Menzies School of Health Research

20/08/2026

Thanks to Nate Byrne and the ABC News Breakfast team for having our melioidosis researchers Mark Mayo and Jayde Hopkins, as part of the live weather-cross yesterday morning!

Nate joined the team in Darwin to chat about melioidosis, a tropical disease caused by bacteria found in our environment. Mark and Jayde also shared some of the ways they are making science interactive, like the game ‘Melioid Mayhem’ - a version of co****le that creates awareness about where the bacterium that causes melioidosis is found.

It was great to see science communication in action as Jayde talked through how she uses her skills as an artist to help make science more accessible - and how the team have been inspiring the next generation of scientists (and artists) through the Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre school outreach program.

This is just one of the ways our teams are celebrating National !

14/08/2026

You’ve likely heard of the award-winning podcast ‘Ask the Specialist’, which answers your burning questions to support culturally safe care.

With more than 67, 000 downloads of the podcast so far, we’re excited to be working behind-the-scenes to bring new episodes to you soon!

Menzies’ Communicate Study Partnership, in collaboration with The Purple House, 8CCC Community Radio 102.1fm - Alice Springs & Tennant Creek and Swinburne University of Technology have been working with Aboriginal Leaders from Central Australia to answer key questions asked anonymously by health professionals from the region.

Pictured is one of the Podcast's co-hosts Donna Lemon Napaltjarri with Specialist Isobel Nampitjinpa Major at recent recording session.

In the meantime - catch up on the podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/4accupwr

07/08/2026

Can digital technology help close the healthcare access gap in remote Aboriginal communities?

A new study led by Menzies researchers Vishnu Khanal, Kureisha Wilson, and Deb Russell, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, explores the ongoing healthcare challenges faced by remote communities.

The findings show digital technologies hold real promise for improving access to care, but only if the technical and implementation challenges are addressed first.

Read the article to learn more: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-026-03480-6

07/08/2026

Akompana artigu ida-ne’e husi Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), ne’ebé destaka kona-ba ita-nia aprosimasaun kolaborativu One Health hodi hamenus transmisaun moras bruselosis iha Timor-Leste.

Projetu ida ne’e, ho naran BRUCE TL, ne'ebe demonstra forsa husi "akompana" - servisu hamutuk. Liuhusi servisu hamutuk ho komunidade lokál sira no nivel governu hotu-hotu, ekipa dezenvolve ona solusaun prátika sira ne'ebé lidera husi komunidade hodi haforsa saúde animál, saúde públika no kapasidade lokál.

Parabéns ba ekipa BRUCE TL, ita nia parseiru sira no Chief Investigator Associate Professor Shawn Ting ba sira-nia kompromisu hodi hamenus risku moras bruselosis iha Timor-Leste.

Check out this article by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which highlights our collaborative One Health approach to reducing brucellosis transmission in Timor-Leste.

This project, called BRUCE TL, demonstrates the power of akompana - working side by side. By working alongside local communities and all levels of government, the team has developed practical community-led solutions that strengthen animal health, public health and local capacity.

Congratulations to the BRUCE TL team, our partners and Chief Investigator Associate Professor Shawn Ting for their commitment to reducing the risk of brucellosis in Timor-Leste.

, IDRC / CRDI and Menzies School of Health Research are working closely with Timorese communities and government partners to co-create practical, locally adapted solutions that reduce the risk of brucellosis transmission between animals and people. By combining local knowledge with research, these efforts are supporting safer farming practices and strengthening regional health security. 🇹🇱

Read more: https://ow.ly/Hk0550ZuTXf

Australian Embassy, Timor-Leste | Ministério da Agricultura Pecuâria Pescas E Florestas | Palácio das Cinzas

05/08/2026

Celebrate National Science Week in Mparntwe (Alice Springs)! 🔬🌱

Join Menzies Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre (RHC3) for a free interactive STEM Open Day packed with a range of science and health activities for students, families and the wider community.

Get hands-on with science by testing water and soil, exploring germs under UV light, learning about blood in diabetes + much more.
📅 Date | Wednesday 19 August 2026
🕞 Time | 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm (school groups attending earlier in the day)
📍 Location | Building 15, Charles Darwin University Alice Springs Campus
🎟️ Register for free: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/science-for-health-climate-and-health-awareness-in-remote-australia-tickets-1990613515611

This event is proudly delivered by Menzies RHC3, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs Town Council, Children's University Australasia, CSIRO and Desert Knowledge Australia, with support from a National Science Week event grant.

Read our latest media release: https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/News_and_Events/Latest_News/

31/07/2026

For people living in remote Aboriginal communities, reliable digital access can be an important part of accessing healthcare.

New research led by Menzies researchers Karina Coombes, Alexander Puruntatmeri, Vishnu Khanal, Kureisha Wilson, and Deb Russell, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, has explored digital technology use and eHealth literacy in a very remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory.

Published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health the study found that while digital device use by the community was common, the use of technology for accessing healthcare was limited.

The findings highlight the importance of investing in the foundations needed for equitable digital health access, including reliable internet connectivity, community WiFi, and access to devices and digital skills support.

Read the article to learn more: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.70210

MacDonnell Regional Council NT Health

28/07/2026

Health & housing | We’re proud to be leading one of the projects funded under the National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC and Medical Research Council’s Targeted Call for Research to better understand the connection between homelessness and health.

Partnering locally with Aboriginal Housing NT (AHNT) and Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation alongside national and international collaborators, this work will investigate the health impacts of housing instability, rough sleeping and overcrowding in the Northern Territory (NT).

Commencing early next year, this co-designed work will focus on Aboriginal leadership and lived experience to support health and housing policy and service delivery changes to be culturally appropriate and benefit Aboriginal people.

Learn more about this work via our latest media release: https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/News_and_Events/Latest_News/

27/07/2026

It was great to see Menzies Senior Research Fellow Dr Michelle Fitts presenting alongside Adj. Prof. Jennifer Cullen AM at the Breaking the Hold Conference in Meanjin (Brisbane), hosted by the Red Rose Foundation Australia.

Drawing on research from the Head Health and Healing Project, they shared the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families, affected by violence-related traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The presentation explored how physical violence to the head and non-fatal strangulation shape everyday life. It looked at what influences a woman's decision to seek healthcare after these injuries. It also outlined recommendations for creating more responsive, culturally safe and appropriate service systems to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have experienced these injuries, and their families.

Learn more about the Head Health and Healing Project: https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Research/Indigenous_Health/Preventive_health/Head_Health_and_Healing/

JCU: James Cook University, Australia

22/07/2026

Workforce retention | A new study led by Menzies researchers has revealed what retention initiatives remote primary health care workers prefer when it comes to staying in remote jobs across Australia – like having flexible time off, support for training and financial incentives.

Published in BMC Health Services Research, the paper shares insights from more than 225 remote health care workers. It highlights the importance of bundling initiatives preferred by staff into a comprehensive, flexible workforce retention package.

Financial incentives were the most preferred retention initiative by non-Indigenous staff, whereas for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, First Nations leadership was the most important influence on remaining in their role.

Learn more about these findings and read the study in full via our latest media release: https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/News_and_Events/Latest_News/

18/07/2026

This we’re giving a shout out to the Menzies ‘Doing It Together’ project and the peer facilitators supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people living with type 2 diabetes.

Demicia, one of our dedicated Peer Facilitators, reminds us that real change happens when communities lead the conversation.

Under Diabetes Australia’s theme ‘Stronger Together’, she has shared, “we [Peer Facilitators] can form a bond with kids through games and talk with young people from our experience of diabetes. We can use family connections, our cultural knowledge and language to talk about the research and help get answers to the research questions."

By sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and creating culturally safe spaces, peer facilitators are helping young people build healthier futures for themselves, their families, and the next generation.

Led by Dr Angela Titmuss, the Doing It Together project is a collaboration between Menzies, Katherine West Health Board, Wurli-Wurlinjang Aboriginal Health Service, Gulf Youth Community Services and NT Health. It is made possible thanks to AUScelerate’s (formerly MTPConnect) Targeted Translation Research Accelerator with support from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund. The project hopes to build sustainable models of youth to youth diabetes support within primary health care services.

Learn more about the ‘Doing It Together’ Project which is a part of the DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE: Northern Australia Partnership: https://diabeteslifecourse.org.au/youth_diabetes/dit/