Professor Emma Kirby
PhD (Sociology) University of Newcastle (Australia) 2009; BSc - Hons (Human Geography) Loughborough University (UK) 2003
Emma (she/her) is a Professor of Sociology and leader ofÌýThe Care LabÌýin the School of Social Sciences. She is also the Associate Dean Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement for the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA), and Chairs the faculty's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She has previously held roles as a »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Scientia Fellow and an Australian Research Council DECRAÌýin the Centre for Social Research in Health.ÌýShe is interested in the sociology of health, illness, and care, and her research draws on a range of case studies to provide a critical sociological analysis of advanced illness and end of life care, mapping its character and significance. Her program of research comprises a series of projects focused on relationships in/and health care, health care practice, diversity and social justice.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Selected research funding:
1. Kirby, E., MacArtney, J. (2024-2026)ÌýUnderstanding the implications of pandemic delays for the end of life.
Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant °Ú¶Ù±Ê24010775±ÕÌý$343,081.
2.ÌýKirby, E., Newman, C., Churchull, B., Smith, L., Strnadova, I. (2022-2025) When caring ends: Understanding and supporting informal care transitions.
Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP220100209] $480,315
3. Broom, A., Wakefield, C., Kirby E., Khasraw, M., Kenny, E., Prainsack, B. (2019-2021) Precision and the Person: A sociological study of therapeutic innovation in cancer care. Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant [DP190100745] $470,650
4. Broom, A., Kirby, E., Davis, M., Dodds, S., Broom, J., & Post, J. (2017-2019) Navigating an uncertain antimicrobial future: a sociological study.
Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP170100300] $318,473Ìý
5. Broom, A., Kirby, E., Kokanovic, R., Adams, J., Lwin, Z., Wyld, D., Koh, ES., de Souza, P., & Woodland, L. (2016-18) Cultural Biographies, Medical Knowledges: A sociological study. Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP160100100] $210,000Ìý
6.ÌýKirby, E. (2015-2017) Who cares? A sociological study of informal care at the end of life.
Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award [DE150100285] $372,000
7. Broom, A., Kirby, E., Yates, P., Seale, C., & Olliffe, J. (2015-2017) The changing landscapes of survivorship: A sociological study.
Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant [DP150100414] $359,700.
8. Broom, A., Kirby, E., Adams, J., Broom, J., & Looke, D. (2014-2017) Unintended consequences? A sociological study of how social relations influence decisions about antibiotics.
Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP140100020] $172,117.
9. Broom, A., Adams, J., Yates, P., Kirby, E. (2012-2015) Pathways to and through palliative care: A sociological study of patient, carer and clinician experiences at end-of-life.
Australian Research Council Linkage ProjectÌýGrant [LP 120200268] $164,830.
10.ÌýLwin, Z., Broom, A., Wyld, D., Kirby, E., Cubitt, A. (2014-2015) Understanding and improving social support amongst women with cancer: A qualitative study.
RBWH Foundation: The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers Diamond Care Grants, $100,000.
11. Lwin, Z., Broom, A., Good, P., Kirby, E., Geary, A. (2014) Understanding and Improving the communication experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse patients who are diagnosed with cancer: A qualitative study.
RBWH Foundation Research Initiative Grant, $60,000.
2018: »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Faculty of Arts & Social Science Dean's Award for Scholarly Impact [with Alex Broom, Katherine Kenny, Sophie Lewis, Stefanie Plage]
2014: University of Queensland Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Early Career Reseacher Award
Member: Editorial Board, Health Sociology Review (2015-present); Editorial Board, BMJ OpenÌý(2020-); Editorial Board, Palliative Care and Social Practice; BMC Palliative Care (2021-2024)
National Co-Convenor: Health Thematic Group, The Australian Sociological Association (2014-2016)
Co-Convenor: The Australian Sociological Association Conference, 2011, hosted by the University of Newcastle, NSW
Member: The Australian Sociological Association, 2005-present; The Association for the Study of Death & Society (2019-present)
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My Research Supervision
Kacey Martin,ÌýUnderstanding Maori experiences of eating disorders in Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia: A sociological inquiry into Mauiui Kai across the Maori diaspora.
Felicity Johnson,ÌýExploring trans* persons’ experiences of bereavement following the death of a person from their family.
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Recent completions:
Nathan MacArthur: PhD, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ; Living after death: an exploration of the experiences of bereaved adults
Junel Padigos; PhD, University of Queensland; Nursing experiences of antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship in the intensive care unit
Kristen Overton: PhD, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ; A sociological study of antimicrobial use and resistance in India
Stefanie Plage: PhD, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ; Cancer through the eyes of survivors - a photo-elicitation study of people living with cancer
My Teaching
ARTS3870:ÌýIntimacy and Relationships: Social Perspectives, Critical Questions
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