04/09/2026
Happy World Sexual Health Day! This year's theme is Every Body, something UC Lecturer in Public Health, Dr Zelalem Mengesha, from the University's Health Research Institute (HRI) sees as very relevant to his new research project.
Dr Mengesha received a three-year Australian Research Council (ARC) grant late last year to advance sexual and reproductive equity for men from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, the project officially launching last week.
“The sexual and reproductive health needs and experiences of men from multicultural backgrounds remain largely absent from Australian research, services and public conversations,” he says, noting when they are included, there is a very narrow, disease-focused scope.
Dr Mengesha wants to go beyond that, to understand the experiences of migrant men when it comes to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Through his networks with refugee and migrant communities and services, and using a photovoice research methodology – which sees participants using photography and written narratives – he aims to break through language and cultural barriers, as well as speak to those providing sexual and reproductive healthcare to CALD men.
He will translate the results into a digital exhibition, which he hopes will “spark a conversation about sexual and reproductive health and provide an engaging platform to amplify CALD men's voices, raise awareness of key issues, stimulate dialogue among communities and service providers, and support improvements in policy and practice”.
“We need to think creatively about how existing services can become more inclusive. We also need to support health care providers to initiate conversations about sexual and reproductive health when men seek care for other health concerns,” he said.
“For example, our previous research found that some men from CALD backgrounds who were experiencing mental health challenges were also facing sexual health concerns, which often remained unrecognised and unaddressed.”
🩺 For sexual health and reproductive care on campus, students can access free support through the UC Medical and Counselling team who can be reached via 6201 2351.
