Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences for Health Network (HASH)

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences for Health (HASH) is a transdisciplinary research network seeking insight into individuals’ experiences of health and wellbeing – as embodied, and as part of broader social systems.

The HASH Network embeds a human-centred focus and recognises that health is more than simply the absence of illness. HASH promotes critical engagement with questions about the interactions between health and wellbeing, society, institutions, technologies, and nature. 

The network explores how different kinds of evidence and modes of inquiry frame health and wellbeing experience, and how evidence can be used to promote positive change for individuals, society, and environments.

Themes

The following themes reflect areas of expertise across the network. Members may work in several of these areas.

Mental health futures

Focuses on addressing pressing questions on the contemporary contexts and futures of mental health.

Human-environmental health and wellbeing

Takes a relational approach that recognises human health as inseparable from environmental health.

Arts & creative practice for health & wellbeing

Engages arts, creative and embodied practices and methodologies to create and promote innovative responses to local and global 21st century health challenges.

Design and digital media technologies for human wellbeing

Embraces multidisciplinary and creative practice-based approaches to forge new ground in design research as applied to disability, mental and physical health.

Research impact and societal engagement (RISE)

Examines transdisciplinary approaches to community engagement and societal impact of research.

Network leads

Prof Renata Kokanović
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Dr Emma-Louise Seal
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Dr Rebecca Olive
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies


Theme leads

Mental health futures

Prof Renata Kokanović
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Professor Grace McQuilten
School of Art

Human-environmental health and wellbeing

Dr Rebecca Olive
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Professor Cecily Maller
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Dr Benjamin Cooke
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Arts & creative practice for health & wellbeing

Dr Tamara Borovica
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies

Dr Fleur Summers
School of Art

Dr Kelley Hussey-Smith
School of Art

Design and digital media technologies for human wellbeing

A/Prof Jonathan Duckworth
School of Design

Stephanie Andrews
School of Design

Research impact and societal engagement (RISE)

Professor Lisa Given
Enabling Impact Platform Director, Social Change

Dr Sarah Polkinghorne
Research Fellow, Social Change


Membership and contacting the HASH Network

HASH provides a place for people studying health and wellbeing to share ideas, present their work, and discuss research methods, theories, modes of engagement, and knowledge translation towards impact. To join, email renata.kokanovic@rmit.edu.au or emma-louise.seal@rmit.edu.au.

Enabling Impact Platform (EIP) sponsorship

people crossing the road with a network pattern overlayed

HASH is supported by the following Enabling Impact Platforms:

Social Change Focuses on transformative research in the areas of digital society, quality of life, global mobility and research practice for social change.
Design and Creative Practice Applying an inventive, exploratory approach to real-world problems through interdisciplinary research, within and beyond design and creative practice.

Explore RMIT Enabling Impact Platforms

EIPs enable economic, environmental, societal, health and cultural impact with government, business and the community through research and innovation.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.