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About Dr Linda Kirkman

Dr Linda Kirkman PhD is a sexologist, counsellor and sex educator. She has an education and public health background, and broad experience in public speaking, lecturing, writing and counselling as wel ...

Special interests

Dr Kirkman takes a positive approach to sexuality and relationships, and through counselling offers a safe space to explore things that are going on in your life. Linda has been a counsellor for over 25 years in a range of settings. She is registered with the Australian Counselling Association, is a member of the Society of Australian Sexologists, and complies with their code of ethics. Her work is strengths-based, systemic, and uses a mindfulness approach. Linda believes that a healthy, happy sexuality and positive relationships are important for everyone’s wellbeing; she is sex-positive and diversity-friendly. Web: lindakirkman.org

Qualifications

PhD La Trobe University, conferred 5/2016

Title: Doing relationships differently: Rural baby boomers negotiate friends-with-benefits relationships. 

Certificate 4 in Small Business Management 2014, ABDC established Linda Kirkman: Relationship skills for life

Master of Health Science, 2005-2007, La Trobe University

Health Issues, studying health systems local and international, health policy and principles of health system reform; Research Methods; and Qualitative Research. Researched and wrote thesis: Young adults’ perception of sexual health promotion and how it has influenced their sexual behaviour.

Graduate Diploma in Health Science, 1996 –1997, La Trobe University

Health Research; Health Education; Readings in Health Issues (adolescent suicide); Counselling Skills; Program Development; Health Systems 3; Aboriginal Health; Emotion and Adjustment. 

Diploma in Education, 1978, University of WA

Bachelor of Arts, 1976, La Trobe University

English, History of Art, Philosophy, Psychology

Awards and Publications

Awards

Professor Anthony Smith Conference Attendance Award to attend Non-Monogamies and Contemporary Intimacies Conference in Lisbon, September 2015

Graduate Scholar Award for the 2014 Aging and Society Conference in Manchester, UK.

Postgraduate Scholarship 2012 from the La Trobe University Alumni Association, Bendigo Chapter.

Scholarship towards registration costs of attending PHAA Congress in Adelaide, September 2012, by PHAA Victorian branch.

Post-graduate health promotion student of the year 2010 Australian Health Promotion Association, Victorian Branch.

Publications

Kirkman, L., (2016) Working well with older adults and their sexual expression. In Australian Association of Gerontology, Emerging Researchers in Ageing Conference Proceedings 2016. Canberra: AAG

Kirkman, L., Fox, C., & Dickson-Swift, V. (2016). A case for sexual health policy that includes midlife and older adult sexuality and sexual health. Aging and Society, 6(2). Retrieved from http://ijj.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.212/prod.153/m.2

Kirkman, L., Fox, C., & Dickson-Swift, V. (2015). Midlife relationship diversity, sexual fluidity, wellbeing and sexual health from a rural perspective. Rural Society Special Edition on Sex, Sexuality and Place, 24(3), 266-281. doi:10.1080/10371656.2015.1099272

Kirkman, L., Kenny, A., & Fox, C. (2013). Evidence of absence: Midlife and older adult sexual health policy in Australia. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 10(2), 135-148. doi:10.1007/s13178-013-0109-6

Yager, Z., Salisbury, F., & Kirkman, L. (2013). Assessment of information literacy skills among first year students. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 4(1), 59-71

Kirkman, L. (2010). The Good Sense about Surrogacy. Viewpoint (2), 20-24.

Kirkman, L. (2008) Altruistic surrogacy: new twist to an old practice. Precedent. 88, 20-23

Kirkman, M., & Kirkman, L. (2001). Inducing lactation: A personal account after gestational ‘surrogate motherhood’ between sisters, Breastfeeding Review, 9 (3), 5-11.

Kirkman, L. (1999). Still not maternal: Giving birth to my niece (10 years on). In R. Jansen & D. Mortimer (Eds), Towards reproductive certainty: Fertility and genetics beyond 1999 (pp. 116-119). Lancashire: Parthenon.

Kirkman, M., & Kirkman, L. (1988). My sister's child.  Ringwood, Australia: Penguin Books.  (351pp.) Winner of the Caltex/Bendigo Advertiser Literary Award, 1990.

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