Menzies HealthLAB is celebrating 10 years in the Territory!

HealthLAB is an educational, interactive, mobile, pop up laboratory where participants can take their own health measures and learn what they mean for their current and future health. 

Over its 10 years there have been over 14,000 HealthLAB participants including more than 5000 people from 23 remote towns and communities. 

HealthLAB stations include:

• Healthy Heart
• Ultrasound viewing of organs
• Healthy Eating
• Healthy Kidneys
• Healthy Babies
• No More Smokes
• Hygiene
• Alcohol
• Exercise
• Hydration
• Healthy Brain
• The HealthLAB Time Machine

And more! Just ask us.

Bookings for HealthLAB are available; email us to find out more.

2024 events:

• 9 February - International Day of Women and Girls in Science event at Casuarina Library
• 19 February – Darwin High School
• 22 March – Mackillop Catholic College
• 28 March – Taminmin College
• 3 April – Nightcliff Middle School Health Expo
• 8 April - Launch Darwin & Melaleuca ‘Marrara Sports Trek/Sports Taster’
• 9 May – Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Areyonga
• 13 May – SEDA College Menzies visit
• 16 May – Stars Foundation Menzies visit
• 31 May - Darwin High School Health Expo
• 14 June - Palmerston College Sports Day
• 20 June - Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Nawarddeken Academy
• 18 July - Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: APY Lands Women's council
• 24 July - Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Galiwinlku
• 8 August - Darwin Principles Professional Development Day
• 28 August - Henbury Science Day
• 29 August - Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Lajamanu
• 4 September - Darwin Middle School Health Expo 
• 5 September - Haileybury Rendall School visit
• 10 September - School of Sport
• 12 September - Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Elliot
• 16 September - SEDA student visit to Menzies
• 28 November - Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Groote Eylandt
• 3 December – Dripstone Middle School

What we do:

1. A school program across the Territory
2. A community program across the Territory
3. Collaborative HealthLABs with ACCHOs, NGOs, NT Government, and others
4. Training including a Digital Badge in Health Communication 
5. Youth4Youth HealthLABs 

Our aims:

• To increase awareness in the community about the health consequences of lifestyle choices made today on their later personal health and the health of their children yet to be born.
• To change behaviours linked to smoking, alcohol, physical activity and nutrition.
• To improve the health and wellbeing of the population and in the long term, to decrease the adult onset of chronic disease and improve the health of the next generation.

Our Staff

• Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan (HealthLAB Head)
• Nicole Boyd (Project lead and HealthLAB Manager)
• Mark Mayo (Executive lead)
• Charlotte Valle (Health promotion officer)
• Mele Tupou (Health promotion assistant)

Check out our Facebook page here: @menzieshealthlab

Menzies are currently seeking funding to develop the HealthLAB program into its full vision as a permanent outreach program for all Territorians to access.

Partnering with Menzies’ HealthLAB provides a unique opportunity to align your brand with Australia’s leading Indigenous health institute, a pivotal agency in national efforts to ‘close the gap’.

Why fund us?

We rely on the generous support of our donors, and 100% of each donation goes directly to taking HealthLAB to more people and places around the Territory. You may choose where your donation goes.

Donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to support this project:

Please contact Associate Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan via phone (08) 8946 8580 or email.

Donors and sponsors will be featured in HealthLAB's marketing material, reports, communication with stakeholders, and at HealthLAB events.

For more information contact the team at HealthLAB@menzies.edu.au.

2023 events:

• 17 February – Mackillop Catholic College Palmerston 
• 17 March – Darwin High School
• 28 March – Indigenous Allied Health Australia Menzies visit 
• 18 April – Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre: Wooliana students 
• 27 April – Ramingining School Health and Careers Expo 
• 31 May – World No Tobacco Day: Galiwin’ku 
• 2 June – Darwin High School Health Expo
• 13 June – Wadeye HealthLAB Women’s Community Health Day  
• 14 June – Wadeye Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College careers expo
• 9 August – National Stroke Week – Palmerston Shopping Centre
• 11 August – National Science Week – St Francis Xavier School – Nauiyu, Daly River
• 15 August – National Science Week – Palmerston Library
• 18 August – National Science Week – Xavier Catholic College Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island  

2022 events:

• 30 May – Tiwi Futures Expo
• 12 August – National Science Week - Palmerston Library
• 17 August – National Science Week – Dhupuma Barker School
• 18 August – National Science Week – Nhulunbuy High School
• 19 August – National Science Week – Yirrkala School
• 28 August – National Science Week – Charles Darwin University Open Day
• 31 August – Bidjipidji Program
• 7 September – Borroloola School Family Fun Day
• 23 September – Darwin Middle School Health Expo
• 17 October – Belyuen School 
• 27 October – St Francis Xavier School Daly River 

2021 events:

• 25 February - Darwin High School
• 26 February - O'Loughlin Catholic College
• 2 March - SEDA College
• 30 March - Casuarina Senior College, Stars Foundation students visit Menzies
• 28-30 April - Tennant Creek, Mungkarta and Ali Curung
• 4-5 May - Ti Tree
• 24-26 May - Borroloola and Robinson River
• 4 June - Darwin High School - Healthy Living Expo
• 11-13 June - Barunga Festival
• 12 August - National Science Week - Xavier College in Tiwi Islands
• 17 August - National Science Week -  Ramingining School - Postponed due to the Greater Darwin region lockdown
• 19 August - National Science Week – Parliament House - Cancelled due to the Greater Darwin region lockdown
• 21 August - National Science Week - Essington School Twilight Fete - Event postponed 
• 27 August- Ludmilla Primary School
• 31 August- Charles Darwin University Bidjipidji Program
• 13 September SEDA Netball Event - CDU Netball Stadium
• 6 October- Charles Darwin University Aspire Program visit Menzies
• 22 October- Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre – Groote Eylandt
• 28 October- Robinson River School
• 3 November- Remote Sports Academy
• 3 November- Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre- Gunbalanya
• 17-19 November- Groote Eylandt
• 24 November- Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre- Elliott

2020 events:

• 12 February - Darwin High School
• 3-4 March - Marrara Christian College 
• 11 March - Borroloola
• 16-17 September - Tennant Creek
• 6 October - TIO Stadium, Darwin
• 3 November - Melbourne Indigenous Transition School
• 10 November (NAIDOC week) - Borroloola High, Middle and Primary School
• 19 November - Forwaard, Men's Day
• 2 December - Katherine year 7 Clontarf Academy students visiting HealthLAB and touring Menzies facilities

2019 events:

• 13 February - Darwin High School
• 5 April- Darwin High School
• 1 May- Casuarina Nurses Community Centre
• 20 May - Pints of Science
• 31 May - Darwin High School Health Expo
• 7-9 June - Barunga Festival
• 13 June - Casuarina Secondary College Menzies Student Visit
• 18 June - Lowitja Conference
• 13 August - National Science Week: Milingimbi
• 15 August - National Science Week: Parliament House
• 18 August - National Science Week: Charles Darwin University
• 28 August - Casuarina Nurses Community Centre Evaluations  
• 30 September – Youth Summit
• 21 October – Borroloola Indi Kindi
• 22 October – Borroloola School
• 22 October – Borroloola John Moriarty Foundation soccer
• 4 November – NACCHO youth conference
• 5 November – NACCHO conference
• 27 November – Robinson River under 5 HealthLAB
• 27 November - Robinson River School

2018 events:

• March 1 | NT School of Distance Education​
• ​March 9 | Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC)
• March 15 | Maningrida - Closing the Gap Day
• March 16 | Menzies Closing the Gap Day
• March 18 | Tiwi Islands Grand Final 
• April 17 | Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC)
• April 22 | Youth Week wrap up at the Darwin Waterfront from 3pm to 6pm

• May 11 | Marrara Christian College

• May 18 | Darwin High School Expo

• May 18 | Alice Springs Shops

• May 19 | Yuendumu Women’s Centre

• May 20 | Bush Football Alice Springs

• May 25 | NTSDE Northern Territory School Of Distance Education

• June 1 | MLLLC

• June 8-10 | Barunga Festival

• June 19 | MLLLC

• June 29 | Batchelor College

• August 3-5 |  Garma Festival

• August 10 | National Science Week:  Xavier College Tiwi Islands

• August 14 | National Science Week: Parliament House, Darwin

• August 16 | National Science Week: Nhulunbuy High School

• August 17 | National Science Week: Nhulunbuy Shops

• September 4 | Palmerston Gateway Shopping Centre

• September 7 |  Palmerston College Special Education Unit

• September 8 | Indigenous Tennis Gala Day

• September 13 | Ramingining Health Day

• Septeber 19 | Parliament House Canberra - Facing North business Mission

• November 16 | Flinders University - Charles Darwin University Campus - Medical Students

• December 7 | Dripstone Middle School

2017 events:

• August  11 | Xavier College Wurruminyanga as part of National Science Week 
• August 15 | Parliament House as part of National Science Week, 9am - 1pm. Open to the public.
• August 16 | Bowali Visitors Centre Kakadu as part of National Science Week, 12pm - 4pm. Open to the public.
• August 18 | Gunbalanya School as part of National Science Week 
• September 15 | Ramingining School

2016 events:

• Dripstone Middle School
• Casuarina Senior College
• Taminmin High School Sports Academy
• MLLLC Elcho Island students
• Midnight Basketball, Darwin Basketball Association
• Taminmin High School Sports Academy
• MLLLC Groote Eylandt students
• Taminmin High School Sports Academy
• MLLLC Borroloola students
• Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC) - Wadeye students
• Casuarina Community Health Clinic
• National Science Week tour: Batchelor Institute (Batchelor), Bitter Springs National Park (Mataranka), Katherine Shopping Centre (Katherine), and Xavier College (Bathurst Island) Essington Senior School
• Garma Festival
• Nightcliff Middle School Health Fiesta
• Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre (MLLLC)
• Casuarina Police Station
• Darwin High school
• MLLLC | Maningrida Boys
• Darwin Police Station
• Nightcliff Middle school
• Casuarina Senior school Health expo
• MLLLC |  Gove Boys
• May Arnhem Land Trip visiting Galliwin’ku- Shepherdson College, Milingimbi School and Ramingining School
• MLLLC | Borroloola Boys
• Rotary Ladies Long Lunch fundraiser  
• Darwin High school Health Expo 

• The HealthLAB mobile APP allows people moving through HealthLAB to store and monitor results each time they participate in HealthLAB. The app is currently only available for Apple device users. Download for free here.
• Getting healthy before pregnancy

NEW TO HEALTHLAB! The Time Machine

See how you will age if you smoke, have excessive alcohol, an unhealthy diet, or if you choose to live a healthy lifestyle. You can choose your future!

The Time Machine is a tablet based tool accessible through HealthLAB pop ups. For bookings and more information email HealthLAB@menzies.edu.au

HealthLAB would like to thank our supporters:

• Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
• Northern Territory Government - Department of Health
• Bridging the Gap Foundation
• The Rotary Club of Darwin as our founding sponsors 
• IBM 
• National Science Week,  An Australian Government Initiative | Inspiring Australia
• Local community supporters and donors. 

For more information contact the Menzies HealthLAB via email