Ms Ria Aiyar

NHMRC Grant-Funded Research Associate

School of Dentistry

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I am a Postdoctoral Researcher within the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH) working across projects including the Indigenous Australian HPV Cohort Study and the Culturally-Safe Dental Care Project. My research interests include health equity, wellbeing, and culturally responsive care using qualitative research methods. My work also includes a focus across the broad areas of oral health, access to dental care, family wellbeing and experiences of support in the First 2000 Days (across conception to age 5 including in pregnancy and early childhood). 

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing Postdoctoral Researcher Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health
2022 - 2023 Project Manager University of Adelaide
2022 - 2022 Academic Mentor Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education
2021 - 2024 Research Assistant University of Adelaide

Date Institution name Country Title
2021 - 2025 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
2020 - 2020 University of Adelaide Australia Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychological Science
2017 - 2019 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Psychological Science

Year Citation
2026 Nath, S., Groundwater, J., Aiyar, R., Hedges, J., Guzzo, G., Kapellas, K., . . . Jamieson, L. (2026). Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: Mixed‑Methods Study Using Psychosocial Impact of a Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire. International Dental Journal, 76(1), 11 pages.
DOI
2025 Aiyar, R., Due, C., Taylor, A., & Sawyer, A. (2025). South and Southeast Asian Migrant Caregivers’ Help-Seeking and Support Experiences Across the First 2,000 Days: A Qualitative Study and Emerging Model of Health Care. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 56(5), 582-603.
DOI
2025 Aiyar, R., Due, C., Taylor, A. M., & Sawyer, A. C. P. (2025). Parenting experiences and impacts to wellbeing for South and Southeast Asian migrant caregivers in Australia across the First 2000 Days: reflections from migrants and service providers. Journal of Family Studies, 1-25.
DOI
2025 Aiyar, R., Nath, S., Hedges, J., Guzzo, G. L., Kapellas, K., Flanagan, E., . . . Jamieson, L. (2025). Indigenous Australians' Oral Health Care Experiences: Recommendations for Culturally Safe Dental Care. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 1-13.
DOI
2023 Aiyar, R., Due, C., Taylor, A. M., & Sawyer, A. C. P. (2023). The wellbeing and support experiences of parents and caregivers from South and Southeast Asian refugee backgrounds during the First 2000 Days: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 155, 107222-1-107222-16.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1

Year Citation
2024 Aiyar, R., Due, C., Taylor, A., & Sawyer, A. (2024). Help-Seeking and Support for South and Southeast Asian Migrant Caregivers’ Wellbeing in the First 2000 Days: Advancing Health Equity. In Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) 2024 Annual Congress, Whiria te Tāngata “Weave our people together”, 7‐10 April 2024 Vol. 60. Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health: Wiley.
DOI

Year Citation
2024 Aiyar, R., Due, C., Taylor, A., & Sawyer, A. (2024). “Just Act Like You're Okay”: Parenting and Wellbeing Experiences Across the First 2000 Days for South and Southeast Asian Migrant Caregivers in Australia. Poster session presented at the meeting of PSANZ 2024. Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health: Wiley.
2022 Aiyar, R., Due, C., Taylor, A., & Sawyer, A. (2022). South and Southeast Asian Refugee Parents' Wellbeing Experiences and Support Needs During the First 2000 Days: A Systematic Review. Poster session presented at the meeting of PSANZ 2022. Adelaide, Australia: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health: Wiley.

Year Citation
2023 Sawyer, A., Due, C., Aiyar, R., Reece, C., Oxlad, M., & Taylor, A. (2023). Access to child development screening in South Australia: An evaluation of two new models to provide access to child development checks to children and families.
Year Course Level Role
2021 Psychology 1A (PSYCHOL 1000) Level I Marker
2021 Psychology in Society (PSYCHOL 2007) Level II Tutor/Marker
2022 Big Picture Psychology: Global Challenges, Psychological Perspectives
(PSYCHOL 2008)
Level II Marker
2024 Psychology 1A (PSYCHOL 1000) Level I Marker

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2025 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Indigenous South Australians' experiences of racism in health and dental care Adelaide University Bachelor of Dental Surgery Honours Full Time Syin Rui Lim
2025 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Mobile apps used for preventive oral health education for children Adelaide University Bachelor of Dental Surgery Honours Full Time Lora Ding

Date Role Membership Country
2025 - ongoing Member Australian Endometriosis Coalition Australia
2025 - ongoing Member International Association for Dental Research Australia
2024 - ongoing Member Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth Australia
2024 - ongoing Member Thrive by Five Australia
2022 - ongoing Member Health in Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Collective Australia
2021 - ongoing Member Healthy Development Adelaide Australia
2021 - ongoing Member Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) Australia
2021 - ongoing Member Migration and Refugee Research Network Australia

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