Picture credit: Tennant and District Times
Picture credit: Tennant and District Times
If you are interested in having HealthLAB attend your school, workplace or community, please email us.
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:
- A school program across the Territory
- A community program across the Territory
- Collaborative HealthLABs with ACCHOs, NGOs, NT Government, and others
- Training including a Digital Badge in Health Communication
- 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
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May 11 | Marrara Christian College
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May 18 | Darwin High School Expo
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May 18 | Alice Springs Shops
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May 19 | Yuendumu Women’s Centre
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May 20 | Bush Football Alice Springs
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May 25 | NTSDE Northern Territory School Of Distance Education
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June 1 | MLLLC
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June 8-10 | Barunga Festival
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June 19 | MLLLC
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June 29 | Batchelor College
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August 3-5 | Garma Festival
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August 10 | National Science Week: Xavier College Tiwi Islands
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August 14 | National Science Week: Parliament House, Darwin
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August 16 | National Science Week: Nhulunbuy High School
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August 17 | National Science Week: Nhulunbuy Shops
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September 4 | Palmerston Gateway Shopping Centre
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September 7 | Palmerston College Special Education Unit
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September 8 | Indigenous Tennis Gala Day
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September 13 | Ramingining Health Day
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Septeber 19 | Parliament House Canberra - Facing North business Mission
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November 16 | Flinders University - Charles Darwin University Campus - Medical Students
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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
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NT News | $300k raised to assist in bridging gap
SMALL acts of charity and an AFL legend from the Territory have played a crucial role in raising $300,000 for five new traineeships at a cutting-edge research centre in Darwin.
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This 'Time Machine' is showing what the future holds - for your face
NITV - Ever wondered how you'll look at 60? What if you're a smoker? This new app will show you the difference.
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NT News | App gives peek into future self
The Menzies School of Health Research has launched a new app using facial remodelling technology to illustrate the long-term impact of unhealthy lifestyle choices for young people.
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Look into a time machine to see where your health choices will lead
IBM and Menzies School of Health Research today launched a 'HealthLAB Time Machine' app hosted on IBM Cloud.
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CityMag | A dual language educational health video connecting two worlds
University of Adelaide student Zoe Fitzpatrick is creating an informational video in Indigenous language Garrwa and English to promote the use of both Aboriginal and Western medicinal practices.
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HealthLAB pops up in town to encourage youth to be healthy
The Menzies School of Health Research’s free, fun and informative HealthLAB sessions began on Wednesday evening at YouthLinx where they joined forces with the John Moriarty Football program.
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Shining A Much-Needed Light On Aboriginal Health Education
Zoe Fitzpatrick is talented member of Menzies HealthLab, she helps to deliver health education programs to remote communities.
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Reimagining health education in remote communities
Pop-up labs have been transformed to encourage healthy lifestyles and teach communities about how to stay healthy during lock-down and beyond. HealthLAB, a Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) initiative, is a pop-up lab where you can have an...
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ABC News: Impact of services to remote Indigenous communities
A/Prof Heidi Smith-Vaughan, leads a mobile educational training service team in Darwin called Healthlab. She says while coronavirus has restricted travel, social media has opened up access to communities.
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NT News | Watch your heart beating
Report on National Science Week HealthLAB visit to Milingimbi
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Media Release | HealthLAB on display during National Science Week
Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) HealthLAB will be in Milingimbi as part of National Science Week.
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Discover your new world at Charles Darwin University
CDU Open Day |Elite athletes from Territory Thunder will visit the Menzies School of Health Research’s mobile HealthLAB
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Sport a boost to Menzies Indigenous health research
Charles Darwin University E-news | Issue 2 Monday, 01 April 2019
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$6.57 MILLION TO KICK GOALS FOR YOUTH AND DIABETES HEALTH
$6.57 million in extensive and exciting programs to tackle chronically high levels of Type 2 diabetes, and boost health and wellbeing through sport among Top End and Central Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
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HealthLAB newsletter | July 2018
Find out what's new with the Menzies HealthLAB team and about upcoming events.
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HealthLAB in Australian Geographic
Australian Geographic July - August 2018 promotes HealthLAB National Science Week event at NT Parliament House.
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Barunga cuts sugar for festival
Festival goers will also get the chance to find out more about the importance of good health and nutrition at the Menzies School of Health Research mobile HealthLAB during the Festival.
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Heart Foundation partnership with HealthLAB - NT News
Heart Foundation partnership with HealthLAB - NT News report
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HealthLAB expands educational offering through Heart Foundation partnership
People living in remote NT communities will benefit from an expanded health education offering through a partnership between Menzies and the Heart Foundation.
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West Arnhem Wire | HealthLAB in Jabiru
The Jabiru community is reminded that the Menzies HealthLAB will be at the Bowali Visitor Centre on Wednesday, August 16 as part of National Science Week 2017.
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NT News - Menzies HealthLAB at Parliament House
HealthLAB in Parliament House for Science Week pollies health checks, NT Thunder captain Shannon Rioli calls on the general public to come along.
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Mobile health lab aims to reduce chronic disease during National Science Week
An interactive mobile health laboratory will tour the Top End between 11 and 18 August as part of National Science Week.
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Menzies HealthLAB to visit Bowali Visitor Centre
The Menzies HealthLAB will be at the Bowali Visitor Centre on Wednesday, August 16 as part of National Science Week 2017. Using the latest technology to measure participants’ health and inform them about the impacts of smoking, alcohol misuse and diet, which can increase the risk of diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
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Ladies Long Lunch | HealthLAB fundraiser
Darwin Convention Centre - The 2017 Darwin Ladies Long Lunch will continue the strong health message promoted by the Menzies School of Health, while raising valuable funds to continue this work in our community.
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Check-up gives health insight - HealthLAB
Darwin Sun | The Menzies School of Health and Research runs HealthLAB, a free initiative that visits public spaces and schools around the NT
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Menzies HealthLAB National Science Week Grant
In August 2017, HealthLAB is planning to travel from the Tiwi Islands in the Arafura Sea across to west Arnhem Land.
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Promoting health and wellbeing in remote communities
Northern Territory’s transmission and distribution company is helping educate locals about positive lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of developing a chronic disease.
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Mobile health lab to visit remote communities
An interactive mobile health laboratory will visit four Northern Territory communities this week as part of National Science Week.
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Mobile health lab aims to reduce chronic disease during National Science Week
An interactive mobile health laboratory will visit four Northern Territory (NT) communities between 15 and 20 August as part of National Science Week, to spark people’s interest in science and health, and demonstrate how lifestyle choices can impact people’s future health.
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HealthLAB meets Halkitis
Halkitis Bros. invited the Menzies School of Health Research, HealthLAB to visit our concrete plant in June 2015. Personnel from four divisions participated in face-to-face interactions with clinical co-ordinators and trained staff.
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Health Lab promotes healthy living in the NT
The Health Lab teaches Aboriginal children how to look after their health also look at ways to prevent chronic disease in Aboriginal communities through out the Northern Territory. Dietitian Claire Georga from the Menzies School of Health Researchers works with the kids to promote healthy living allowing them to test their heath to give them a better understanding of what is good for the body and what isn’t.
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Lab teaches remote kids healthy living
IN a busy classroom on the Tiwi Islands, teacher's aide Stan blows into a breathalyser measuring carbon dioxide from smoke in the body, almost sending himself off the classroom scale. His students dissolve into laughter.WHEN asked, he sheepishly admits to smoking. "You play footy? You'll run faster if you quit," says a researcher from the Heart Foundation.
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