The Fakhrul Islam Scholarship is an annual award Menzies’ launched in 2024, aimed at supporting students pursuing a PhD or Masters at Menzies in the areas of renal disease or diabetes. 

The scholarship provides recipients with various opportunities to enhance their research and professional development. These include enrolling in research training courses, attending and presenting at national or international conferences, building networks and collaborations in their field, participating in industry internships, and even supplementing their living expenses.

This prestigious scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Amin Islam, in honour of his father, Fakhrul Islam.

2024 Recipient:

Victoria Thanasos
Victoria Thanasos’s research focuses on the implementation and impact of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and wellbeing indicators for First Nations haemodialysis patients in the Northern Territory. Building on a previous study, it aims to explore patient and healthcare provider experiences with the What Matters 2 Adults (WM2A) Wellbeing Measure Tool. The study investigates the appropriateness of PROMs for First Nations renal patients, their practical application, and their impact on patient care and service delivery.

This scholarship allows Victoria to expand her research beyond Darwin by engaging First Nations haemodialysis patients in Alice Springs and Katherine, and potentially those receiving nurse-supported dialysis in remote communities. Collaborating with this cohort is a valuable strategy to create a more comprehensive data set, enhancing the quality and impact of the research. 

Broadening the scope of the research would provide Victoria with a unique training opportunity as an early-career researcher and support to develop research skills, progress her career, and accelerate research translation. This has the potential to improve renal services and/or health systems. 

Harry Christian Giese AM MBE (1913-2000) was a pioneer of health and education in north Australia and a key founder of Menzies School of Health Research. He was a member of our Board from 1985-95 and served the people of the Northern Territory for 50 years. 

In memory of Harry Giese’s great contribution, the Giese Family, with Menzies developed the Harry Christian Giese Research Impact Prize in 2024. The Prize is designed to recognise an early or mid-career researcher at Menzies whose medical research has led to measurable improvements, better health policies, expanded programs, or established collaborative partnerships across northern Australia, our region or further afield.
 
2024 Prize Recipient:
Dr Steven Kho  
We are delighted to announce that Dr Steven Kho is the 2024 recipient of the Harry Christian Giese Research Impact Prize, for his groundbreaking discoveries in malaria research. 
During his PhD, Dr Kho discovered a large hidden malaria parasite reservoir in the human spleen and a new lifecycle for 2 major parasite species causing malaria, P. falciparum and P. vivax. These findings are widely regarded as one of the most significant malaria discoveries of the past 50 years. Led by Dr Kho in Indonesia, the research challenged a century-old belief that the spleen is solely responsible for removing malaria parasites. Read more
 
 
Harry Christian Giese Research into Action Award 
The Harry Christian Giese Research into Action Award has supported Menzies researchers from 2013-2023. Recipients of this award helped to strengthen medical education, research and training in remote and regional communities. Learn more about their work below. 
 
 
Ngirramini ngini awarra yimanka api awarra ngawurrangurumiga – ‘We look after the story that we made’
Josie Povey  |  2023
Dr Josie Povey’s project will build on work done during 2019-20 through the Ngawurramangajirri (‘We care for each other’) initiative. In collaboration with community leaders, a Tiwi-language digital resource for mental health and wellbeing will be created, developed and distributed. The aim is to improve mental health literacy, self-awareness and self-management, while strengthening connections to language and culture. 
 
Adaptation of the Vaccine Barriers Assessment Tool (VBAT)
Bianca Middleton  |  2022
Dr Bianca Middleton's (2022) work in validating the Vaccine Barriers Assessment Tool (VBAT) to encourage early childhood vaccination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, aims eventually to be part of a national roll-out. 
 
Improving education and follow-up for severely malnourished children in Dili, Timor-Leste

Nicholas Fancourt  |  2019

Dr Nicholas Fancourt leads a team that aims to improve outcomes for children hospitalised not only for malnutrition, but also for pneumonia. The Harry Christian Giese Research into Action Award will support a Nutrition Worker to lead an education program for 8 months, to better understand the social and cultural drivers of malnutrition, the experience of hospital care and perceived barriers to recovery.

 
Improving the treatment of malaria: working with communities and policy makers to facilitate the translation of research outcomes into better policy and practice
Kamala Ley-Thriemer  |  2018
Associate Professor Kamala Thriemer (2018 award recipient) sends out a regular newsletter about work on clinical malaria trials with communities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. This was started during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when travel and on-the-ground networking became impossible. Visit the Malaria 'EFFORT' project page to read past editions of the newsletter. 
 
Sharing the Diabetes in Pregnancy Story
Renae Kirkham  |  2017
Associate Professor Renae Kirkham (2017 award recipient) is Lead of the Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australian Partnership, supporting a program with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to break the cycle of type 2 diabetes.
 
Closing the loop on life-threatening melioidosis infections: observational research informing clinical practice change and policy for adults with severe kidney disease
Jaquelyne Hughes  |  2016
Professor Jaquelyne Hughes (2016 award recipient), is the first Indigenous kidney specialist, and Matthew Flinders Professor at the College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University.
 
Supportive Cancer Care Needs Assessment Tool for Indigenous people with cancer - Project Implementation
Gail Garvey  |  2015
Professor Gail Garvey (2015 award recipient) is NHMRC Leadership Fellow at the University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, working in cancer care.
 
 Artesunate-mefloquine vs. chloroquine in patients with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax malaria: a randomized open label trial in Sabah, Malaysia (ACT KNOW trial)
Matthew Grigg  |  2014
Associate Professor Matthew Grigg (2014 award recipient) is part of a malaria study across eight sites in Indonesia, including human surveillance for zoonotic malaria; monkey camera estimates; mosquito trapping; and geospatial analysis of human risk of infection. A new Malaysian Army cohort study will look at exposure to zoonotic infections and malaria in those posted to remote forest areas. Matthew's post-doc student Jacob Westaway is analysing parasite strains from East Malaysian monkeys, to see if any are associated with transmission or disease severity in humans. 
 
Azithromycin Bronchiolitis Interventional Study (ABIS2)

Gabrielle McCallum  |  2013
Dr Gabrielle McCallum received this award in 2013, to champion the translation of lung health research into medical practice. Today, her team are studying children hospitalised in Australia and New Zealand for lower respiratory infections and are extending this work to Timor-Leste. She is also completing the editing of a special series, Frontiers in Paediatrics. A gap in the delivery of clinical care to paediatric patients with bronchiectasis, chronic lung disease, as they move into adolescence, has also been discovered. 

 

 

The Maple-Brown Family Foundation Fellowships, funded by the Maple Brown Family Foundation, are awarded to Menzies staff, to support the development and progression of early-career researchers. These fellowships aim to nurture researchers whose work benefits the well-being of the Australian community, with a particular focus on supporting disadvantaged populations, rural and remote areas, health, and environmental issues.

The fellowship is granted to the highest-ranked eligible applicant for a Menzies Fellowship and provides flexible funding. This can be used for various purposes, including covering salary, direct research costs, employing additional staff, administrative support, purchasing equipment, and engaging in professional development activities like attending conferences or receiving training. 

The Maple-Brown Family Foundation Fellowship is generously funded by the Maple-Brown Family Foundation.
 

2023 Award Recipients:

In 2023, the recipients of these fellowships were Sarah Clifford and Dr Holger Unger. 

Sarah Clifford
Sarah Clifford is an early career researcher who focuses on alcohol-related harms – a leading health and social concern in the NT. Her vision is to contribute to new evidence that helps decision-makers and the public better understand the commercial determinants of alcohol use in the NT and inform policy that can lead to better outcomes for the community.
 
 
Dr. Holger Unger
Dr Unger is an early career clinician-researcher with a clinical appointment at the Royal Darwin Hospital. His research expertise centres around malaria in pregnancy in the Asia-Pacific region, including evaluating the impacts of malaria in pregnancy, and of preventative strategies during pregnancy, on infant health outcomes in endemic settings. Dr Unger also conducts research into preterm birth in the Northern Territory, with the aim to strengthen the diagnosis and management of preterm labour. He is committed to reducing adverse maternal, pregnancy, and child health outcomes in malaria-endemic and remote settings through pragmatic and innovate interventions to maximise impact.
 

 

The Menzies medallion is awarded by the Menzies Board to individuals or groups who have made a considerable contribution to health, of relevance to the Northern Territory.

In 2024, Dr Donna Ah Chee, a proud Bundjalung woman, and CEO of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, was awarded the Menzies Medallion in recognition for outstanding health advocacy, leadership and unwavering commitment to working to create real and lasting improvements to the lives of all Territorians. 
 
Under Dr Ah Chee’s leadership, Menzies and Congress have established a long-standing partnership, working together to generate evidence  on effective solutions to address the issues that matter to the community. She has been instrumental in shaping a comprehensive, culturally responsive model of primary healthcare across the region. 
 
Past medallion recipients:

The Ryan Family Prize is an internal annual award that recognises outstanding contributions to Menzies – individuals or groups who go above and beyond and help make Menzies a great place to work and/or to help Menzies achieve excellence.

The successful nominee is awarded with a $3000 prize and presented with a perpetual trophy.

The Companion of Menzies provides an opportunity to recognise exceptional contributions and support to the continued development and success of Menzies School of Health Research.

The 2024 recipients of the Companion of Menzies are:
Dr Aunty Bilawara Lee OAM
Dr Aunty Bilawara Lee is a proud Larrakia woman and Senior Elder who works tirelessly to continue Larrakia people’s connection to Country, culture and their Ancestors through education, language, spirituality and healing.
Bilawara is well connected to Menzies, particularly through her  role as Chair of Menzies’ Australian First Nations Reference Group for Child and Maternal Health. Her advocacy, advice and leadership enhance our focus on research priorities and drive research excellence.
 

Mr Amin Islam OAM
Amin Islam has made a significant contribution to Darwin and the Northern Territory, particularly in relation to community health. As Chair of Menzies’ Risk and Audit Committee, he brings extensive expertise, combining his professional skills with his experience in guiding the strategic direction and risk management of health-related organisations.. Under his leadership, the committee has strengthened our internal structures and systems which have helped to sustain and ensure our success as a research institute.

Mr Peter Plummer AM
Peter served on the Menzies Board for 8 years and was the Chair from 2014 – 2021.  He was a passionate advocate for both the Northern Territory and Menzies, firmly believing in our capacity to conduct world-class research locally. Peter tirelessly supported our efforts to collaborate with health services, governments, and the people of the region to deliver impactful research that makes a difference.

 

The 2023 recipients of the Companion of Menzies are:

Heather D’Antoine
Heather is a Distinguished Honorary Fellow who has 25 years of experience in health services and has worked extensively in health research. Her research has focused on the area of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and other birth defects, including developing resources for health professionals and developing a model of care for FASD in Western Australia.

Marius Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri
Marius was Involved in the ‘Ask the Specialist’ podcast as a Tiwi Island Elder sharing personal experiences and cultural knowledge. He is also a member of the Australian First Nations Reference Group for Child Health, which provides high-level strategic advice to Menzies’ Child Health Division.

 

The 2021 recipients of the Companion of Menzies are:

Professor Simon Maddocks 
Professor Simon Maddocks’s leadership as a past Charles Darwin University Vice Chancellor and previous Chair of the Menzies Board, contributed to crucial developments at Menzies. This includes initiatives to attract new researchers to the NT and securing funding for new Menzies facilitates at Royal Darwin Hospital and Charles Darwin University campuses. 

Ms Olga Haven 
Olga Haven spent her professional life advocating for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She has held a range of senior leadership roles across the public and private sector, and remains active in leading critical national initiatives and NT initiatives to support better outcomes for First Nations people. Olga has been a longstanding contributor to Menzies both as a previous board member, and through organisational partnerships. 

Nanna Nungala Fejo
Nanna Nungala Fejo was a Warumungu woman who was forcibly removed from her family and community at Tennant Creek as an infant. Starting work in healthcare at the age of 16, she was a life-long advocate for improving the health of all. Passing in 2022, Nanna Nungala Fejo leaves a lasting legacy from her work with the Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture Program, helping to empower women in communities with culturally appropriate health care.   

 

2019 recipients: 

Pat Anderson AO
Pat Anderson’s leadership over many years in the establishment, growth and sustainability of Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) and the Lowitja Institute helped contribute to developing a cohort of leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and community-driven approaches. She is a powerful social justice advocate who works tirelessly to improve health, education and protection outcomes for Australia’s First Peoples.

Professor Tony Barnes
Tony Barnes in his role as Director provided leadership of the CRC for Aboriginal and Tropical Health and maintains strong research collaborations and institutional engagement with Menzies through his leading role as a statistician and in exploring the demography of the Northern Territory at the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin University.

 

Inaugural (2018) recipients:  
Dr Val Asche 
Dr Asche was the head of the microbiology research unit at Menzies School of Health Research from 1986 to 1994 under its founding director Professor John Mathews. She continues her support for Menzies and we have the annual Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence. 
 
The Hon Austin Asche AC QC
Austin Asche was Former Northern Territory Administrator, Chief Justice and Inaugural Chair of the Northern Territory University whose support over the years has been wonderful for all of us at Menzies.
 

Richard Ryan AO 
Richard Ryan also has a long association with Menzies Chair for numerous years before becoming the inaugural Vice Chancellor of the Charles Darwin University (CDU). Richard returned to us from CDU and makes sure he keeps the wheels running as our treasurer and co-chairs our finance committee.

The Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence:

Menzies Education and Training acknowledges the importance of recognising outstanding achievement by a student undertaking a coursework award.

The Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence is awarded on an annual basis at the end of each academic year.

Dr Valerie Asche (Deceased) was the head of the microbiology research unit at Menzies School of Health Research from 1986 to 1994 under its founding director Professor John Mathews. Dr Asche supported this award for 19 years before sadly passing away in 2019. Dr Asche's family maintains an interest in education and continues to support academic excellence among Menzies students.

Established in 2001, the award is presented each year to students whose academic performance in a completed course has been outstanding. 

  1. Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence 2023

    Congratulations to Shelley Parker, Jessica Male, Nicole Evans and Erica Bleakley who have been awarded the 2023 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence

  2. Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence 2022

    Congratulations to Jessica Hagley, Dr Matthew Roughan, Paula Van Dokkum and Isobel Walker, who have each been awarded the 2022 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence.

  3. Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence 2021

    Congratulations to Catherine Doidge, Corrine Butler and Lori Roberts, who have each been awarded the 2021 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence.

  4. Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence 2020

    Congratulations to Dr Matthew Nesbitt, Tarah Fantis and Jessica Harkness who have each been awarded the 2020 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence. The Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence is awarded annually to recognise outstanding achievement by students...

  5. Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence 2019

    Congratulations to Alexander Wetten, Hannah Singleton, April Carpenter and Fiona Johnson, who have each been awarded the 2019 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence.

  6. Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2018

    Congratulations to Alison Fitzgerald, Clare Brown, Dr Eswaran Waran and Judith Watson, who have each been awarded the 2018 Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence.

  7. Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2017

    Congratulations to Gerrard Murray, Catherine Connolly and Chevy Brown who have been awarded the 2017 Val Ashe Prize for Academic Excellence.

  8. Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2016

    Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence: Congratulations to Emma Grimes, Jodi Phillips and Leigh Moore who have been awarded the 2016 Val Ashe Prize for Academic Excellence. The Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence is awarded annually to recognise outstanding achievement by...

  9. Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2015

    Congratulations to Josie Povey and Alexis Harper who have been awarded the 2015 Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence.

  10. Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2014

    Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence: Congratulations to Heather Wallace and Camille Mewett who have been awarded the 2014 Val Ashe Prize for Academic Excellence. The Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence is awarded annually to recognise outstanding achievement by students...

  11. Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2013

    Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence 2013

    Date

    Congratulations to Rachel Conn and Zeina Hayes who have been awarded the 2013 Val Asche Prize for Academic Excellence.