SocioHealthLab

SocioHealthLab is a research collective that pursues social transformation in health and healthcare through applied socio-cultural research. We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers with a shared interest in applied sociology, and the use of social theory to think differently about the world around us. We work to identify and destabilise taken-for-granted assumptions, both in our applied health research contexts, and in how the lab operates.

The SocioHealthLab is known for thinking differently about health projects, drawing from, qualitative, post-qualitative, Indigenous and creative/arts-based research methods, and is a resource for health scientists interested in using social theory to deepen their work. Our work explores (and changes) the social, cultural, emotional and micro/macro-political aspects of health and healthcare.

Our Purpose

Why are we here?

1. To Connect

To bring people together from different disciplines, health professions, career stages and countries to share ideas and an interest in applying sociological thinking to health(care) research. To connect with, and draw from, the expertise of communities and health service users as partners in our research.

2. To Stretch

To consider ‘how things can be otherwise,’ to reveal the social layers in health/healthcare, to collaboratively learn how to do health and healthcare differently.

3. To Challenge

To build awareness of the social aspects of healthcare, to develop different, better and more just ways of doing health, care and healthcare.

4. To Energise

To help us enjoy (and bring life, growth, visibility and credibility) the work that we do, often in non-traditional areas of teaching, research and practice.

*These four reasons were developed collectively during the lab’s first meeting.

Our Vision

To work in partnership – with clinicians, community, interdisciplinary researchers of all career stages, theory, artists / creative industries – to transform healthcare for the better (for patients, communities and clinicians): more socially aware, more relational, more inclusive and more just.

Key research activities

Our research spans multiple domains of health and healthcare but is united by its sociological and critical theory underpinnings – particularly post-modern, new-materialist and emotions theories and philosophies.

Example areas of research include mental health, cancer care, and musculoskeletal conditions. We also research approaches to health/healthcare, including reflexive examination of allied health practice (e.g., professionalisation, professional ethics, colonisation) and investigation of non-traditional approaches to improving connectedness and belonging in society (e.g., community development).

Our research also takes seriously engagement with the people who are part of our research (i.e., ‘patients’ or service users, communities and industry). Through participatory and collaborative processes, we work closely with individuals and organisations outside of the academy.

Recent Works

Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation Special Video Series: Doing Healthcare Research Differently Part 1 & Part 2

Program evaluation on the characteristics of specialist psychosocial mental health support programs for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds in Queensland Final Report

Video: Using play-based and child-lead creative methods - to showcase young children's verbal, bodily, and multi-sensory encounters with death and dying

Recently completed research Higher Degree Candidates

Candidate

Degree

Supervisor/s

Project Title/Description

Dr Tim Barlott

PhD

Dr Lynda Shevellar

Dr Jenny Setchell

Dr Merrill Turpin

Cartographies of freely-given relationships in mental health

Dr Sari MangruPhD

A/Prof Rebecca Olson

Dr Jenny Setchell

Dr Fernanda Claudio

The medicalisation of neurodiversity.

Ms Melissa Torres

Hons

Dr Jenny Setchell

Dr Tim Barlott

Mainstream technology use by people with intellectual disability: using critical social theory to question digital inclusion

Ms Paige MacKenzie

Hons

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Jenny Setchell

Using a transactional perspective to better understand people with intellectual disabilities’ information and communication technology use and connectedness

Ms Theresa Da Silva

Hons

Dr Jenny Setchell

Cultural assumptions and unexamined implications of key questionnaires used in low back pain assessment and management

Ms Emma Catchpole

Ms Rebecca Kranz

Hons

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Tammy Aplin

Tools for connectedness or exclusion: The use of mainstream technology by people with intellectual disabilities

Ms Kirsty Jackson

Ms Jannah Rulfs

Hons

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Alison Nelson

Ms Renée Brown

Supporting reflective practice in health professional students on placement in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Research Projects

Project title

Funding

Investigators

Contact

The Edge of the Forest: Postqualitative Entanglements with Mental Health AllyshipRoutledge

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Jenny Setchell

t.barlott@ualberta.ca

Enhancing the human aspects of living with low back pain – moving beyond the limitations of the ‘biopsychosocial’ model

NHMRC

Arthritis Australia

 

Dr Jenny Setchell

A/Prof Rebecca Olson

Prof Paul Hodges

Ms Nathalia Costa

Ms Karime Mescouto

 

j.setchell@uq.edu.au

Exploring hetero- and cis-normativity in physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy Research Fund

Dr Megan Ross

Dr Jenny Setchell

A/Prof John Hammond

 

m.ross@uq.edu.au

Investigating the possibilities of ‘trauma informed care’ in inpatient physiotherapy

St Vincent’s Hospital (Vic)

Dr Sophie Heywood

Dr Jenny Setchell

j.setchell@uq.edu.au

Enhancing the human dimensions of living with muscular dystrophy.

AMS Phoenix  

Bloorview Research Institute

AHSC AFP Innovation Fund 

(International project in Canada through Prof Gibson’s CDARs lab

Prof Barbara Gibson

Dr Jenny Setchell

Dr Thomas Abrams

Dr Patty Thille

Dr Laura McAdams

 

j.setchell@uq.edu.au

Exploring the micropolitics of professional ethics

UQ Summer Scholarship Program

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Cathy McBryde

t.barlott@ualberta.ca

Critical analysis of ICT use by people with intellectual/learning disability

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Jenny Setchell

Dr Tammy Aplin

t.barlott@ualberta.ca

Supporting reflective practice in health professional students on placement in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health context using digital technology

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Dr Tim Barlott

Dr Alison Nelson

Ms Renée Brown

t.barlott@ualberta.ca

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of international university students

School of Social Science

Dr Lynda Shevellar

Ms Christian Seja

Ms Phillipa Johnson

Ms Adrienne McGhee

l.shevellar@uq.edu.au

Talking about death: A study into palliative care communicationThe Mater Hospital

A/Prof Rebecca Olson

Prof Janet Hardy

A/Prof Phillip Good
r.olson@uq.edu.au
Feel like quitting: Exploring the socio-emotional dimensions of lung cancer screeningSchool of Social Science, Prince Charles Hospital & NHMRC

A/Prof Rebecca Olson

Dr Henry Marshall
r.olson@uq.edu.au
Talking MedCan: Qualitative sub-study to an RCT into medicinal cannabinoids in palliative careNHMRC & The Mater Hospital

A/Prof Rebecca Olson

Prof Janet Hardy

A/Prof Phillip Good
r.olson@uq.edu.au
A sociological study of emotional and cultural aspects of interprofessional practiceThe University of Queensland

A/Prof Rebecca Olson

r.olson@uq.edu.au

Critical Theory Reading Group – meets 2-3 times per year via zoom (email sociohealthlab@uq.edu.au to join)

Visit to Health home hope - a photographic exhibition on housing and health

Email: sociohealthlab@uq.edu.au

Follow us on Twitter: @SocioHealthLab