interested in the sociology of health, illness, and care, and her research draws on a range of case studies to provide a critical sociological analysis of advanced illness and end of life care, mapping its character and significance. Her program of research comprises a series of projects focused on relationships in/and health care, health care practice, diversity and social justice.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Selected research funding:
- Kirby, E., Newman, C., Churchull, B., Smith, L., Strnadova, I. (2022-2025) When caring ends: Understanding and supporting informal care transitions. Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP220100209] $480,315
- Broom, A., Wakefield, C., Kirby E., Khasraw, M., Kenny, E., Prainsack, B. (2019-2021) Precision and the Person: A sociological study of therapeutic innovation in cancer care. Australian Research Council Discovery Grant [DP190100745] $470,650
- Broom, A., Kirby, E., Davis, M., Dodds, S., Broom, J., & Post, J. (2017-2019) Navigating an uncertain antimicrobial future: a sociological study. Australian Research Council Linkage Grant [LP170100300] $318,473 [ARC contribution]
- Broom, A., Kirby, E., Kokanovic, R., Adams, J., Lwin, Z., Wyld, D., Koh, ES., de Souza, P., & Woodland, L. (2016-18) Cultural Biographies, Medical Knowledges: A sociological study. Australian Research Council Linkage Grant [LP160100100] $210,000 [ARC contribution]
- Kirby, E. (2015-2017) Who cares? A sociological study of informal care at the end of life. Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award [DE150100285] $372,000
- Broom, A., Kirby, E., Yates, P., Seale, C., & Olliffe, J. (2015-2017) The changing landscapes of survivorship: A sociological study. Australian Research Council Discovery Project [DP150100414] $359,700
- Broom, A., Kirby, E., Adams, J., Broom, J., & Looke, D. (2014-2017) Unintended consequences? A sociological study of how social relations influence decisions about antibiotics. Australian Research Council Linkage Grant [LP140100020] $172,117.
- Broom, A., Kirby, E. (2016) A sociological study of the unregulated antibiotic market and non-prescribed antibiotic use in India. UNSW School of Social Science Project Grant: $7,052.80
- Broom, A., Adams, J., Yates, P., Kirby, E. (2012-2015) Pathways to and through palliative care: A sociological study of patient, carer and clinician experiences at end-of-life. Australian Research Council Linkage Grant [LP 120200268] $164,830 ($591,411 total cash and in-kind)
- Lwin, Z., Broom, A., Wyld, D., Kirby, E., Cubitt, A. (2014-2015) Understanding and improving social support amongst women with cancer: A qualitative study. RBWH Foundation: The Weekend to End Women’s Cancer’s Diamond Care Grants, $100,000
- Lwin, Z., Broom, A., Good, P., Kirby, E., Geary, A. (2014) Understanding and Improving the communication experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse patients who are diagnosed with cancer: A qualitative study. RBWH Foundation Research Initiative Grant, $60,000
- Broom, A., Good, P., Lwin, Z., Kirby, E., Adams, J. (2013) Referral to specialist palliative care: Understanding and improving the experiences of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) patients and their families. Mater Medical Research Institute, Theme 2, Program 9 Fund, $15,000
- Broom, A., Broom., J., Kirby, E., Sowden, D. (2013) Cultures of prescribing: a socio-behavioural analysis of factors that underpin antimicrobial prescribing at Nambour Hospital. Queensland Health: Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service, $12,519
2018: UNSW Faculty of Arts & Social Science Dean's Award for Scholarly Impact [with Alex Broom, Katherine Kenny, Sophie Lewis, Stefanie Plage]
2014: University of Queensland Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Early Career Reseacher Award
Member: Editorial Board, Health Sociology Review (2015-present); Editorial Board, BMJ Open (2020-); Editorial Board, Palliative Care and Social Practice; Associate Editor, BMC Palliative Care
National Co-Convenor: Health Thematic Group, The Australian Sociological Association (2014-2016)
Co-Convenor: The Australian Sociological Association Conference, 2011, hosted by the University of Newcastle, NSW
Member: The Australian Sociological Association, 2005-present
My Research Supervision
Nathan MacArthur: PhD candidate, UNSW; Living after death: an exploration of the experiences of bereaved adults
Junel Padigos; PhD candidate, University of Queensland; Nursing experiences of antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship in the intensive care unit
Recent completions:
Kristen Overton: PhD candidate, UNSW; A sociological study of antimicrobial use and resistance in India
Stefanie Plage: PhD. UNSW; Cancer through the eyes of survivors - a photo-elicitation study of people living with cancer
My Teaching
SRAP2002: Policy Analysis