Dr Renae Kirkham
Senior research officer
Qualifications:
PhD, University of Adelaide, 2015; Psychology Honours, University of Adelaide, 2008; Bachelor of Arts, University of Adelaide, 2007.
Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:
Principal Supervisor for PhD
Location:
Darwin – Royal Darwin Hospital campus
Biography:
Renae works for the Northern Territory Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership and is involved in evaluating models of care for diabetes in pregnancy across the NT. Prior to this she worked for Menzies Centre for Child Development and Education in an Indigenous Parent-Child research program which she helped deliver in remote communities throughout the Top End and Torres Strait.
Renae is jointly teaching the Qualitative Research Methodology Unit for Menzies’ Masters of Public Health with Marita Hefler.
Renae holds a PhD in Public Health and Rural Health through the University of Adelaide, which explored the roles of specialised Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care (AMIC) workers in the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in Port Augusta, South Australia. Using a qualitative methodology, her research aimed to increase the understanding of the role of the AMIC workers and to explore how they manage the interface between the biomedical model of maternity care and Aboriginal knowledge and beliefs about reproductive health.
Previously, Renae worked for the Centre for Regional Engagement, University of South Australia, introducing secondary students in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands to tertiary education pathways. Renae was also involved with Cultural Awareness Field Trips to the APY Lands and various Aboriginal Youth Programs.
In 2017, Renae received the Harry Christian Giese – Research into Action Award.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Experiences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with type 2 diabetes
A new study by the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse – Northern Australia Partnership (Partnership) highlights the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
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ABC Radio National | Caring for Indigenous youth with type 2 diabetes
In this ABC Radio National Health Report, Emily Alum, from the Katherine region talks about her experience of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She’s joined by Dr Renae Kirkham, Menzies Senior Research Officer and Deputy Lead of the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse Partnership, who shares more about the research in this area.
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Mix 104.9 | Diabetes Symposium in Darwin
This is the seventh annual gathering of diabetes researchers, health workers and stakeholders to discuss a ‘lifecourse approach’ to preventing and managing diabetes.
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NT News | Diabetes given centre stage
Menzies School of Health Research will host diabetes experts and health professional from across Northern Australia.
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Media Alert | Health experts in Darwin to discuss diabetes in pregnancy
Menzies - Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership – Annual Educational Symposium on Friday, 27 September.
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Medi Alert | Youth Summit for health in Darwin
Coordinated by Menzies, the Youth Health Summit aims to identify current priorities for youth health and research in the Northern Territory.
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Metformin appears safe in treating hyperglycemia during pregnancy
Among indigenous and nonindigenous women in Australia, the use of metformin in treating hyperglycemic conditions during pregnancy, does not lead to serious adverse events.
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Diabetes researcher wins 2017 Harry Christian Giese—Research into Action Award
Harry Giese AM MBE (1913–2000) was a Territory community leader and administrator who played a key role in the establishment of the Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) as the first faculty of the new Northern Territory University. During its...
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New research may help break the cycle of intergenerational diabetes
New research, at Menzies within the NT Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership Project led by Associate Professor Louise Maple-Brown will be funded by Diabetes Australia. Researches will investigate the barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers accessing optimal healthcare during pregnancy and may help to address the intergenerational cycle of diabetes.
- Kirkham, R., Boyle, J., Whitbread, C., Dowden, M., Connors, C., Corpus, S., et al. on behalf of the NT Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership (2017). Health services changes to address diabetes in pregnancy in a complex setting: perspectives of health professionals. BMC Health Services, 17(1):524.
- Kirkham, R., Whitbread, C., Connors, C., Moore, E., Boyle, J., Richa, R.et al. on behalf of the NT Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership (2017). Implementation of a Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinical Register in a complex setting: findings from a process evaluation. PLOS ONE, 12(8):e0179487.
- Kirkham, R., Rumbold, A., Hoon, E., Stuart-Butler, D., Moore, V. (2017). Emotional Labour and Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care Workers: the invisible load. Women and Birth.
- Klein, J.*, Boyle, J.*, Kirkham, R., Connors, C., Whitbread, C., Oats, J., et al. on behalf of the NT Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership (2017)(*These authors contributed equally). Preconception Care for Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed-Methods Study of Provider Knowledge and Practice. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 129:105-115.
- Whitbread, C., Kirkham, R., Cheng, E., Thorbjornsen, E., Maple-Brown, L. (2017). Diabetes in Pregnancy in the Northern Territory. Australian Diabetes Educator Vol. 20, 1, 25-28.
- Kirkham, R., Hoon, E., Rumbold, A., Moore, V. (2017). Understanding the role of Australian Aboriginal maternal infant care workers: bringing a cultural dimension to a critique of the ideal worker concept. Community, Work & Family, 31:1-7.
- Thomas, K., Ellis, B., Kirkham, R. & Parry, L. (2014). Remote Indigenous Students: Raising their aspirations and awareness of tertiary pathways. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education 24 (2): 23-36.
- Stuart-Butler, D. & Kirkham, R. (2010). The Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care Story. Aboriginal & Islander Health Worker Journal 34(6): 9-11.