ARCHE | The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity
The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity (ARCHE) focuses on complex systems, regulatory governance, and health equity. We seek to understand the dynamic systems of institutions, actors and ideas that shape multisectoral public policy, market practices and products, and the actions of civil groups. Our research spans the political, commercial, environmental, social and cultural determinants of health inequities.
The aim of our work is to provide evidence related to these complex systems, which through proactive engagement with key change markers across society, will help contribute to a fairer, more sustainable and healthier society within Australia, across the Asia Pacific region and globally.
Governance for health equity is necessarily interdisciplinary and requires the use of multiple methods. We are researchers from public health, political science, sociology, systems science, psychology and economics. We use a plurality of methods including evidence synthesis, complex systems modelling, political and social science qualitative techniques, and policy analysis. Given the international and interdisciplinary nature of our research, we believe that collaboration is imperative between researchers, government officials, industry, and non-government organisations. Using extensive national and international academic and policy-related networks, we employ a cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-border approach in our work.
Our People
The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity (ARCHE) brings together interdisciplinary researchers, policy makers and civil society groups.
Researchers
- Prof Sharon Friel – Centre Director
- Dr Ashley Schram – Deputy Director
- Dr Belinda Townsend – Deputy Director
- Dr Yandisa Ngqangashe
- Dr Dori Patay
- Dr Melanie Pescud
PhD Scholars
- Nicholas Coatsworth
- Tony Keissler
- Janice Lee
- Sora Lee
- Libby Salmon
- Tim Vines
Affiliate Researchers and Visiting Fellows
- Honorary Prof Fran Baum, RegNet
- Honorary A/Prof Judith Healy, RegNet
- Dr Liz Bluff, Research Fellow, RegNet
Please see the People tab for more information on our researchers.
Advisory Board
The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity (ARCHE) Advisory Board represents the diversity of health equity stakeholders including government, researchers and NGOs. It provides strategic advice on the Centre’s research directions and approaches to knowledge dissemination, and facilitates engagement with key policymakers and change agents. The current Advisory Board (2020-2021) is:
- Mr Terry Slevin, CEO, Public Health Association of Australia
- Dr Tessa Boyd Caine, CEO Health Justice Australia
- Ms Jacqueline Phillips, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Australian Council of Social Services
- Dr Sandro Demaio, CEO, VicHealth
- Prof Emily Lancsar, Research School of Population Health, ANU
- Prof Sharon Bessell, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
- Prof Mark Howden, Climate Change Institute, ANU
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Video and audio podcasts
MCHG 2021 webinar series - power and the people’s health
Week 1: Power and the people’s health: a health equity power analysis of Multi-sectoral policy
Week 2: The politics of regulating baby food in global context
Week 3: Theory of action underpinning people’s power: the case of the People’s Health Movement
Week 4: Bureaucratic power: city planning minus the politics
Systems of inequity – what hope for health post Covid-19
Video 1: Governing for health equity with Professor Sharon Friel
Video 2: Politics, policy and people - shifting the policy agenda with Dr Belinda Townsend
Video 3: Flaws in the machine: COVID-19 and failings of global trade and investment systems with Dr Ashley Schram
Video 4: Embracing complexity - thinking and working in systems with Dr Melanie Pescud
Video 5: Framing the impacts of COVID-19: Securing food regulatory policies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases with Dr Yandisa Ngqangashe
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

People
The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity (ARCHE) brings together RegNet researchers, policy makers and civil society groups.

Research projects
The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity (ARCHE) research projects.

Publications
Publications from ARCHE academics and PhD scholars

News & events
The Australian Research Centre for Health Equity (ARCHE) news, including event listings and podcasts.

Contact us
Our contact details and location.