Menzies School of Health Research

08/11/2025

Menzies is proud to be out in full force at this year’s American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Annual Meeting!

Our researchers will be sharing the latest from the SCOPE and ZOOMAL projects, contributing to global conversations on tropical medicine, infectious diseases and global health.

Join us for presentations, poster sessions, and our ZOOMAL Project Symposium, where we’ll explore innovative approaches to zoonotic disease surveillance and health systems strengthening.

Plus, hear from our SCOPE team, presenting insights from more than a decade of collaborative research across

Explore the full program and catch our researchers in action: https://tinyurl.com/3dtjxnry

07/11/2025

Haksolok tebes, Menzies Timor-Leste fó benvindu ba Sr. Sean Starmer, Xefe Departamentu Negósiu Estranjeiru no Komérsiu (DFAT) Sentru ba Seguransa Saúde, no Sra. Bridget Griffin, Diretora Asistente DFAT ba Preparasaun no Resposta ba Emerjénsia Saúde.

Delegasaun sira hamutuk ho Diretór Nasionál ba Prevensaun no Kontrolu, Diretór Saúde Munisípiu Dili, halo vizita mai ita-nia eskritóriu atu hetan atualizasaun kona-ba Programa Mundiál Susuk no ita-nia servisu kolaborativu iha prevensaun moras, antes la’o hamutuk ba komunidade Santa Cruz hodi hare’e atividade husik susuk direta.

Delegasaun ne’e hala’o mós vizita iha Laboratório Nasionál Saúde, iha ne’ebé esforsu kontinua atu haforsa sistema laboratóriu iha nasaun laran tomak.

Vizita sira hanesan ne’e, atu ajuda hametin ita-nia parseria ho Ministériu Saúde no DFAT bainhira ita servisu hamutuk atu hadi’a rezultadu saúde husi populasaun Timor-Leste nian.

It was a pleasure for Menzies Timor-Leste to welcome Mr. Sean Starmer, Lead of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Centre for Health Security, and Mrs. Bridget Griffin, DFAT Assistant Director for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response.

The delegation, alongside the National Director for Prevention and Control, the Dili Municipal Health Director, visited our office for an update on the World Mosquito Program and our collaborative work in disease prevention, before joining the Santa Cruz community to see mosquito release activities in action.

The delegation also toured the Laboratório Nacional da Saúde, where efforts continue to strengthen laboratory systems across the country.

Visits like this help strengthen our partnership with the Ministériu Saúde and DFAT as we work side by side to improve Timor-Leste population health outcomes.

07/11/2025

Haksolok tebes hare'e dr. Ela husi Menzies Timor-leste hetan intervista husi ekipa RTTL, ne’ebé foka liu ba Moras Reumátika Fuan. Iha entrevista, dr. Ela subliña importánsia husi deteksaun sedu no tratamentu apropriadu ba moras garganta ne'ebé kauza hosi Streptococcus Grupu A, no presiza tebes konxiénsia públika ne'ebé kontinua hodi ajuda hamenus impaktu husi Moras Reumátika Fuan.

It was great to see Dr. Ela from Menzies Timor-Leste being interviewed by the RTTL team, focusing on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). In the interview, Dr. Ela highlighted the importance of early detection, proper treatment of sore throats caused by Group A Streptococcus, and the need for ongoing community awareness to help reduce the burden of RHD.

06/11/2025

Medical research doesn’t just save lives, it strengthens our communities and boosts our economy. We see this impact every day. From tackling chronic disease to improving Indigenous health outcomes, health research is transforming lives across northern Australia and beyond.

It’s time to unlock the full potential of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and invest in Australia’s research future.

Find out more and join the campaign below.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) was created to deliver at least $1 billion each year to support Australian medical research.

Right now, only around $650 million is being released — while programs are being cut, researchers are leaving, and discoveries that could save lives are delayed.

The funds exist. The financial modelling is clear. What’s missing is action.

Join the call to release the full Medical Research Future Fund and secure the future of Australian research. Learn more and take action → www.aamri.org.au/mrff

04/11/2025

Book Launch | Shout out to the Renal team on another successful launch of ‘What makes a good life: Dialysis Models of Care project 2015-2023’.

Kidney disease forces many Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to move away from their families and Country for life-saving dialysis treatment. This powerful collection of stories and artwork shares the voices of First Nations people with lived experience of kidney disease.

By creating this book, we’re giving back the knowledge and experiences gathered through the project to patients, families and communities in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and relevant to them.

03/11/2025

Health is more than the physical. At Menzies, we design culturally tailored mental health programs that strengthen resilience and bring care where it’s needed most.

Your $40 gift helps expand support for individuals, families, and communities.
Celebrate 40 years—support mental health today.

Donate today: www.menzies.edu.au/page/Support_Us/Donate/ -form

01/11/2025

Iha fulan Outubru 2025, Menzies Timor-Leste haksolok tebes hodi partisipa iha Semináriu Sientífiku ne’ebé organiza hosi Ministériu Saúde, ho tema: “Relasaun Nutrisaun no Saúde: Husi Defisiénsia ba Moras La Hada’et sira.”

Husi Menzies, Sr. Salvador Amaral, hato’o aprezentasaun ida kona-ba ‘Nutrisaun no Saúde iha Timor-Leste’ ne’ebé esplora kona-ba todan duplu husi malnutrisaun no ninia relasaun ba to’o moras la hada’et sira (NCDs) iha nasaun laran tomak.

Semináriu ne’e halibur parte interesada governu no non-governamentál sira, no mós matenek-na’in sira kona-ba nutrisaun, hodi ko’alia kona-ba dezafiu malnutrisaun atuál no situasaun saúde iha Timor-Leste.

In October Menzies Timor-Leste was thrilled to participate in the Scientific Seminar hosted by the Ministériu Saúde, under the theme: “Nutrition and Health Linkages: From Deficiencies to Emerging Non-Communicable Diseases.”

Menzies’ Mr. Salvador Amaral, delivered a presentation on ‘Nutrition and Health in Timor-Leste'exploring the dual burden of malnutrition and its growing connection to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the country.

The seminar brought together government and non-government stakeholders, as well as nutrition experts, to discuss the current malnutrition challenges and health situation in Timor-Leste.

31/10/2025

Great to see Menzies’ Dr Kiarna Brown deliver a keynote at the 2025 Australian College of Midwives (ACM) National Conference in Darwin.

As part of the Plenary session, Kiarna presented ‘The Dungudbila Journey: Partnering with Community to Reduce Preterm Birth and Strengthen Culturally Safe Care’ — highlighting her team’s work to embed cultural knowledge into pregnancy care.

A proud First Nations Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, living and working on Larrakia Country, Kiarna shared insights from her teams co-design process to develop culturally safe, relevant and accessible pregnancy education with, and for First Nations women across the Top End. Building on a 2023-2024 Yarning project, the next phase of the Dungudbila journey is now underway, with an exciting co-designed digital health tool launching in 2026. Stay tuned!

Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance

30/10/2025

IMPACT SERIES | We’re looking forward to the final installment in our 40th Anniversary Research Impact Series!

For this event, we’re heading to Mparntwe, Alice Springs to discuss the evolution and impact of research in Central Australia, and the importance of partnerships in helping drive change.
Join us to hear from Menzies researchers and key stakeholders, as they share insights on past successes and challenges, highlight the importance of place and partnership and look to the future of remote health.

📅 Friday 14 November 2025,
⏰ 10:30am – 12 noon (ACST)
📍 Menzies Alice Springs (Building 15 Lecture Theatre, Charles Darwin University Alice Springs Campus, 10 Grevillea Drive) or online via Zoom

Register to attend: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/P1PC2

29/10/2025

Each wet season, Melioidosis poses a deadly risk - affecting 1 in 1,000 people in tropical regions.

Your $40 gift helps Menzies researchers continue vital work to prevent, detect, and treat this life-threatening disease.

Together, we can save lives.

Donate today: www.menzies.edu.au/page/Support_Us/Donate/ -form

28/10/2025

Ho ksolok ami anunsia kona-ba asina Akordu Tékniku entre Menzies Timor-Leste ho Institutu Nasionál Saúde Públika Timor-Leste (INSP-TL), ne’ebé hala’o iha Auditóriu INSP-TL.

Akordu ida ne’e formaliza ita-nia parseria kolaborativa kontinua ne’ebé foka atu haforsa kapasidade vijilánsia ba moras, formasaun forsa traballu ba saúde no peskiza, inklui étika no governasaun, no hasa’e servisu laboratóriu iha sistema saúde Timor-Leste laran tomak. Nune’e mós apoia foti desizaun saúde públika bazeia ba evidénsia no haburas kolaborasaun entre Laboratóriu Nasionál Saúde no Laboratóriu Diagnóstiku Veterináriu (LDV) ho Ministériu Saúde (MS) no Ministériu Agrikultura, Pekuária, Peskas no Floresta (MALFF) hodi promove aprosimasaun One Health ho durasaun efetivu to’o 2028.

Dr. Merita A.A. Monteiro, MPH, Prezidente INSPTL
Eventu ohin, marka pasu importante ida tan ba INSP-TL no ninia parseria ho Menzies School of Health Research.

Ami komprometidu atu rezolve prioridade saúde nasionál sira, hadi’a prestasaun servisu, no ikus mai bele kontribui ba rezultadu saúde ne’ebé di’ak liután ba komunidade sira iha Timor-Leste laran tomak. Ami hein atu mantein no haforsa relasaun servisu pozitivu ida-ne'e hodi asegura progresu kontinua iha peskiza no prátika saúde públika nian.

Professor Alan Cass AO Diretor Menzies
Ami sente orgullu atu kontinua ami nia kolaborasaun ho INSP-TL hodi haforsa sistema saúde Timor-Leste iha domíniu klíniku, laboratóriu, no saúde públika, hodi fó benefísiu diretamente ba Timor oan sira. Parseria ida-ne'e reforsa ami nia kompromisu hamutuk atu rezolve dezafiu saúde nian liuhusi asaun bazeia ba evidénsia, kapasitasaun, no sistema sustentável sira ne'ebé aliña ho prioridade nasionál sira. Asinatura akordu ida-ne'e marka pasu signifikativu ida ba oin iha konstrusaun sistema saúde ida ne'ebé forte no reziliente liu, ne'ebé bazeia ba lideransa lokál, kolaborasaun, no inovasaun.

Serimónia asinatura ne’e hetan partisipasaun husi Prezidente INSP-TL, Dra. Merita Antónia Armindo Monteiro, MPH, no Diretór Menzies Profesór Alan Cass AO, hamutuk ho membru ekipa husi instituisaun rua ne’e.

INSP Timor-Leste

We are pleased to announce the signing of a Technical Agreement between Menzies Timor-Leste and the National Institute of Public Health of Timor-Leste (INSP-TL), held at the INSP-TL Auditorium.

This agreement formalises our continued collaborative partnership focused on strengthening capacity of disease surveillance, health workforce training, and research including ethics and governance, and enhancing laboratory services across the Timor-Leste health system. It also supports evidence-based public health decision-making and fosters collaboration between the Laboratorio Nacional da Saude and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (LDV) with the Ministeriu Saude (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) to advance a One Health approach with effective duration until 2028.

Dr. Merita A.A. Monteiro, MPH, President of INSPTL
Today's event marks another important milestone for INSP-TL and its partnership with Menzies School of Health Research

We’re committed to addressing national health priorities, improving service delivery, and ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for communities throughout Timor-Leste. We look forward to sustaining and strengthening this positive working relationship to ensure continued progress in public health research and practice.

Professor Alan Cass AO, Menzies Director
We are proud to continue our collaboration with INSP-TL in strengthening Timor-Leste’s health system across clinical, laboratory, and public health domains that are directly benefiting Timorese people. This partnership reinforces our shared commitment to addressing health challenges through evidence-based action, capacity building, and sustainable systems aligned with national priorities. The signing of this agreement marks a significant step forward in building a stronger, more resilient health system, anchored in local leadership, collaboration, and innovation.

The signing ceremony was attended by the President of INSP-TL, Dr. Merita Antónia Armindo Monteiro, MPH, and the Director of Menzies Professor Alan Cass AO, alongside team members from both institutions.

27/10/2025

Congratulations to Emeritus Professor John Wakerman who recently received the National Rural Health Alliance’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his immense contribution to improving health outcomes across remote and rural Australia.

This distinguished award was presented at the 10th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs).

It highlights John’s dedication to improving access to primary health care in remote settings, stabilising the remote health workforce, and the importance of research to drive policy and practice change.

More recently he commenced the groundwork for building a sustainable program of research in Central Australia. The Symposium also saw the official launch of the Menzies Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre (RHC3).

Thank you for your outstanding contribution, John!

Read more about John’s career-long impact: https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/News_and_Events/Latest_News/

National Rural Health Alliance