UWA Research

Congratulations to all our UWA academics, alumni and former colleagues who have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for their exceptional contributions across many fields including science, medicine, research, education, the Indigenous community, arts, law, public service, environment and philanthropy.

From a gravitational wave physicist to a former State Treasurer, leading diabetes researcher and glaucoma specialist, find the full list of recipients:https://uwa.au/y0q0cn

Thousands of young carers across WA are supporting loved ones every day yet many remain invisible at school.

A new UWA and Carers WA report shows these students face absence, isolation and emotional strain, often without recognition or support. When schools identify young carers and provide structured peer support, the impact is clear with improved confidence, connection and coping.

Researchers are calling for consistent identification, trauma informed approaches and stronger links between schools and support services to ensure no young carer falls through the cracks.

READ: https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/june/many-young-carers-failing-to-get-support-in-school

Associate Professor Paul Maginn, UWA Public Policy Institute, and Professor Gary Mortimer from QUT explore how supermarkets are “going back to the future”.

From small neighbourhood stores to massive suburban supermarkets and now back again to smaller formats, the way we shop is changing fast.

With AI set to plan meals and purchase groceries, the question becomes not just what we buy, but who or what is deciding for us.

The choices we make now will shape the future of food, health and autonomy. via The Conversation Australia + NZ

Supermarkets are going back to the future If AI Agents plan our meals, order and pay for our groceries and robots pick and pack those orders, it's likely fewer of us will venture into a supermarkets.

🎉CONGRATULATIONS to UWA staff and student achievers

🌟 Aasta Abbott, Graduate Certificate in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) award, UWA School of Psychological Sciences
🌟 Lisa Stinson, Australian Society for Microbiology’s Jim Pittard Award UWA School of Molecular Sciences
🌟 David Gozzard, intrapreneur category at the Business News WA 40under40 awards ICRAR
🌟 Kyle Hoath, Small Business/Startup category at Business News WA 40under40 awards
🌟 Elizabeth McLean (graduate), Professional Services category at Business News WA 40under40 awards
🌟 Matthew Oldakowski, Simon Grantham, Alastair Mackenzie, Damien Wragg, Eli Barlow and Samantha Johnson (graduates), Business News 40under40 winners
🌟 Girish Dwivedi, South Metropolitan Health Service 2026 Research of the Year award
🌟 Zeeshan Ahmed, Rod Tallis Youth Award

Awards and achievements UWA has a continual roll call of awards, scholarships and prizes presented to staff and students.

A $6.8 million investment is set to expand Australia’s world first preterm birth prevention program, helping more women and babies benefit from safer pregnancies. 💙

Led by the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance, the program focuses on reducing early and preterm births and improving outcomes nationwide. Backed by strong evidence, it is already transforming maternity care and supporting healthier starts to life.

$6.8 million boost to expand world-first preterm birth prevention program The Federal Government has invested $6.8 million to expand a world-first preterm birth prevention program

A major boost for Australia’s health data capability

The Population Health Research Network at UWA has secured $11.88 million in new funding to strengthen linked health data nationwide. This investment will help researchers unlock insights from connected data, supporting better health outcomes for communities across the country.

Funding boost to strengthen linked health data nationwide The Population Health Research Network at UWA will receive an additional $11.88 million through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.

A new partnership is helping transform healthcare in Vietnam through education, research and clinical collaboration 🌏

UWA is working with leading Vietnamese institutions to tackle major health challenges, from infectious disease to hearing and vision health.

By connecting students, clinicians and researchers across countries, the collaboration is building skills, strengthening healthcare systems and driving real world impact for patients across the region.

UWA strengthens health and medical ties in Vietnam New partnership advancing global health through research and education across priority areas including gastrointestinal health, audiology and optometry.

Powerful new imaging tools at UWA are set to unlock discoveries across energy, critical minerals, agriculture, the environment and health. 🔬

New multimodal and correlative microscopy equipment will give researchers deeper insights into complex materials and biological systems, helping tackle some of Australia’s most pressing research priorities.

New imaging tools to tackle national research priorities New equipment will support multimodal and correlative microscopy to address needs in energy, critical minerals, environment, agriculture and health research.

UWA Adjunct Professor Ray Wills and Professor Peter Newman, Curtin highlight how Australia has subsidised diesel use for 44 years, shaping key industries and slowing the shift to cleaner transport.

With major mining investments still tied to diesel, the research questions whether policy settings are holding back electrification and climate progress.

via The Conversation Australia + NZ

For 44 years, Australia has subsidised diesel use. Is it time to stop? Mining giant BHP under fire for spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new diesel trucks in the Pilbara, despite promising a transition to electric trucks

Aboriginal Mental Health Workers are vital to better care.

UWA research shows they act as a bridge between hospital systems, family and community, improving outcomes and making care feel safer for Aboriginal patients.

The study highlights the need to grow this workforce and embed cultural safety across services.

Aboriginal mental health workers central to patient care Study revealed Aboriginal people in the psychiatric care system do not receive culturally safe care, which is contributing to persistent health disparities.