Our Program Staff

Dr Patricia Weerakoon

Dr Patricia Weerakoon is a Senior Lecturer at theFaculty of Health Sciences and the Academic Coordinator of the Graduate Program of Sexual Health. Her interest in Sexuality education and research began when she did her graduate training in Hawaii with Professor Milton Diamond in the early 80's. Patricia is one of the new breed of "Sexologists" in Sydney, and her areas of interest include:

Christianity and Sexuality (as a Christian and a Sexologist she has been involved in the TV documentary "Good Sex" and is on the faculty of the Centre for Apologetic
Scholarship and Education (CASE) She is currently developing a series of educational resources for couples, singles and teenagers on 'Gods plan for good sex'
Research in the biological and psychosocial aspects of the sexual response and sexual arousal
Gender issues in Sexual Health. Especially the cultural understanding of norms and management of gender identity disorder and transgender issues
Sexuality education through the lifespan
On-line learning
Sexuality and Disability

View Patricia's Homepage

Dr Gomathi Sitharthan

I trained in Australia and received my PhD in Psychology from the University of Sydney. I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and the Deputy Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Sexual Health.

I have conducted research in the broad areas of health psychology and am particularly versed in Translational Research and have engaged in research focusing on preventative methods, early / brief /opportunistic / low cost interventions, and clinical trials addressing mental health / addictive behaviours / associated comorbidities, suicide risk reduction and depression management, promoting â€œself-changeâ€ programs in the community, ascertaining the impact of clinical training to deliver effective health care, clinical services evaluations, facilitating the up-take of effective interventions in health services and evaluating training impacts, etc.

Since 2007, I have broadened my research interests and am currently actively pursuing research in the area of Sexual Health - e.g. Sexuality and Body Image, Sex Education, Doctor-Patient communication, and Migrant Sexual Health, etc. I have successfully supervised many research students, to-date, 7 PhD and 4 Masters. I am currently supervising 8 PhD students.

I have received several competitive grants, including 2 from NHMRC. I have reviewed grant applications submitted to NHMRC and other funding agencies. I am a member of the American Psychological Association and the Australian Centre for Addiction Research and an active contributor to its Centre for the Promotion of Self-Change.

view Gomathi's CV

Dr Russell Shuttleworth

Dr. Russell Shuttleworth, a medical anthropologist, has a primary research interest in sexuality and disability and an extensive background in qualitative research. He has a passion for conceptually innovative research that makes a difference! He is developing an interdisciplinary model for international collaborative research in sexuality and disability with the University of Sydney as the hub. Russell is keen to involve both colleagues and postgraduate students in developing a holistic sexuality and disability research agenda that transcends disciplinary differences.

For several years, Russell chaired the San Francisco Bay Area's Sexuality and Disability Research Consortium, a discussion group on sexuality and disability research issues. He has conducted ethnographic fieldwork with men with cerebral palsy on their search for sexual intimacy, and he has also completed several life histories of notable disabled men focusing on their sexual narratives. Other areas of interest include aging and sexuality; masculinity and disability; culture mental health and aging; anthropology and disability; and qualitative research methods.

Russell has extensive experience in the development of educational programs in sexuality and disability. Russell is currently developing an interdisciplinary unit of study in Sexuality and Disability which will be offered in Web CT in the Graduate Program in Sexual Health. Other courses he will be teaching at Sydney University include Aging and Sexuality, Sexuality and People with Developmental Disability and Qualitative Health and Social Research.

For relaxation Russell enjoys blowing some mean blues harp, doodling with coloured inks, and listening to multi-genre music.

View Dr. Shuttleworth's CV

Brett McCann

Brett McCann is the CEO of Impotence Australia and an Honorary Senior Lecturer with the School of Biomedical Sciences.

Honorary Staff

Honorary Associate Professor Osmo Kontula

Administrative Staff

Mrs Lata Britto
Program Adminstrator

The University of Sydney - Graduate Program in Sexual Health