Zoe Aitken – The Conversation

Protesters gather in Sydney during a recent rally supporting transgender young people. Dean Lewins/AAP

March 12, 2025

We tracked the mental health of trans and gender‑diverse Australians for over 20 years. And we’re worried

Karinna Saxby, The University of Melbourne; Dennis Petrie, Monash University; Glenda Bishop, The University of Melbourne; Sara Hutchinson Tovar, Monash University, and Zoe Aitken, The University of Melbourne

The mental health of trans, nonbinary and gender-diverse Australians is suffering and getting worse.

James Ross/AAP

August 1, 2024

We found opposition to the Voice is linked to poorer Indigenous health. And in some regions, the link is striking

Karinna Saxby, The University of Melbourne; Luke Burchill, The University of Melbourne; Yuting Zhang, The University of Melbourne, and Zoe Aitken, The University of Melbourne

Indigenous Australians living in areas with stronger opposition to the Voice have poorer health and are less likely to access health care.

After the victory march: the stigma and stress associated with the ‘no’ vote had a lasting impact. Joe Castro/AAP

August 1, 2024

Stigma around same‑sex marriage affected Australians’ health. Here’s what happened in your electorate

Karinna Saxby, The University of Melbourne; Yuting Zhang, The University of Melbourne, and Zoe Aitken, The University of Melbourne

Our new study is a reminder of how stigma and the stress that comes with it can have long-term consequences for people’s health.

Shutterstock

March 28, 2023

Part‑time work is valuable to people with disability – but full time is more likely to attract government support

Helen Dickinson, UNSW ; Dennis Petrie, Monash University, and Zoe Aitken, The University of Melbourne

Our analysis of part-time work and its impact on wellbeing shows getting more people with disability into employment could save millions in health-care costs.

Even Australia’s relatively short paid parental leave scheme benefits women’s health. But will proposed changes undermine that? from www.shutterstock.com

October 27, 2016

Removal of ‘double dipping’ from parental leave may impact mothers’ health

Belinda Hewitt, The University of Melbourne; Anne Kavanagh, The University of Melbourne; Lyndall Strazdins, Australian National University, and Zoe Aitken, The University of Melbourne

Australian government proposals to ban so-called “double dipping” with paid parental leave (PPL) risks scaling back health benefits for women who take time off to care for their babies.

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