Dr Fiona Robards
Dr Fiona Robards is a senior Lecturer with experience as a researcher, policy analyst, health service manager and psychologist. Fiona coordinates three public health units of study in the Masters of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health. She is also a Senior Research Fellow in Child and Adolescent Health and supervises Higher Degree by Research students (PhD) and MD research students. Fiona is an Associate Editor for the Health Promotion Journal of Australia.
Adolescent health and development; public health; health promotion; prevention; equity; access to healthcare; mental health; sexual health; policy and advocacy.
Dr Fiona Robards teaches postgraduate medical and public health students at The University of Sydney in public health, sexual health and adolescent health. Fiona also supervises Higher Degree by Research students (PhD) and MD research students.
Australian research projects
1. Youth justice and health - addressing the challenges of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) for children and adolescents in the justice system.
2. Stigma and FASD - media portrayals of alcohol use in pregnancy and FASD and campaigns to address alcohol use in pregnancy and FASD.
3. Young people’s sexual health - Comprehensive sexuality education including sexual consent among adolescents with intellectual disability.
4. Youth health interventions that have been positively evaluated in Australia.
5. Educational research in public health teaching.
International research projects
1. Global Public Health Associations' women, children, and youth health policy
2. International and national frameworks, guidelines, recommendations, and strategies for maternal tobacco prevention and cessation.
3. Young people's perspectives of the Tobacco Endgame.
National
Australian Child Rights Taskforce,Leadership Group and Policy Working Group
Child and Youth Health Special Interest Group Committee, Public Health Association of Australia
International
World Federation of Public Health Associations, Women, Adolescent and Children's Health working group, Co-chair
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) 2023
2023-2024 Sydney Educational Fellowship Program Accredited Assessor & Mentor for AFHEA and FHEA
University of Sydney Postgraduate Award (UPA) 2018-2019
Lifespan Research Collaboration Partnership Award 2018
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive sexuality education including sexual consent among adolescents with intellectual disability in New South Wales Australia | Anju DEVKOTA |
Selected publications
(Exisle Publishing (Australia), 2014)
(NSW Kids and Families, 2014)
(Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, 2013)
Publications
Books
- Robards, F. (2014). What Makes you happy?. Wollombi: Exisle Publishing (Australia).
- Chown, P., Kang, M., Robards, F., Hearne, S., Funston, L., Sanders, J. (2014). Youth Health Resource Kit: An Essential Guide for Workers. Sydney, Australia: NSW Kids and Families.
- Campbell, A., Robards, F. (2013). Using technologies safely and effectively to promote young people's wellbeing: A better practice guide for services. Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia: Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre.
Book Chapters
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Sanci, L., Steinbeck, K., Hawke, C., Luscombe, G., Davies, C., Skinner, S., Usherwood, T. (2020). Recruitment and Engagement of Marginalized Young People in Mixed Methods Research: Exploring Health System Access, Engagement, and Navigation. SAGE Research Methods Cases: Medicine and Health. London: Sage Publications. [More Information]
- Robards, F. (2016). Access to Quality Mental Health Services. CRC25: Australian Child Rights Progress Report, (pp. 64-65). The Australian Child Rights Taskforce.
- Robards, F., Campbell, A. (2013). Communicating Electronically with Adolescents. In Kate Steinbeck, Michael Kohn (Eds.), A Clinical Handbook in Adolescent Medicine: A Guide for Health Professionals Who Work with Adolescents and Young Adults. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing. [More Information]
Journals
- Devkota, A., Robards, F., Zablotska-Manos, I. (2025). Relationships and Consent Education for Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review. Youth, 5(1), 22. [More Information]
- Robards, F., Milne, B., Elliott, E. (2024). Addressing the challenges of FASD for adolescents in the justice system. Judicial Quarterly Review, 2(1), 11-26.
- Robards, F., Myers, H., Walker, D. (2024). Global Public Health Association policies related to women, children and youth. Journal of Public Health Policy. [More Information]
Conferences
- Robards, F. (2014). What makes you happy? Happiness for individuals, the community and planet. 15th International Mental Health Conference, Gold Coast: Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association.
Research Reports
- Robards, F. (2014). Youth Health Resource Kit: An Essential Guide for Workers | 2.4 Using Technology, (pp. 47 - 52). Australia: NSW Kids and Families.
- Robards, F. (2014). Youth Health Resource Kit: An Essential Guide for Workers | 3.12 Healthy Lifestyles, (pp. 189 - 193). Australia: NSW Kids and Families.
- Robards, F. (2009). Increasing the resilience of young people at risk: a literature review, (pp. 4 - 29). New South Wales, Australia: NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Centre for Clinical Governance Research, University of New South Wales.
2025
- Devkota, A., Robards, F., Zablotska-Manos, I. (2025). Relationships and Consent Education for Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review. Youth, 5(1), 22. [More Information]
2024
- Robards, F., Milne, B., Elliott, E. (2024). Addressing the challenges of FASD for adolescents in the justice system. Judicial Quarterly Review, 2(1), 11-26.
- Robards, F., Myers, H., Walker, D. (2024). Global Public Health Association policies related to women, children and youth. Journal of Public Health Policy. [More Information]
2022
- Waller, D., Robards, F., Huckel Schneider, C., Sanci, L., Steinbeck, K., Gibson, S., Usherwood, T., Hawke, C., Jan, S., Kong, M., Kang, M. (2022). Building evidence into youth health policy: a case study of the Access 3 knowledge translation forum. Health Research Policy and Systems, 20(1), 44. [More Information]
2020
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Luscombe, G., Hawke, C., Sanci, L., Steinbeck, K., Zwi, K., Towns, S., Usherwood, T. (2020). Intersectionality: Social marginalisation and self-reported health status in young people. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 1-10. [More Information]
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Sanci, L., Steinbeck, K., Hawke, C., Luscombe, G., Davies, C., Skinner, S., Usherwood, T. (2020). Recruitment and Engagement of Marginalized Young People in Mixed Methods Research: Exploring Health System Access, Engagement, and Navigation. SAGE Research Methods Cases: Medicine and Health. London: Sage Publications. [More Information]
- Kang, M., Robards, F., Luscombe, G., Sanci, L., Usherwood, T. (2020). The relationship between having a regular general practitioner (GP) and the experience of healthcare barriers: a cross-sectional study among young people in NSW, Australia, with oversampling from marginalised groups. BMC Family Practice, 21(1), 220. [More Information]
2019
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Steinbeck, K., Hawke, C., Jan, S., Sanci, L., Liew, Y., Kong, M., Usherwood, T. (2019). Health care equity and access for marginalised young people: a longitudinal qualitative study exploring health system navigation in Australia. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1), 1-14. [More Information]
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Luscombe, G., Sanci, L., Steinbeck, K., Jan, S., Hawke, C., Kong, M., Usherwood, T. (2019). Predictors of young people's healthcare access in the digital age. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(6), 582-588. [More Information]
- Battams, S., Robards, F. (2019). The Public Health Association of Australia's advocacy to prevent suicide. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(4), 305-306. [More Information]
2018
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Usherwood, T., Sanci, L. (2018). How Marginalized Young People Access, Engage With, and Navigate Health-Care Systems in the Digital Age: Systematic Review. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(4), 365-381. [More Information]
- Robards, F., Kang, M., Tolley, K., Hawke, C., Sanci, L., Usherwood, T. (2018). Marginalised young people’s healthcare journeys: Professionals’ perspectives. Health Education Journal, 77(6), 692-704. [More Information]
2017
- Kang, M., Robards, F., Sanci, L., Steinbeck, K., Jan, S., Hawke, C., Kong, M., Usherwood, T. (2017). Access 3 project protocol: Young people and health system navigation in the digital age: A multifaceted, mixed methods study. BMJ Open, 7(8), 1-9. [More Information]
2016
- Robards, F. (2016). Access to Quality Mental Health Services. CRC25: Australian Child Rights Progress Report, (pp. 64-65). The Australian Child Rights Taskforce.
2015
- Dadich, A., Jarrett, C., Robards, F., Bennett, D. (2015). How professional identity shapes youth healthcare. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 29(3), 317-342. [More Information]
2014
- Dadich, A., Jarrett, C., Robards, F., Bennett, D. (2014). Enhancing Youth Health in Primary Care: Lessons Learned From General Practitioners. Health Communication, 29(6), 619-628. [More Information]
- Robards, F. (2014). What Makes you happy?. Wollombi: Exisle Publishing (Australia).
- Robards, F. (2014). What makes you happy? Happiness for individuals, the community and planet. 15th International Mental Health Conference, Gold Coast: Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association.
2013
- Robards, F., Campbell, A. (2013). Communicating Electronically with Adolescents. In Kate Steinbeck, Michael Kohn (Eds.), A Clinical Handbook in Adolescent Medicine: A Guide for Health Professionals Who Work with Adolescents and Young Adults. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing. [More Information]
- Robards, F., Campbell, A. (2013). Communicating Electronically with Adolescents. In Kate Steinbeck, Michael Kohn (Eds.), A Clinical Handbook in Adolescent Medicine: A Guide for Health Professionals Who Work with Adolescents and Young Adults. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing. [More Information]
- Campbell, A., Robards, F. (2013). Using technologies safely and effectively to promote young people's wellbeing: A better practice guide for services. Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia: Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre.
2011
- Jarrett, C., Ann, D., Robards, F., Bennett, D. (2011). 'Adolescence is difficult, some kids are difficult': general practitioner perceptions of working with young people. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 17(1), 54-59. [More Information]
2009
- Robards, F. (2009). Are we failing our young people? Analysing gaps in policy. In Bennet, D; Towns, S; Elliot, E; Merrick, J. (Eds.), Challenges in Adolescent Health: An Australian Perspective, (pp. 255-263). United States: Nova Science Publishers.
- Robards, F. (2009). Increasing the resilience of young people at risk: a literature review, (pp. 4 - 29). New South Wales, Australia: NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Centre for Clinical Governance Research, University of New South Wales.
In the media
Elliott EJ, Robards F, We shouldn’t lock up young offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Here are the alternatives, The Conversation, 9 October 2024