June has been a whirlwind of a month, with plenty of travel and celebration across the Institute.
Earlier in the month I was proud to be recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours, and it was a privilege to be recognised alongside so many other who work towards enhancing health and wellbeing, include QPS’s Julie Considine and Robyn Batten of the IHT Advisory Board.
It was a pleasure to visit Denmark with many of my IHT and Deakin colleagues. During the visit, I spent time at Copenhagen University, Aarhus University and Southern Denmark University. After this visit I have a strong sense of why Denmark is a strategic partner for Deakin, and I think our youth and innovation are a great complement to their tradition and globally recognised research excellence. I look forward to building on our partnerships across all three universities, and welcome your ideas on where joint and cotutelle PhDs, fellowships and grants could build this partnership further. You can read my full reflections on the IHT website.
Towards the end of May IHT also had contingents of researchers in Rome and Adelaide to share our important work. You can read reflections from Tari Forrester-Bowling and Miranda Blake on the RE-FRESH website.
The significance of our work continues to be reflected in the parliamentary inquiries and Royal Commissions run at a state and federal level. Jane Speight has recently reflected on the Australian Government’s Diabetes in Australia inquiry and encouraged everyone living with diabetes, or supporting someone with diabetes, to submit a response. Read Jane’s reflections on the ACBRD website.
The Australian parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts has recommended that ads for online gambling be banned across all media within three years in their final report. Congratulations to Samantha Thomas, Hannah Pitt and Simone McCarthy, whose submission and research was referenced throughout the report. Read Samantha’s thoughts on the inquiry in The Guardian.
Monday marked the beginning of NAIDOC Week. I encourage everyone to get involved in NAIDOC week and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Visit the Deakin website to find out what’s happening across the Deakin community and the NAIDOC website to find local events, meet the NAIDOC Week Award finalists and learn more about NAIDOC week.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the next All Members Day on 13 July, where I’m pleased to share that we will be joined by Terry Slevin, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, and Bernice Redley, Health Complaints Commissioner of Victoria.
