Associate Professor Renae Kirkham

Principal Research Fellow, Lead Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership

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 Kirkham is a leader in public health with expertise in Implementation Science research and qualitative research methodologies. As Lead of the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse: Northern Australian Partnership, Renae plays a key role in supporting a large program of research that aims to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to break the cycle of type 2 diabetes and related conditions. 

Since joining the Partnership in 2015, she has been successful in securing over $9 million in research funding. She has extensive experience in models of care research, particularly that focusing on increasing appropriateness and accessibility of health services to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Renae currently supervises three PhD students (two as primary) and two masters research project students. She has supervised multiple HDR students to completion (one PhD; five masters).

  1. MEDIA RELEASE | Experiences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with type 2 diabetes

    MEDIA RELEASE | Experiences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with type 2 diabetes

    Date

    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).

  2. ABC Radio National | Caring for Indigenous youth with type 2 diabetes

    ABC Radio National | Caring for Indigenous youth with type 2 diabetes

    Date

    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.

  3. Mix 104.9 | Diabetes Symposium in Darwin

    Mix 104.9 | Diabetes Symposium in Darwin

    Date

    This is the seventh annual gathering of diabetes researchers, health workers and stakeholders to discuss a ‘lifecourse approach’ to preventing and managing diabetes.

  4. NT News | Diabetes given centre stage

    NT News | Diabetes given centre stage

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research will host diabetes experts and health professional from across Northern Australia.

  5. Media Alert | Health experts in Darwin to discuss diabetes in pregnancy

    Media Alert | Health experts in Darwin to discuss diabetes in pregnancy

    Date

    Menzies - Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership – Annual Educational Symposium on Friday, 27 September.

  6. Medi Alert | Youth Summit for health in Darwin

    Medi Alert | Youth Summit for health in Darwin

    Date

    Coordinated by Menzies, the Youth Health Summit aims to identify current priorities for youth health and research in the Northern Territory.

  7. Metformin appears safe in treating hyperglycemia during pregnancy

    Metformin appears safe in treating hyperglycemia during pregnancy

    Date

    Among indigenous and nonindigenous women in Australia, the use of metformin in treating hyperglycemic conditions during pregnancy, does not lead to serious adverse events.

  8. Diabetes researcher wins 2017 Harry Christian Giese—Research into Action Award

    Diabetes researcher wins 2017 Harry Christian Giese—Research into Action Award

    Date

    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...

  9. New research may help break the cycle of intergenerational diabetes

    New research may help break the cycle of intergenerational diabetes

    Date

    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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  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.
  8. Stuart-Butler, D. & Kirkham, R. (2010). The Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care Story. Aboriginal & Islander Health Worker Journal 34(6): 9-11.