Annual Report 2010 discovery for a healthy tomorrow table of contents Who we are and Where we work ...................... 4 Strategic Plan .............................................. 5 The Year at a Glance ...................................... 6 A Message from the Chair and the Director ........... 8 The Menzies School of Health Research was established in 1985 as a body Child Health ............................................... 10 corporate of the Northern Territory (NT) Government under the Menzies Global Health .............................................. 14 School of Health Research Act 1985 (Menzies Act). This Act was amended Healing and Resilience .................................. 16 in 2004 to formalise the relationship with Charles Darwin University (CDU). Menzies is now a school within CDU’s Institute of Advanced Studies. Preventable Chronic Diseases ........................... 18 Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases............ 21 In the spirit of respect, the Menzies School of Health Research acknowledges Centre for Primary Health Care Systems ............... 24 the people and elders of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations, who are the Traditional Owners of the land and seas of Australia. Education and Training .................................. 28 Evaluation and Research Support Unit ................ 31 For the purposes of this document, ‘Indigenous’ refers to Australia’s Corporate and Research Support ....................... 32 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. New Building Project ..................................... 33 Menzies Indigenous Development Unit ............... 34 RHDAustralia ............................................... 35 Menzies in the Community .............................. 36 Governance ................................................ 38 Publications ............................................... 43 Research Funding ......................................... 52 Supporters and Sponsors ................................ 66 Collaborators ............................................... 68 Summary Financial Report .............................. 70 3 Who we are and Strategic plan Goals where we work Menzies has set out four strategic goals in order to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow: Goal 1 - excellence in health research. Menzies School of Health Research is a proud leader in Indigenous and Menzies operates in the following areas: Goal 2 - excellence in health education and training. tropical health research, having made a difference in people’s lives for a Child Health – we are working to combat ear, lung and skin infections that quarter of a century. Through scientific excellence, education and research, affect the healthy development of Indigenous children. We are also focusing Goal 3 - strengthened capacity of researchers, particularly the team at Menzies continues to discover ways of breaking the cycle of on the links between health and education from pre-birth to leaving school. those from Indigenous backgrounds, and improved disease and improving the health and wellbeing of Australian society engagement of Aboriginal communities throughout the and beyond. Healing and Resilience – our researchers are helping to prevent, diagnose research process. and treat mental illness and substance misuse among Indigenous people. An important focus of our research is to address the appalling disparity Goal 4 - improved income generation between the health and wellbeing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Global Health – we are world leaders in research into major health problems and services to support research and people, taking into account a broad range of social factors, including in our region including rheumatic heart disease, malaria and tuberculosis. education activities. childhood development, education and housing. Menzies works in Preventable Chronic Disease – we are working to discover the causes of The Menzies strategic plan (2007-2011) reflects a commitment to research, collaboration with leading global health and research organisations, to ensure chronic disease, including diabetes, heart and kidney disease, and find the education and training, and translating research outcomes into policy our ground-breaking findings can be shared with the rest of the world while best ways to diagnose, treat and prevent them. and practice. The plan underpins our pledge to work hand-in-hand with allowing us to benefit from the latest international research. Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases – we are unearthing new health Indigenous communities as we strive to achieve a healthy tomorrow. It Menzies’ headquarters are in Darwin, with offices in Alice Springs, Brisbane, threats so we can improve treatments, prevent the spread of disease and help addresses the urgent need to improve recruitment, development and Adelaide and Indonesia. We employ more than 300 staff and have an annual develop vaccines. retention of Indigenous staff and research leaders of the future. The plan turnover of approximately $30 million, mostly funded through competitive outlines our commitment to broaden the range and scope of courses on offer Centre for Primary Health Care Systems Research – our researchers are research grants. We carry out research in almost 60 Indigenous communities and increase the number of students enrolled at all levels. In 2011, Menzies investigating what works and what can be changed to improve the health across Australia and in developing countries in our region; working with will start work on its next strategic plan. care system, and the environments people live in, and in which health care locals to find better ways of treating common problems. Our ground-breaking is delivered. Vision research, carried out in world-class laboratory facilities, includes the analysis To improve health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of snake venom, melioidosis, malaria, deadly bacteria and drug resistance in Education and Training – we are training the researchers, clinicians communities and in disadvantaged populations throughout the world, scabies mites. and policy-makers of the future to help improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people across our region. through excellence and leadership in research and training. Values Communication - to undertake an ongoing dialogue with partners and stakeholders during the research process, from conception to completion. Innovation - to be willing to take risks, embrace new approaches, and pursue ground-breaking research. Responsiveness - to be responsive to health needs and shared priorities, particularly of Indigenous Australians, disadvantaged populations and others living in central and northern Australia. Quality - to be excellent in everything we do. Collaboration - to work in partnership with communities, other researchers, policy-makers and those who deliver health and other services. Integrity - to act with honesty and according to our values. Relevance - to concentrate on solving problems that matter, whether they be big or small. Building Research Capacity - to foster and develop researchers of the future, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous researchers. 4 5 the year at a glance Number of Staff (FTE) 250 200 The Year at a Glance 150 100 Value of NHMRC Funding (Income Received) $’000 50 0 10000 2005 2006 2007 2008* 2009* 2010 8000 (nb: due to database changs 2008 and 2009 figs are not directly compariable) 6000 $’000 4000 In 2010 Menzies had 351 staff; making up 225 full-time equivalent staff. 2000 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 year In 2010 Menzies received $9.5 million from the Australian Government's Employees by Category National Health and Medical Research Council; a 14.60/0 increase from 2009. Administration 190/0 Income ($’000s) inc Building Grants) Research and Education 40/0 50000 40000 research only Indigenous Employees 0 30000 non research Education 1 /0 20000 TOTAL Research 760/0 $’000 10000 NTG core Indigenous 0 Employees 140/0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 year In 2010, 810/0 of Menzies staff were engaged in Research and Education roles. In 2010, Menzies received total funding of $35,893,000; including $28m in research funding; $7.7m in non-research funding; and $4m in NT Government core funding. Other Employees* 860/0 No. of Publications Including all Journals and Book Chapters *including those that have not indicated whether they are Employees - gender Indigenous or not 250 In 2010, 140/0 of Menzies staff identified themselves as Indigenous. 200 Male 240/0 150 publicati0ns 100 50 Female 760/0 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 year In 2010, 760/0 of Menzies staff were female. In 2010 Menzies researchers produced 208 publications (including all journals and book chapters); an increase of 18.860/0. 6 7 a message from the chair and director • Paul Burgess won the 2010 Australian Journal of Primary Health prize for Other new initiatives the best paper (with co-authors), The contribution of the Adult Health To help us manage continued growth and change, Menzies revised its Check to preventative care in a remote Aboriginal primary care service. organisational structure in 2010. This included the appointments of Associate • Alice Rumbold was awarded the Future Justice Medal 2010 for her Director of Research and Education, Ross Andrews; Chief Operating Officer significant work improving the health of Indigenous women and children. Vicki Taylor; and Associate Director of Aboriginal Programs, Heather D’Antoine. These positions provide support to the Director as part of a streamlined