Dr Karen Block is Associate Director of the Child and Community Wellbeing Program, Centre for Health Equity, in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. She is also the Academic Lead of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute’s research program, Migration and Social Cohesion and Academic Convenor of the associated Interdisciplinary PhD program in Migration, Statelessness and Refugee Studies.

Dr Block has a strong national profile in the area of migration studies, exploring the interplay between host communities and migrants and the complex ways in which this interaction affects health inequalities, integration, inclusion and social cohesion.

Her recent and current research includes a range of projects involving immigrant and refugee-background young people, women and families focused on social inclusion across the life course, health inequalities, gender-based violence, evaluating complex interventions, and working in collaborative partnerships with communities and community-based organisations. Dr Block also has a keen interest in cross-disciplinary, participatory, innovative and ethical qualitative and mixed methodologies for working with migrant children and youth and their families.

Dr Block’s research and related activities in this field have strengthened understandings of factors supporting wellbeing and inclusion for refugee and migrant populations post-settlement; stimulated discourse around ethical and appropriate methodologies for working with this population; and influenced policy and practice.