Background

Paul is a public health researcher with over 15 years of research experience and joined Burnet in October 2012. He currently works as an Institute statistician.

Paul’s academic research interests include young people’s sexual behaviour and associated risk; and applied statistics and quantitative research methodology more generally.

Paul has collaborated with researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Washington on research examining the association between adverse sexual health outcomes and alcohol use for Australian adolescents as well as other research focusing on adult sexual/reproductive health and perinatal epidemiology.

Paul works across the Burnet Institute in a consultative statistical role, but also aims to continue to build on his research expertise regarding adolescent sexual behaviour and risk in his work at the Institute.

Appointments

• 2016-present: Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University
• 2012-present: Applied Statistician, Burnet Institute
• 2012-present: Adjunct Research Fellow, Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University
• 2010-2012: Research Fellow, Mother and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University
• 2008-2010: Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University
• 2005-2008: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne

Qualifications

• 2006: MSc (Applied statistics), School of Mathematical Sciences, Swinburne University
• 1988: BA, School of Social Science, La Trobe University

Projects (9)

Current (4)

• SuperMIX: The Melbourne Injecting Drug User Cohort Study
  A five-year study of the dynamics of cessation of injecting drug use and any subsequent relapse.
• The Prime Study: Treating hep C in primary healthcare setting
  Examining feasibility of treating people with genotype 1 hepatitis C in primary healthcare setting.
• WHISPER and SHOUT - mHealth interventions among Kenyan sex workers
  Mobile phone-based health promotions sent to sex workers in Mombasa.
• Young Adults and Alcohol Study
  This study examines patterns of risky drinking in a cohort of young Melburnians.

Past (5)

• A study to improve the health and rights of Myanmar men who have sex with men
  This research evaluated the effectiveness of ‘Link Up’ services, in men who have sex with men.
• Accelerating ART initiation among Infants (AAMI Study)
  This project will trial the POC VISITECT® CD4 test and POC LYNX HIV p24 early infant diagnostic test.
• Effectiveness of repellent on malaria incidence in SE Myanmar
  A project to determine whether repellent delivered by volunteers will reduce malaria incidence.
• Improving vision and health of elders in Nuwara Eliya district, Sri Lanka:
  An evaluation of the impact of community-based Elders’ Clubs on health, vision and well-being of elders
• WASH: Interventions for monastic schools in Myanmar
  Evaluating the impact of a water, sanitation and hygiene program across three states of Myanmar.

Publications (56)

2019 (4)

• Induction and decay of functional complement-fixing antibodies by the RTS,S malaria vaccine in children, and a negative impact of malaria exposure.
  Kurtovic L, Agius PA, Feng G, Drew DR, Ubillos I, Sacarlal J, Aponte JJ, Fowkes FJI, Dobaño C, Beeson JG
  BMC Med. 2019 Feb; 17(1):45
• Injecting drug use is an independent risk factor for reincarceration after release from prison: A prospective cohort study.
  Winter RJ, Stoové M, Agius PA, Hellard ME, Kinner SA
  Drug Alcohol Rev. 2019 Jan; Epub ahead of print
• Relationship between self-efficacy and HIV testing uptake among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar: a cross-sectional analysis.
  Pham MD, Aung PP, Agius PA, Pasricha N, Oo SM, Tun W, Bajracharya A, Luchters S
  Int J STD AIDS. 2019 Jan; Epub ahead of print:956462418791945
• The field performance and diagnostic accuracy of a low-cost instrument-free point-of-care CD4 test (VISITECT(R) CD4) performed by different health worker cadres among pregnant women.
  Luchters S, Technau K, Mohamed Y, Chersich MF, Agius PA, Pham MD, Garcia ML, Forbes J, Shepherd A, Coovadia A, Crowe SM, Anderson DA
  J Clin Microbiol. 2019 Jan; 57(2):e01277-18

2018 (12)

• Effectiveness of repellent delivered through village health volunteers on malaria incidence in villages in South-East Myanmar: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol.
  Win Han Oo, Cutts JC, Agius PA, Kyaw Zayar Aung, Poe Poe Aung, Aung Thi, Nyi Nyi Zaw, Htin Kyaw Thu, Wai Yan Min Htay, Ataide R, O'Flaherty K, Ai Pao Yawn, Aung Paing Soe, Beeson JG, Crabb B, Pasricha N, Fowkes FJI
  BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Dec; 18(1):663
• Aiming for 90-90-90 - the importance of understanding the risk factors for HIV exposure and advanced HIV infection in migrant populations and other groups who do not report male-to-male sex.
  Peach E, Lemoh C, Stoové M, Agius P, El Hayek C, Higgins N, Hellard M
  Sex Health. 2018 Oct; 15(5):441-450
• Menstrual hygiene management and school absenteeism among adolescent students in Indonesia: evidence from a cross-sectional school-based survey.
  Davis J, Macintyre A, Odagiri M, Suriastini W, Cordova A, Huggett C, Agius PA, Faiqoh, Budiyani AE, Quillet C, Cronin AA, Diah M, Triwahyunto A, Luchters S, Kennedy E
  Trop Med Int Health. 2018 Oct; 23(12):1350-1363
• Incidence of unintended pregnancy among female sex workers in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  Ampt FH, Willenberg L, Agius PA, Chersich M, Luchters S, Lim MSC
  BMJ Open. 2018 Sep; 8(9):e021779
• Mobile Phone-Based Ecological Momentary Intervention to Reduce Young Adults' Alcohol Use in the Event: A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial.
  Wright C, Dietze PM, Agius PA, Kuntsche E, Livingston M, Black OC, Room R, Hellard M, Lim MS
  JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018 Jul; 6(7):e149
• Community-based provision of direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C: study protocol and challenges of a randomized controlled trial.
  Wade AJ, Doyle JS, Gane E, Stedman C, Draper B, Iser D, Roberts SK, Kemp W, Petrie D, Scott N, Higgs P, Agius PA, Roney J, Stothers L, Thompson AJ, Hellard ME
  Trials. 2018 Jul; 19(1):383
• Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Lactic Acid in Human Cervicovaginal Fluid.
  Tyssen D, Wang YY, Hayward JA, Agius PA, DeLong K, Aldunate M, Ravel J, Moench TR, Cone RA, Tachedjian G
  mSphere. 2018 Jul; 3(4):e00055-18
• Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty: An Adjunct to an Enhanced Recovery Pathway: Outcomes and Learning Curve Effects in Surgeons Transitioning From Other Surgical Approaches.
  Free MD, Owen DH, Agius PA, Pascoe EM, Harvie P
  J Arthroplasty. 2018 Jul; 33(11):3490-3495
• Repeat participation in annual cross-sectional surveys of drug users and its implications for analysis.
  Agius PA, Aitken CK, Breen C, Dietze PM
  BMC Res Notes. 2018 Jun; 11(1):349
• Factors associated with social participation amongst elders in rural Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional mixed methods analysis.
  Marsh C, Agius PA, Jayakody G, Shajehan R, Abeywickrema C, Durrant K, Luchters S, Holmes W
  BMC Public Health. 2018 May; 18(1):636
• Risk of unplanned caesarean birth in Vietnamese-born women in Victoria, Australia: A cross-sectional study.
  Agius PA, Davey MA, Small R
  Women Birth. 2018 Feb; 31(6):496-504
• Syndromic management of sexually transmissible infections in resource-poor settings: a systematic review with meta-analysis of the abnormal vaginal discharge flowchart for Neisseria gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis.
  van Gemert C, Hellard M, Bradshaw CS, Fowkes FJI, Agius PA, Stoove M, Bennett CM
  Sex Health. 2018 Jan; 15(1):1-12

2017 (9)

• Factors associated with HIV testing among young men who have sex with men in Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.
  Pham MD, Aung PP, Paing AK, Pasricha N, Agius PA, Tun W, Bajracharya A, Luchters S
  J Int AIDS Soc. 2017 Nov; 20(3):e25026
• Anorectal swabs as a marker of male-to-male sexual exposure in STI surveillance systems.
  Ampt FH, El Hayek C, Agius PA, Bowring AL, Bartnik N, Van Gemert C, Fairley CK, Chow EPF, Bradshaw CS, Stephens N, Lim MSC, Hellard ME
  Epidemiol Infect. 2017 Sep; 145(12):2530-2535
• WHISPER or SHOUT study: protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial assessing mHealth sexual reproductive health and nutrition interventions among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya.
  Ampt FH, Mudogo C, Gichangi P, Lim MSC, Manguro G, Chersich M, Jaoko W, Temmerman M, Laini M, Comrie-Thomson L, Stoové M, Agius PA, Hellard M, L'Engle K, Luchters S
  BMJ Open. 2017 Aug; 7(8):e017388
• Young Australians' use of pornography and associations with sexual risk behaviours.
  Lim MSC, Agius PA, Carrotte ER, Vella AM, Hellard ME
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017 Aug; 41(4):438-443
• Persistence of activated and adaptive-like NK cells in HIV+ individuals despite 2 Years of suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy.
  Hearps AC, Agius PA, Zhou J, Brunt S, Chachage M, Angelovich TA, Cameron PU, Giles M, Price P, Elliott J, Jaworowski A
  Front Immunol. 2017 Jun; 8:731
• An ecological momentary intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in young adults delivered during drinking events: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.
  Wright CJ, Dietze PM, Agius PA, Kuntsche E, Room R, Livingston M, Hellard M, Lim MS
  JIMR Research Protocols. 2017 May; 6(5):e95
• Correlates of alcohol consumption on heavy drinking occasions of young risky drinkers: event versus personal characteristics.
  Dietze P, Agius PA, Livingston M, Callinan S, Jenkinson R, Lim MS, Wright CJ, Room R
  Addiction. 2017 Mar; 112(8): 1369-1377
• The effects of needle-sharing and opioid substitution therapy on incidence of hepatitis C virus infection and reinfection in people who inject drugs.
  Aitken CK, Agius PA, Higgs PG, Stoové MA, Bowden DS, Dietze PM
  Epidemiol Infect. 2017 Mar; 145(4):796-801
• Effectiveness of an integrated community- and clinic-based intervention on HIV testing, HIV knowledge, and sexual risk behavior of young men who have sex with men in Myanmar.
  Aung PP, Ryan C, Bajracharya A, Pasricha N, Thein ZW, Agius PA, Sein TT, Willenberg L, Soe EM, Zaw NT, Tun W, Yam E, Luchters S
  J Adolesc Health. 2017 Feb; 60(2S2):S45-S53

2016 (8)

• Performance of point-of-care CD4 testing technologies in resource-constrained settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  Pham MD, Agius PA, Romero L, McGlynn P, Anderson D, Crowe SM, Luchters S
  BMC Infect Dis. 2016 Oct; 16(1):592
• Resumption of injecting drug use following release from prison in Australia.
  Winter RJ, Young JT, Stoové M, Agius PA, Hellard ME, Kinner SA
  Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Sep; 168:104-111
• Acceptability and feasibility of point-of-care CD4 testing on HIV continuum of care in low and middle income countries: a systematic review.
  Pham MD, Agius PA, Romero L, McGlynn P, Anderson D, Crowe SM, Luchters S
  BMC Health Serv Res. 2016 Aug; 16(1):343
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facilities and Hygiene Practices Associated with Diarrhea and Vomiting in Monastic Schools, Myanmar.
  Weaver ER, Agius PA, Veale H, Dorning K, Hlang TT, Aung PP, Fowkes FJ, Hellard ME
  Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Jun; 95(2):278-287
• Factors predictive of patient outcome following total wrist arthrodesis.
  Owen DH, Agius PA, Nair A, Perriman DM, Smith PN, Roberts CJ
  Bone Joint J. 2016 May; 98-B(5):647-653
• The Positive Outlook Study: A Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating Online Self-Management for HIV Positive Gay Men.
  Millard T, Agius PA, McDonald K, Slavin S, Girdler S, Elliott JH
  AIDS Behav. 2016 Feb; 20(9):1907-1918
• Intimate partner violence and the experience of early motherhood: A cross-sectional analysis of factors associated with a poor experience of motherhood.
  Hooker L, Samaraweera NY, Agius PA, Taft A
  Midwifery. 2016 Jan; 34:88-94
• Age-related differences in patterns of criminal activity among a large sample of polydrug injectors in Australia.
  Horyniak D, Dietze P, Degenhardt. L, Agius P, Higgs P, Bruno R, Alati R, Burns L
  J Subst Abuse. 2016 Jan; 22(1):48-56

2015 (6)

• Mortality in the Melbourne injecting drug user cohort study (MIX).
  Nambiar D, Agius PA, Stoové M, Hickman M, Dietze P
  Harm Reduct J. 2015 Dec; 12(1):55
• Patterns of, and Factors Associated With, Illicit Pharmaceutical Opioid Analgesic Use in a Prospective Cohort of People Who Inject Drugs in Melbourne, Australia.
  Horyniak D, Agius PA, Degenhardt L, Reddel S, Higgs P, Aitken C, Stoové M, Dietze P
  Subst Use Misuse. 2015 Nov; 50(13):1650-1659
• Cessation of injecting drug use: The effects of health service utilisation, drug use and demographic factors.
  Nambiar D, Agius PA, Stoové M, Hickman M, Dietze P
  Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015 Jun; 154:208-213
• Maternal and child health nurse screening and care for mothers experiencing domestic violence (MOVE): a cluster randomised trial.
  Taft AJ, Hooker L, Humphreys C, Hegarty K, Walter R, Adams C, Agius P, Small R
  BMC Med. 2015 Jun; 13(1):150
• Correlates of male involvement in maternal and newborn health: a cross-sectional study of men in a peri-urban region of Myanmar.
  Ampt F, Mon MM, Than KK, Khin MM, Agius PA, Morgan C, Davis J, Luchters S
  BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015 May; 15(1):122
• Silent mutations at codons 65 and 66 in reverse transcriptase alleviate indel formation and restore fitness in subtype B HIV-1 containing D67N and K70R drug resistance mutations.
  Telwatte S, Hearps AC, Johnson A, Latham CF, Moore K, Agius P, Tachedjian M, Sonza S, Sluis-Cremer N, Harrigan PR, Tachedjian G
  Nucleic Acids Res. 2015 Mar; Epub ahead of print

2014 (6)

• Comparative performance of the Kalon and HerpeSelect enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 in Papua New Guinea.
  Ryan CE, Simbiken CS, Agius PA, Allen J, Sauk J, Kaima P, Kombati Z, Siba P, Kaldor JM, Vallely A
  Sex Health. 2014 Dec; 11(6):575-579
• Setting the scene: locations for meeting sex partners among behaviorally bisexual men in vientiane, laos, and opportunities for health promotion.
  Bowring AL, van Gemert C, Vongsaiya K, Hughes C, Sihavong A, Phimphachanh C, Chanlivong N, Agius PA, Toole M, Hellard M
  AIDS Educ Prev. 2014 Dec; 26(6):538-553
• Effect of Intubation for Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid Overdose on Emergency Department Length of Stay and Hospital Admission.
  Dietze P, Horyniak D, Agius P, Munir V, Smit DV, Johnston J, Fry CL, Degenhardt L
  Acad Emerg Med. 2014 Nov; 21(11):1226-1231
• Early age at first sex: associations with sexual health and sociodemographic factors among a sample of young music festival attendees in Melbourne.
  Vella AM, Agius PA, Bowring AL, Hellard ME, Lim MS
  Sex Health. 2014 Aug; 11(4):359-365
• Immunological markers of P. vivax exposure and immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
  Cutts J, Powell R, Agius PA, Beeson JG, Simpson JA, Fowkes FJI
  BMC Medicine. 2014 Aug; 12(1):150
• Does intimate partner violence impact on women's initiation and duration of breastfeeding?
  James JP, Taft A, Amir LH, Agius P
  Breastfeeding Rev. 2014 Jul; 22(2):11-19

2013 (1)

• Excessive alcohol use and its association with risky sexual behaviour: a cross-sectional analysis of data from Victorian secondary school students.
  Agius P, Taft A, Hemphill S, Toumbourou J, McMorris B
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2013 Feb; 37(1):76-82

2012 (2)

• Chlamydia prevention indicators for Australia: review of the evidence from New South Wales.
  Ali H, Donovan B, Liu B, Hocking JS, Agius P, Ward J, Bourne C, Kaldor JM, Guy RJ
  Sex Health. 2012 Nov; 9(5):399-406
• Enhanced maternal and child health nurse care for women experiencing intimate partner/family violence: protocol for MOVE, a cluster randomised trial of screening and referral in primary health care.
  Taft AJ, Small R, Humphreys C, Hegarty K, Walter R, Adams C, Agius P.
  BMC Public Health. 2012 Sep; 12:811

2011 (1)

• Basic statistics and epidemiology: a practical guide (Book Review)
  Agius PA
  Aust N Z J Pub Health. 2011 May; 35(4):396

2010 (2)

• Sexual behaviour and related knowledge among a representative sample of secondary school students between 1997 and 2008.
  Agius PA, Pitts MK, Smith AM, Mitchell A
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2010 Oct; 34(5):476-481
• Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: Gardasil vaccination status and knowledge amongst a nationally representative sample of Australian secondary school students.
  Agius PA, Pitts MK, Smith AM, Mitchell A
  Vaccine. 2010 Jun; 28(27):4416-4422

2006 (2)

• Pregnancy and contraceptive use in a national representative sample of Australian secondary school students.
  Agius P, Pitts MK, Dyson S, Mitchell AM, Smith AM
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2006 Dec; 30(6):555-557
• Two steps forward and one step back? Australian secondary students' sexual health knowledge and behaviors 1992-2002.
  Agius PA, Dyson S, Pitts MK, Mitchell A, Smith AM
  J Adolesc Health. 2006 Mar; 38(3):247-252

2005 (2)

• Men in Australia Telephone Survey (MATeS): a national survey of the reproductive health and concerns of middle-aged and older Australian men.
  Holden CA, McLachlan RI, Pitts M, Cumming R, Wittert G, Agius PA, Handelsman DJ, de Kretser DM
  Lancet. 2005 Jul; 366(9481):218-224
• The mental health status of young adult and mid-life non-heterosexual Australian women.
  McNair R, Kavanagh A, Agius P, Tong B
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2005 Jun; 29(3):265-271

2002 (1)

• Performance of diagnosis-based risk adjustment measures in a population of sick Australians.
  Duckett SJ, Agius PA
  Aust N Z J Public Health. 2002 Dec; 26(6):500-507

News Articles (3)

2019 (1)

• New insights into how the RTS,S malaria vaccine works

2018 (1)

• Professor Tachedjian chairs session at AIDS 2018

2014 (1)

• Burnet researchers uncover proteins crucial for effective malaria vaccines