Heffernan, Margaret

Dr. Margaret Heffernan, O.A.M. of RMIT University, Australia research focus is a behavioural researcher with a focus on Public health policy; Indigenous and migrant health and community integration; socio-ecological frameworks; socio-cultural education factors.

Her work over the past decade relating to the implementation of adolescent HPV vaccination has resulted in numerous awards for cross-cultural collaborations and resource developments across Australia and internationally including the Order of Australia Medal in 2006. Margaret’s PhD research was the first study to understand attitudes toward HPV vaccine in Indigenous and mixed cultural populations in Australia resulting in culturally targeted resource implementation. Margaret has also contributed 25 years as a women’s gynaecologic-oncology activist including the petition that led to the 2006 Senate inquiry for gynaecological cancer and resultant Cancer Australia National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers.