Burnet Institute

09/02/2026

What do we really know about young people’s health?

Our 2025 S*x, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll Survey is prompting important national conversation. The survey captures the health knowledge, behaviours and experiences of young people aged 15–29.

Through our survey, we found that:
👉 s*xual health knowledge is mixed
👉 school-based education is uneven
👉 va**ng remains high despite known harm
👉 alcohol and drug use is common
👉 young people want broader health conversations.

"We need relevant, practical health education that truly meets young people where they are," said Associate Professor Megan Lim, Head of Young People's Health group at Burnet.

The survey findings highlight a clear need to rethink how we engage young people on s*x, drugs and health.

Explore the findings: https://www.burnet.edu.au/our-work/projects/young-people-s-health-in-australia-statistics-from-the-s*x-drugs-and-rock-n-roll-survey/2025-s*x-drugs-and-rock-n-roll-survey-results/?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=meganlimsdrrfeb26

06/02/2026

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve raised over $75,000 to help create safe, supportive spaces for young people in Myanmar 🧡

These funds mean we can roll out a new approach to community mental healthcare. Over the next 12 months, this looks like:
✅ 3,000+ young people accessing 40 community safe spaces
✅ 1,000 young people receiving mental health counselling and medical care
✅ 90 youth leaders trained and mobilised
✅ 500 households supported through home-visit packages

Our Myanmar Country Representative Dr Phone Myint Win thanks our generous donors: "Your help has been so important to create new, safe and inspiring groups – to meet young people where they are, so they're seen and heard. To give them a voice and ensure they have the tools to lead healthier lives."

Learn more about our work with Myanmar youth: https://myanmar-youth-appeal.burnet.edu.au/?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=donorimpact

Image description: Myanmar country office staff Pwint Thazin Hlaing, Theint Theint Maung Aye and Dr Zay Yar Swe.

30/01/2026

What is the Nipah virus – and should Australians be concerned?

Recent cases in India have put Nipah virus in the spotlight. Nipah is a rare zoonotic virus that can spread from animals to humans and, in some cases, between people.

Bat virologist Dr Joshua Hayward, senior research officer at Burnet Institute, answers some of the most common questions, explaining what it is, how it spreads, and why strong surveillance and preparedness matter.

Read it here:

Bat virologist Dr Joshua Hayward answers some of the most common questions on Nipah virus.

15/01/2026

Supporting hepatitis elimination at every stage 🦠❌

Our experts are working together with communities, health services and governments to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Our work includes:
🔬 Developing point-of-care diagnostics to bring hepatitis C testing into community settings.
👥 Co-designing models of care with communities to improve testing and treatment access.
📊 Identifying cost-effective ways to improve hepatitis B birth dose vaccine delivery and management.
📝 Contributing to the first WHO guidelines for hepatitis C screening, care and treatment.
🏥 Increasing hepatitis C testing and treatment in community pharmacies through 'EXPAND-C.'
🤝 Establishing the EC Australia partnership to unite health services, community and government.

See link in comments to learn more about our work in hepatitis B and C.

09/01/2026

When a person in Papua New Guinea is diagnosed with tuberculosis, their treatment can be long and difficult.

Patients might take antibiotics for 6‐9 months, or up to 2 years for multi‐drug‐resistant TB. At the same time they might have to deal with side effects, stigma, and social isolation.

Patients need support to see their treatment through.

💡 That's where peer counselling comes in.

“Quality counselling ensures patients and their families feel empowered throughout their TB treatment journey and have support to overcome the many challenges involved in completing their full course of TB treatment,” says Burnet TB Specialist Oretha Paye-Mehngonzeh. Oretha leads a team of peer counsellors in PNG's Western Province.

As part of the Reducing the Impact of Drug‐Resistant Tuberculosis (RID‐TB) project, 22 patient education and counselling team members have now been certified as accredited counsellors through the PNG Counselling Association.

Many of these counsellors have lived experience with TB and will play an essential role in providing support that improves treatment adherence and outcomes.

Rachel Emilius, lead peer counsellor in Kiunga, says: “People build trust through counselling and our support. Counsellors guide, encourage, and show empathy. These are powerful tools that help people find strength and hope in themselves.”

Find out more about this initiative on our website: https://www.burnet.edu.au/news/tb-treatment-can-be-long-and-difficult-in-png-peer-counsellors-are-helping/

RID-TB is supported by the Australian Government via the PNG Australia Transition to Health (PATH) Program.

19/12/2025

Many thanks to our partners, collaborators and donors for your support throughout 2025. Burnet Institute will be closed from 20 December through 4 January inclusive. We'll be back online when Burnet re-opens.

17/12/2025

Today marks one year since a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu.

Burnet Institute joins the people of Vanuatu in remembering those who lost their lives and acknowledging the lasting impact on families and communities across Port Vila and SHEFA Province. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting recovery efforts and strengthening health emergency preparedness in partnership with the Ministry of Health.

We honour the resilience, strength, and unity shown by communities as recovery continues.

Read more:
https://www.burnet.edu.au/news/one-year-on-from-the-vanuatu-earthquake/

17/12/2025

A life-threatening pregnancy condition can often be prevented with low-dose aspirin – if risk is identified early enough.

A landmark Burnet study awarded nearly US$500k will identify women at risk of pre‐eclampsia in low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Pre‐eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal and newborn deaths worldwide. It leads to an estimated 14% of maternal deaths each year. It’s also connected to around 7% of early newborn deaths.

“New tools use algorithms to predict a woman’s risk of developing pre‐eclampsia, and they are relatively accurate,” said Burnet Senior Research Fellow Dr Annie McDougall.

“But these tools were developed in high‐income countries, predominantly in white populations, and have not accounted for risk factors common in West or sub‐Saharan Africa, such as sickle cell disease, which is known to put women at a higher risk of pre‐eclampsia.

“Our project aims to improve the performance of these risk screening algorithms by adding factors that are more specific to sub‐Saharan African populations.”

🔗 Link in the comments to learn more about the study.

17/12/2025

What does youth-friendly care look like in practice? 🤸🏽‍♀️

Burnet expert Dr Elissa Kennedy recently co-facilitated adolescent health training for healthcare providers in Papua New Guinea.

One in 3 Papua New Guineans are aged between 10 and 24. One of the barriers they face is a lack of non-judgemental healthcare workers who are equipped with the skills to deliver responsive adolescent healthcare.

The training was practical and hands-on, incorporating role play so clinicians could learn how to respond when adolescents approach them with their concerns.

As one participant put it: “we didn’t only learn, but we put it into practice.”

Hear from Elissa and training participants in this video.

16/12/2025

What would your teen years have looked like without safety, support, or somewhere to turn?

It’s the reality for many young people in Myanmar – growing up through conflict, instability, and rising pressures on their mental and reproductive health.

Recently, Burnet leading experts Dr Elissa Kennedy and Dr Phone Myint Win shared powerful insights into problems adolescents are faced with in Myanmar, and what Burnet is doing to address them.

We need your help to expand community spaces so more young people can thrive.

▶️ Watch this recent information session with Dr Elissa Kennedy and Dr Phone Myint Win to find out how you can help change lives: https://myanmar-youth-appeal.burnet.edu.au/ --19

15/12/2025

“S*xually transmitted infections are considered taboos in our society so it requires special training to talk to mothers.”

🎥 Meet Kaylene. She’s an important partner in the campaign for ‘Triple Elimination’.

Triple Elimination is the global health campaign to prevent mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. Vanuatu and many other Pacific island countries have high rates of these infections.

In this video, Kaylene, a participant in the 'Healthy Family Toolkit Training of Trainers' in Port Vila, explains why this training matters.

Kaylene says that conversations about HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B can be difficult. These infections carry a stigma that can make it harder for mothers to seek care.

Through this training, Kaylene and her colleagues are learning how to have conversations with mothers and share the information families need to stay healthy.

For Kaylene, one of the most valuable parts of the program has been learning how to counsel women who test positive to HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B.

What happens next is just as important. Participants will take what they’ve learned back to their communities and train other health workers across Vanuatu. We hope this will make a big difference in the campaign for Triple Elimination.

This work is the result of a partnership between Burnet and Health Promotions Vanuatu. It shows the critical importance of locally led training.

🙏 With thanks to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives for supporting this work.

15/12/2025

6 questions. 24 hours only.

🗓️ Check our Instagram Stories THIS Thursday 18 December to take the quiz: https://www.instagram.com/stories/burnetinstitute/

Let’s see how much you know about s*xual health 🤓

Come and get tested
(and go and get tested!)