Our Team
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR EMMA GEORGE
Director, Centre for Male Health
Emma George is the Director of the Centre for Male Health and an Associate Professor in Health and Physical Education at Western Sydney University. Emma's research aims to promote lifelong physical activity, reduce chronic disease risk, and improve physical and mental health outcomes, with a particular focus on men’s health and wellbeing. She works closely with community and industry partners to co-design, implement, and evaluate impactful, evidence-based community health initiatives.
Click Here to view Emma's full profile.
DR JUSTIN GUAGLIANO
Acting Director, Centre for Male Health
Dr Justin Guagliano is the Acting Director of the Centre for Male Health and a Lecturer in Health Promotion at Western Sydney University. Justin is primarily interested in conducting research that promotes health and prevents obesity and chronic diseases in young people through community and family-based interventions. He is also interested in reducing health disparities among underserved populations, examining the motivational underpinnings for physical activity behaviour, and behavioural epidemiology – to understand the patterns and determinants of physical activity behaviour in young people.
Click here to view Justin's full profile.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR NEIL HALL
Researcher, Centre for Male Health
Neil Hall is an Associate Professor in Social Work at WSU, specialising his teaching in group work and his research in male health. He worked as a social work practitioner in street work, adolescent health, drug and alcohol, sport development, and as a sessional group work specialist in prisons and juvenile justice centres. He has a long history as a lead academic with the Centre for Male Health. In 2010, he completed his PhD on sport, civic engagement and young males, and continues to collaborate with community partners to research the social determinants of men's and boy's health and wellbeing (particularly through engagement in sport, art and music), and the situational approach to suicide prevention.
Click Here to view Neil's full profile.
NICHOLAS WEST
Project Officer, Centre for Male Health
Nicholas is a Project Officer with the Centre for Male Health and a current Master’s student at Western Sydney University. Nicholas graduated from Western Sydney University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Physical Education). Nicholas has over 5 years’ experience in the youth and community sports coaching sector, with a focus on performance, engagement and health promotion.
DR RAKIME ELMIR
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery
Dr Rakime Elmir is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. One of Rakime’s research interests is the impact of birth on fathers transition to parenthood. Rakime is particularly interested in the socio-cultural influences impacting on fathers engagement as a parenting partners in the perinatal period. Rakime is the founder and chair of the newly established ‘Western Sydney Fatherhood Research Consortium’. Rakime has led a number of qualitative research projects as CI, presented work both as an invited speaker and presenter at international, national and local conferences and secured both strategic and competitive funding. Rakime’s research is broadcasted in print media and radio. She was invited as an expert to give evidence on the impact of birth trauma on fathers at a parliamentary Inquiry.
DR BENJAMIN JOSEPH
Lecturer of Social Work, School of Social Sciences
Dr Benjamin Joseph is a Lecturer and Academic Program Advisor for the Bachelor of Social Work with Western Sydney University. His practice background is in community mental health, group work with men and boys, and social research & project development with the community development arm of the Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club, called Panthers on the Prowl. His research and writing is focused on the complexities of relationships, along with the positive, pro-social strengths that emerge between men and boys when they participate in mentoring programs, particularly in group settings. Ben is the founder of several award-winning social work focused podcasts – Social Work Stories; Social Work Discoveries; and Making Visible – which tell the anonymous, yet awe-inspiring, stories of social workers and other allied health practitioners, and the work they’re doing to make a difference in some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities of Australia.
PROFESSOR JOHN MACDONALD
John is an Emeritus Professor and Foundation Chair in Primary Health Care at the Western Sydney University. Professor John Macdonald was born in Scotland. John has 10 years experience in Zambia in Primary Health Care and education. He has also been a Visiting Professor of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Palestine, since 1994.
DR ANTHONY BROWN
Anthony is an adjunct fellow at the Centre for Male Health. He has particular research interests in the positive contributions that men and boys make to their communities (especially through volunteering); and in the needs, concerns and contributions of older men.
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Interested in collaborating with the Centre for Male Health? Contact us on the email below:
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Ali Sardyga
Senior Media Officer, Western Sydney University
0429 936 347