New GR Students 2026

We are delighted to welcome three new Graduate Research (GR) students this year whose work reflects the depth, diversity and impact of research within our department.

Em Thrower (they/them) joins the PhD program as a GP registrar in the final stages of their training, returning to the department after completing Honours here in 2014. Supervised by Prof Lena Sanci and Prof Ada Cheung, Em’s thesis — Acceptability of a Shared Care Model of Initiation of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in the Primary Care Setting — examines how shared care approaches can improve access to gender-affirming hormone therapy. With strong interests in LGBTIQA+ health and qualitative research, Em’s work aims to support more inclusive, patient-centred primary care for transgender and gender diverse communities. When not working they enjoy spending time with their young family, reading and hiking.

Nida Anees brings extensive experience across public health, law, refugee health, and family violence services. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and migrating to Australia at 17, Nida’s professional and personal journey has shaped her deep commitment to women’s rights and health equity. Supervised by Prof Laura Tarzia, Dr Minerva Kyei-Nimakoh and Prof Heather Douglas, her PhD project — Navigating Borders and Bodies: Afghan Women’s Narratives of Reproductive Coercion and Abuse (RCA) — uses qualitative narrative methods to explore Afghan women’s experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse through intersectional feminist and reproductive justice frameworks.

Tracy Murphy brings more than a decade of experience within the department, having worked here since 2012. As Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Primary Care Nursing and the Nurse Immuniser Short Course, Tracy has long been committed to strengthening the primary care nursing workforce. Her PhD will focus on nurse practitioners in primary care.

Em, Nida and Tracy represent the strength of our GR community: research grounded in practice, driven by equity and committed to improving primary care for diverse communities. We warmly welcome them and look forward to supporting their research journeys.