The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) knows that preventing alcohol-related harm starts with understanding why people drink the way they do.
But while men consistently experience the highest levels of risky drinking and alcohol dependence, less was known about the life circumstances, behaviours and risk factors associated with those patterns.
The ADF saw an opportunity to build a stronger evidence base that could support prevention efforts across Australia. To help address this gap, the organisation partnered with Flinders University through their PhD Enterprise Scholarship scheme. Embedded within the national non-profit, PhD researcher Stefano Zaccagnini works alongside the ADF team to investigate risky drinking among Australian men and identify opportunities for earlier and more effective intervention.
“We partnered with Flinders University and PhD researcher Stefano to better understand the factors that lead to risky drinking among men, and to identify opportunities for prevention, earlier intervention and more effective health promotion.” says Dr Nataly Bovopoulos, Lead, Knowledge Translation at ADF.
The research has already delivered nationally significant insights. Analysis of national survey data found that almost half of Australian midlife aged men (30 to 59 years) exceed the country's alcohol guideline recommendations, highlighting the scale of the issue and the need for more targeted approaches to prevention.
Beyond quantifying the scale of the issue, the findings have also provided a clearer picture of who may be most at risk and when.
The research identified a range of factors linked to risky drinking among midlife men, including smoking, illicit drug use, psychological distress, living in regional areas, higher household income and employment in managerial positions, trade and technical occupations.
For the ADF, who provide evidence-based information, resources and programs to help prevent alcohol and other drugs harm in Australian communities, those insights are directly relevant to how future programs, campaigns and policy advocacy are developed.
“The findings have reinforced the need for tailored, evidence-based campaigns and programs that reflect the realities of men's lives, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach to reducing alcohol-related harms,” says Dr Bovopoulos.
“The embedded PhD model provided access to academic expertise, literature review, national data analysis and a structured research process, while keeping the work closely connected to organisational priorities,” says Dr Bovopoulos.
“This has helped bridge the gap between evidence generation and organisational decision-making.”
For Stefano Zaccagnini, the partnership has delivered equally significant benefits.
“Having an industry partner has given me a unique perspective on how research can influence policy, programs and real-world outcomes,” he says.
“The partnership has strengthened my development as a researcher and helped ensure my work remains relevant beyond academia. The goal is to help inform governments and support services so they can better support men to reduce alcohol-related harm.”
As more studies are completed and translated into practice, the organisation expects the findings to inform targeted health campaigns, workplace initiatives and broader policy discussions aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm across Australia.
For organisations considering an embedded research partnership, Dr Bovopoulos believes the greatest value comes from choosing a question that matters and committing to putting evidence into action.
“Partnering with a PhD researcher gave us the time, rigour and focus to investigate a complex prevention issue in depth. It has helped turn a broad question about risky drinking among men into evidence that can inform more targeted and practical responses.”
