OCHRe News
30 June 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
UQ Poche Centre
PHD Opportunity
The UQ Poche Centre are seeking a PhD candidate for the project Preventing non-communicable diseases (PreventNCD) among Indigenous children and youth in major cities of Australia.This project is working alongside Professor Abdullah Mamun.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are eligible for a living stipend of up to $53,900 tax free annually.
Enquiries can be submitted to a.mamun@uq.edu.au or poche.hdr.support@uq.edu.au
OCHRe Scholarships and Grants on Offer
Maali Hub | Current Offers
Indigenous Early / Mid Career Researchers | Health Research Related Support Fund Item
The Maali Hub Indigenous EMCR Health Research Related Support Fund is available to support Early to Mid-Career Researchers with project costs, health research related training, international and national conferences.
This is a continuous Open Round which opened on 1 March 2025 and closes on 30 November 2025.
Research support funding offered includes:
$10,000 Research support costs
$5,000 Training
$5,000 International conference attendance
$2,500 National conference attendance
Please submit your application to maalihub@ecu.edu.au.
NEXGEN Hub | Current Offers
Health Research Experience Scholarships Program 2025
Round 2 Applications opened on 9 March 2025
NEXGEN are pleased to announce the launch of Health Research Experience Scholarships Program (Round 2) 2025 as part of our OCHRe NEXGEN Hub.
For this round, NEXGEN Hub will offer 12 Health Research Experience Scholarships Program (Scholarships) valued at $10,000 each. These Scholarships will provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders enrolled in an undergraduate degree (including Honours) or a postgraduate coursework program, to gain or enhance their research experience and skills.
The offer will be offered exclusively to Investigators (CIs and AIs) named on the NHMRC Targeted Call for Research application (APP 2005944: OCHRe).
This is a continuous Open Round.
Opened | 9 March 2025
Closes | 30 September 2025 or when all Scholarships have been awarded, whichever is the sooner
Contact | nexgen@sph.uq.edu.au
For further information and application forms for both offers, see OCHRe Website - https://www.ochrenetwork.org/scholarships
Webinars, Workshops and Professional Development
DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE: Northern Australia Partnership’s
2025 Annual Education Symposium
This one-day event will be held on Friday 8th August
Join us for the DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE: Northern Australia Partnership's 2025 Annual Educational Symposium
Focused on sharing new research and insights into the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, this year’s event is theme is: From Research to Change: the Impact of Community-led partnership in Diabetes.
We’re looking forward to welcoming our two keynote speakers presenting in person: Professor Brandy Wicklow (University of Manitoba, Canada) and Associate Professor Jacqueline Boyle (Monash Health).
This full-day event will be hosted from Menzies JMB in Darwin, with satellite sites in Alice Springs and Cairns, as well as online (via Zoom).
8:00 am – 4:30 pm (ACST)
More details about the program to come.
Registration is essential Click here to register
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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing:
Indigenous Datathon: Applying Indigenous Data Governance to Healthcare
Expressions of interest are now open to attend the Indigenous Datathon 2025
Location: Brisbane
Dates: October 11 and 12, 2025
Co-located with International Data Week 2025, the event will see participants explore real-world questions using data science, guided by the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) of Indigenous data governance.
The event is being run by the Indigenous Data Network (University of Melbourne), the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), QUT Centre for Data Science (QUT CDS) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane (ATSICHS-Brisbane).
The event is designed for post-graduate students, clinicians, researchers, or emerging data scientists. Participants will work in teams to analyse healthcare datasets while learning how to apply ethical, culturally responsive data practices.
It is an opportunity for participants to sharpen their skills, connect with others, and contribute to meaningful, values-driven solutions. We welcome participants with a wide range of backgrounds and skills who are interested in engaging with health data, but we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to apply.
Numbers are limited to ensure each participant is well supported by mentors, subject domain experts and datathon volunteers.
Please submit your expression of interest by June 29, 2025 here: https://mspgh.unimelb.edu.au/centres-institutes/onemda/research-group/indigenous-data-network/indigenous-datathon-2025
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
EOIs to present and/or host a stall at the 2025 First Nations Health Communication Symposium are now closed. The event will be held in both Darwin and Alice Springs. Event details here: First Nations Health Communication Symposium + Workshops - Menzies
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.
Queensland Health and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Launch of a new Queensland Portal
This portal provides health information and resources to support anyone working or studying in First Nations health in Queensland, including students, academics and policy makers.
Funded by the Queensland Government Department of Health, the new Portal includes a map that allows users to filter content by Queensland’s Hospital and Health Services for a faster, more efficient search for relevant publications, resources, programs, organisations, courses and jobs. The Portal also supports the workforce with information on Queensland-specific events and funding opportunities.
The Portal is located on the HealthInfoNet website under the Learn tab and under the Locations subheading. Visit the Queensland Portal to access up-to-date information and culturally appropriate resources on First Nations health in Queensland.
ou can also stay connected with the latest updates and content added to the Portal by signing up to the monthly Queensland State Newsletter and by subscribing to our yarning places: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
Indigenous Knowledge’s: co-creating our own futures Symposium
This one day symposium brings together established and emerging indigenous scholars and practitioners to explore Indigenous Knowledges
Interest in Indigenous knowledge has increased considerably over the last few decades. For quite some time longer, Indigenous scholars, activists, and communities have been working to revitalise, reclaim, and regenerate them. What can we learn from these ongoing efforts? What learnings are there for the purpose and practice of knowledge-making and philosophical inquiry (broadly understood)? How does Indigenous knowledge relate to other knowledges (such as, for instance, though not limited to modern scientific knowledge)? How are indigenous knowledges embedding and creating flourishing futures for indigenous communities?
Date: Friday 4th July 2025
Time: 9am – 4:30pm
Location: St Leo's College, College Road Saint Lucia, QLD 4067
If you are interested, please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/indigenous-knowledges-co-creating-our-own-futures-tickets-1281179334879?aff=oddtdtcreator
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing:
Indigenous Datathon: Applying Indigenous Data Governance to Healthcare
Expressions of interest are now open to attend the Indigenous Datathon 2025
Location: Brisbane
Dates: October 11 and 12, 2025
Co-located with International Data Week 2025, the event will see participants explore real-world questions using data science, guided by the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) of Indigenous data governance.
The event is being run by the Indigenous Data Network (University of Melbourne), the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), QUT Centre for Data Science (QUT CDS) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane (ATSICHS-Brisbane).
The event is designed for post-graduate students, clinicians, researchers, or emerging data scientists. Participants will work in teams to analyse healthcare datasets while learning how to apply ethical, culturally responsive data practices.
It is an opportunity for participants to sharpen their skills, connect with others, and contribute to meaningful, values-driven solutions. We welcome participants with a wide range of backgrounds and skills who are interested in engaging with health data, but we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to apply.
Numbers are limited to ensure each participant is well supported by mentors, subject domain experts and datathon volunteers.
Please submit your expression of interest by June 29, 2025 here: https://mspgh.unimelb.edu.au/centres-institutes/onemda/research-group/indigenous-data-network/indigenous-datathon-2025
Events & Opportunities in 2025
see www.ochrenetwork.org/events
CATSINaM Regional Congress
2 – 4 July | Waibene, Qld
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 Wellbeing Conference 2025 | 20 – 21 October | Meanjin (Brisbane)
Walking Together, Flourishing Together: Pathways to Indigenous Wellbeing
Join us in Meanjin (Brisbane) as we share solutions to the most important wellbeing needs of all First Nations Australian, Māori and Pasifika people.
Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025
20 – 21 October | Meanjin (Brisbane)
Walking Together, Flourishing Together: Pathways to Indigenous Wellbeing
Join us in Meanjin (Brisbane) as we share solutions to the most important wellbeing needs of all First Nations Australian, Māori and Pasifika people.
OCHRe Convocation
29 – 30 October Brisbane
Voices of Country: Research, Resilience and Renewal
Meanjin, Turrbal Country (Brisbane)
Indigenous Allied Health Australia
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
For 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.
CANCER AUSTRALIA
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Technical Service (2025-2027)
Release of Approach to Market - Closes 9 July 2025
Cancer Australia is pleased to share a new opportunity for interested Indigenous led organisations/or consortia groups to set up a new National Technical Service for the Supporting Cancer Clinical Trials program aiming to improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This service will support the 14 Multi-site Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trial Groups to better integrate culturally safe and respectful approaches in cancer clinical trial protocols and concept designs to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people impacted by cancer. This is a two-year opportunity with the potential to extend in subsequent years up until 2030.
To apply or learn more, please visit AusTender here. Applications close 3:00pm (AEST) on Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
ALIGN (Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics) & The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)
Indigenous Visiting Research Fellowship
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and The Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) have collaborated to offer an excellent opportunity for an Indigenous Visiting Research Fellow. This opportunity will support an Indigenous researcher using advanced genomics to improve diagnostic outcomes for people with suspected genetic immune disease. Flexible funding of up to $300,000 over two years is available.
Fellows can range from PhD students who have completed their confirmation of candidature, through to post-graduate, mid-career researchers. Clinicians with an interest in research are also welcome to apply.
Applications for this program opened May 2025 and are reviewed on a rolling basis, so you may apply at any time.
For further information, view the website here OR scan the QR code
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
Academic Opportunities Available for Indigenous Australians
Monash University | Victoria
Monash University’s Faculty of Arts is offering exciting academic opportunities for Indigenous Australians across a wide range of disciplines. Bring your expertise, your perspective, and your passion to a university committed to meaningful change.
At the Monash Faculty of Arts, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse academic environment that champions Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and perspectives. As one of Australia’s largest and most dynamic arts faculties, we offer strengths across the humanities, performing arts, languages, and social sciences, encouraging innovative studies that bridge traditional disciplines.
Applications Close Sunday 20th July 2025
For further information, click here
