OCHRe News
20 May 2025
Dear OCHRe Members and Friends
We wish you a safe and happy weekend. If you have news you would like to share, please send it through to the team at ochre@uq.edu.au by Wednesday 2pm AEST.
OCHRe Central Hub www.ochrenetwork.org
News:
MJA | Menzies School of Health Research | Celebrating 40 Years of Research Impact
The Menzies Collection
This special publication of the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) — has been released today to mark our 40th anniversary in 2025.
This commemorative issue showcases 10 research papers that reflect the breadth and depth of Menzies’ contributions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and to the broader scientific and medical research landscape in Australia.
The selected papers span Menzies’ four decades of research and include four Annual Award-winning articles for the Best Original Clinical Research published in the MJA. They highlight our commitment to tackling the rising rates of diabetes in young First Nations Australians, and our long-standing contributions to the prevention and management of otitis media, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and chronic diseases.
The collection shines a light on systemic inequalities affecting First Nations Australians’ health and wellbeing. Papers focus on the social determinants of child health, critical examination of expenditure on food and nutritional quality at the community-level, the impact of miscommunication in healthcare, and systematic differences in access to hospital treatment.
This collection reflects the evolution of Menzies’ work — from its early roots in the Northern Territory to a far-reaching impact across Northern Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
You can explore the full collection here: The Menzies Collection – Medical Journal of Australia.
Prof Alan Cass, Director Menzies, spoke with Sally Block, MJA’s News and Online Editor, about the story behind the collection. Listen to the podcast here: MJA Podcast: Menzies 40-Year Anniversary
Scholarships & Bursaries:
www.ochrenetwork.org/opportunities
Auora Foundation
Education and Employment opportunities
The Aurora Education Foundation is an Indigenous organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full education and employment potential.
We walk with students through our interconnected programs, advancing Indigenous educational and employment success.
Aurora’ Pathways Portal – a one-stop shop for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarship resources and opportunities nation-wide.
Aurora’s Internship Program - paid internships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with a network of host organisations across the country. The program includes up to $900 per week and up to $3,800 for travel and accommodation for away-from-home internships. Inquiries to Internships@aurorafoundation.com.au
Aurora International Scholarships and Study Tour – Aurora administers the Roberta Sykes and Charlie Perkins Scholarships. These support postgraduate level study at international universities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students or recent graduates. We work closely with students thinking about applying. This includes specific assistance in how to approach the scholarship application process and international study tours, so students can meet with peers and past scholars from across the country, and experience international universities first-hand before they apply. Inquiries to StudyTour@aurorafoundation.com.au
For any general information about any of our programs please contact info@aurorafoundation.com.au Alternatively, touch with all the latest opportunities with Aurora by signing up to our newsletter
Webinars, Workshops and Professional Development
Australian Health Research Alliance | Webinars
In Their Own Words: Managing Small Grant Projects
by WHRTN, 27 May, 2pm AEST, online
For further information, click here.
ALIGN (Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics)
Launched ALIGN’s Online Course - Genomics Our Way | An Introduction to Genomics Research with Indigenous Australians
ALIGN were able to develop and deliver this first-of-its-kind course through the ALIGN network, the OCHRE network, with financial support from the Australian Academy of Science–Theo Murphy Initiative (AAS-TMI).
What’s next?
Register now and take the course!
https://indigenousgenomics.com.au/courses/genomicsourway/Please share it with your colleagues, networks, and communities.
Follow the new ALIGN LinkedIn business page and help us amplify the campaign.
Tell us what you think - we’d love your feedback and reflections once you’ve completed the course.
‘Genomics Our Way’ is more than a course—it’s a statement about how genomics research with Indigenous Australians should be done.
Connecting Hearts & Minds | Webinar
Partnerships with Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services
Date: Tuesday 27th May 2025 Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Presenters: Paul Hussein & Dr. Poornima Ramamurthy from Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services
Join us for a webinar featuring Paul Hussein and Dr. Poornima Ramamurthy from Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services, where they will share their expertise on building meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services.
Zoom link: https://georgehub.zoom.us/j/83432259548
Communicate Study Partnership | Hosted by Menzies School of Health Research
First Nations Health Communication Symposium | Stories that matter: reflecting and collaborating for change
EOI open: presentations, panels & information stalls
21 & 22 August 2025 – Larrakia Country, Darwin, and Arrernte Country, Alice Springs.
Example topics include:
Codesign and collaboration
Intercultural communication
Culturally safe communication
Health literacy
Shared decision making
Communication in clinical education
Media and health communication
Technology in health communication
Patient-centred care
Bilingual workforce initiatives
A reminder to please submit your EOIs to present and/or host a stall at the 2025 First Nations Health Communication Symposium by Friday 16th May. The event will be held in both Darwin and Alice Springs. Event details here: First Nations Health Communication Symposium + Workshops - Menzies
If you would like to present at the Symposium, please submit the following form and return to communicatestudypartnership@menzies.edu.au by Friday 16 May 2025.
MENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH | THE NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT | DJALKIRI | CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
If you would like to present at the Symposium, please submit the following form and return to communicatestudypartnership@menzies.edu.au by Friday 16 May 2025.
University of Queensland Poche Centre
Pathways Program to a PhD: Doing Research for Mob
Ever thought about further studies to expand your career opportunities in the health and wellbeing space? Are you working in the health and human services industry and looking for a change or a new challenge? Do you want to learn about doing research with your community? Have you ever wondered about research and what's involved in a PhD?
Then UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Pathways Program to a PhD is for you.
To register your interest in the next Pathways Program to a PhD, which will be held on 19-21 August 2025, please complete the Pathways to a PhD expression of interest form.
When: 19 - 21 August 2025
Where: The University of Queensland, St Lucia and Toowong Campuses.
If you would like to learn more, contact poche.hdr.pathways@uq.edu.au.
Link to website here.
Child and Adolescent Health Services (CAHS) WA
Research Skills Seminar Series 2025
CAHS offers a range of research skills seminars throughout the year. You can attend in person or online.
Some of the topics include: Ethics Processes for Clinical Research in WA, Research Governance , Addressing the most common MRFF criteria, Introductory Biostatistics, Conducting Systematic Reviews, Rapid Critical Appraisal of Scientific Literature, Involving Aboriginal Communities in Research
Check out the full program for the year here.
Invitation to EMCRs to attend one day workshop – Intellectual Property Strategy
Delivered by FB Rice in Collaboration with ASHRA
The Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator is joining with leading Australian Intellectual Property firm, FB Rice, to provide a full day workshop on intellectual property strategy and patents. This workshop will provide tailored advice to support EMCRs in protecting their research innovations, avoiding disclosures, and building a patent portfolio to attract investors.
The workshop will be held at the FB Rice offices in Melbourne CBD on Monday the 19th of May 2025. Workshop sessions will include seminars, Q&A panels, and the opportunity to seek individual advice from patent attorneys.
The session is suitable for EMCRs from across the ASHRA network, with capacity for 25 people. EMCRs who have attended previous ASHRA translation and commercialisation workshops are welcome to attend as we seek to build the ASHRA EMCR network.
WHAT | Intellectual Property Strategy Workshop
WHERE | FB Rice Offices, Melbourne CBD
WHEN | Monday the 19th of May 2025
COST | Free. Travel expenses (flights and one night’s accommodation) will be covered for those attending from outside of Melbourne.
If you would like to attend, please contact zclayton@georgeinstitute.org.au with a brief description of how this workshop may be of interest to you and confirmation of your status as an EMCR.
Events & Opportunities in 2025
see www.ochrenetwork.org/events
AIATSIS Summit
(Australian Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies)
2 – 6 June Darwin
Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening our Future
The AIATSIS Summit provides a unique forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, leaders, and youth along with Academics, Native Title stakeholders, legal experts, GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector and government representatives to come together and collaborate on the issues that matter most to First Nations peoples.
For further information and to register, click here.
CSANZ
(Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand)
4th Indigenous Cardiovascular Health Conference 2025
17 – 19 June Sydney
Travelling Fellowships available to First Nations people | closes 12 May
Lowitja Conference | 16 – 19 June
KAURNA COUNTRY ADELAIDE SA
Our 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2025 theme is Strong, Fearless, Together and honours the legacy of our co-patron and namesake, the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG.
Start planning now!
For further information and to register, click here.
OCHRe Convocation | 29 – 30 October Brisbane
Voices of Country: Research, Resilience and Renewal
Meanjin, Turrbal Country (Brisbane)
CATSINaM Regional Congress | 2 – 4 July | Waibene, Qld
REGIONAL CONGRESS 2025
Nursing Zageth Midwifery Dorge. | The Power of Bringing your Practice Home
For further information, click here.
10th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium
8 – 9 October | Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
Research from the heart – shaping rural & remote health futures’
If you have research findings to share, this is your opportunity to contribute to a movement dedicated to improving rural and remote health in Australia.
Presentation Opportunities: Find the Right Format for You
Indigenous Allied Health Australia
2025 National Conference
24 – 26 November - Sunshine Coast
Tradition to Transformation: Leading in Allied Health
For more information and to register, click here.
Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
27 – 29 November - ICC Sydney • Gadigal Country
Evoking Sovereignty, Honouring Country, Nurturing CommunityFor more information, click AIDA 2025 Conference
.
GRANT CONNECT
All Australian Government grant opportunities are advertised on Grant Connect including NHMRC, MRFF, ARC and many other grants. Below are some current opportunities.
For current list of all grants on Grant Connect click here.
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
CHM – 2025 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity
The MRFF Cardiovascular Health Mission aims to make transformative improvements in cardiovascular health and stroke management for all Australians.
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 16 July 2025
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 13 August 2025
For further information, click here.
DAACM – 2025 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity
The objectives and outcomes of this grant opportunity align with the Roadmap and Implementation Plan for the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission.
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 23 July 2025
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 20 August 2025
For further information, click here.
Rapid Applied Research Translation
This initiative supports the translation of research evidence into clinical practice and better quality of care for patients by encouraging collaborations between academic researchers, health service providers, consumers and other end users on projects to improve health care delivery, service and systems sustainability.
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 7 July 2025
For further information, click here.
Global Health Initiative
2025 Mental Health and Climate Change Grant Opportunity
The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that, through co-design with consumers and health services, develop scalable and sustainable interventions to mitigate the impact of climate change on Australians’ mental health.
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 25 June 2025
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 23 July 2025
For further information, click here.
MRFF 2022 Frontier Health and Medical Research Grant Opportunity
This grant opportunity offers funding to support medical research and medical innovation programs of research that deliver a ‘moonshot’ by creating a treatment for a currently serious and incurable health condition, through a series of linked projects. The program of research can propose to develop novel health technologies and/or re-purpose existing health technologies in a novel way.
We expect that expressions of interest will close on 31 March 2026, with the last grants awarded by 30 June 2027.
Total Amount Available (AUD): $400,000,000
Estimated Grant Value (AUD): $25,000,000
For further information, click here.
Early to Mid-Career Researchers Initiative
2025 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant Opportunity
The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects for Early to Mid-Career Researchers.
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 25 June 2025
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 23 July 2025
For further information, click here.
MRFF – PPHRI – 2025 Incorporating Patient Data in Health Technology Assessment Decision Making Grant Opportunity
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 25 June 2025
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 23 July 2025
For further information, click here.
National Health and Medical Research Council
Partnership Projects – 2025
Partnership Projects will support collaborations, within the Australian context, that translate research evidence into health policy and health practice, to improve health services and processes
Minimum data closes at 17:00 ACT local time on the following dates:
PRC2 – 23 July 2025
PRC3 – 12 November 2025
For further information, click here.
Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2025
The Linkage Projects scheme supports projects which initiate or develop long term strategic research alliances to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.
To facilitate successful collaboration between higher education institutions and other parts of the innovation system, there will be two assessment rounds for Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2025. Please refer to the Important Dates document for detailed information about the assessment round dates.
Estimated Grant Value (AUD) | From $100,000 to $1,500,000.
Application closes | 25 June 2025
For further information, click here.
2025 NHMRC-Global Alliance Chronic Diseases: Strengthening Health Systems
Total Grant Pool (AUD) | $5,000,000
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 28 October 2025
For further information, click here.
Women in Transplantation (WIT)
Research Fellowship in Sex and Gender in Solid Organ Transplantation
Women in Transplantation is delighted to announce WIT funding opportunities for 2025. This marks the fifth year we are offering the Research Fellowship in Sex and Gender in Solid Organ Transplantation. These fellowships will support the next generation of scientists, furthering our understanding of the importance of sex and gender in transplantation. This is a growing field of interest, and the more we learn, the closer we are to applying these findings to clinical care to benefit patients and donors.
For further information, click here.
Employment
Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner
Recruiting Two Part-Time Deputy National Rural Health Commissioners
By Department of Health & Aged Care
Two part-time (0.3FTE) Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner positions are available in nursing and allied health.
Type: part time
Location: Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Perth
Applications By: 20th May 2025
Two part-time (0.3FTE) Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner positions are available in nursing and allied health, to provide a broad range of advice related to rural health issues. The Deputy Commissioners will report directly to the National Rural Health Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioners will have extensive experience within the rural and remote health, workforce and training sector, are capable of collaborating and consulting closely with a broad range of stakeholders, and are passionate about improving health outcomes in regional, rural and remote Australia.
These are Identified positions which are open to all Australian citizens and will require applicants to demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting First Nations peoples, and a demonstrated ability to communicate thoughtfully, sensitively and effectively with First Nations people, peak bodies and workforce and training organisations. First Nations people are encouraged to apply.
These positions are not location specific and the successful candidates will be offered an initial contract until 30 June 2026. Before applying, please obtain selection documentation by emailing admin@amandaorourke.com.au quoting Ref No 1162.
REMEMBER: If you have news you would like to share or promote a program(s) from your organisation, please send it through to the team at ochre@uq.edu.au by Wednesday 2pm AEST. OR, enter it directly into the OCHRe Website here.
NSW Health
Recruiting National Indigenous Immunisation Lead – REQ571789
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander - Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing:
Career Development Opportunity: The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is advertising for the National Indigenous Immunisation Lead position.
Please see link: https://jobs.health.nsw.gov.au/jobs/national-indigenous-immunisation-lead-req571789-290347
Employment Type: Temporary Full Time up to 30 June 2026
Location: Westmead, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
Remuneration: 141974 - 169151 full time equivalent base salary range (excludes super, leave loading and salary packaging)
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ571789
Applications Close: 19/05/2025
For role related queries or questions contact Carol Corbett on Carol.Corbett@health.nsw.gov.au
If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander wishing to apply for this role and want to speak with an Aboriginal person/representative from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network please contact Wayne Dargan on wayne.dargan@health.nsw.gov.au
