In our third Tackling Stigma Champion Interview, we speak with Kate Dunn, a nurse, educator, and advocate from Mississaugi First Nation, Canada, about the systemic barriers that keep Indigenous people from care. From creating culturally grounded healthcare resources to teaching the next generation of nurses to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, Kate shares how community-led, heart-first approaches can shift the narrative.

Stigma reduction campaigns are designed to challenge harmful attitudes toward conditions such as HIV, mental illness, and other health issues. But what happens when those well-meaning messages backfire? The UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health is shining a light on this complex question in its next Spotlight on Stigma seminar

These stories – which we have left in the presenters’ own words – resist stereotypes. They show the power of lived expertise to dismantle entrenched systems, reshape service delivery, and defend the rights of people too often pushed to the margins.

In our second Tackling Stigma Champion Interview, we speak with Louise Hansford, a UK-based advocate for people who use drugs and those living with hepatitis C. Louise explains why mandatory training, real stories from peers, and compassionate practice are part of the solution.

Submissions are now open for a special collection in Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine focused on the health impacts of stigma.

When we think of healthcare, we think of clinicians. But there’s another kind of work happening—quiet, constant, and often overlooked. Here, we unpack the emotional and practical labour patients carry, especially those from stigmatised and marginalised communities.

In this candid conversation, Dr. Nhi Nguyen shares how her personal journey as a ‘boat person’ in 1970s Australia shaped her understanding of stigma, and why small changes in everyday practice can shift entire systems.

After a 250+ response survey and a landmark conference, it’s clear: stigma is everywhere in healthcare—and so are the people working to end it. Here’s what’s next.

Know someone working to reduce stigma in healthcare? We want to hear from you. We're celebrating people who are creating safer, more respectful, and inclusive healthcare—whether they're leading programs, shaping policy, delivering compassionate care, or challenging everyday practices. Nominate a champion today.