No images? Click here
Update from the Dean of Education
It’s another busy time in education, and this week I’m able to bring some exciting opportunities to your attention, which are open to everyone across the college, regardless of your location or level.
Firstly, I’m honoured to announce the inaugural Waterman Fellowship. This prestigious Fellowship is designed to support excellence and advancement in biomedical and clinical teaching programs within CMPH and is generously supported by a bequest from the Waterman family. Aimed at fostering transformative approaches in clinical and biomedical education, this fellowship will support projects and initiatives that demonstrate innovation, impact, and direct relevance to the strategic priorities of the college, university, and the wider medical community. If you are interested in exploring this unique opportunity, please download more information and submit the application form before Friday 4 July.
Secondly, based on the overwhelming success of the Collaboration Catalyst Program, we are now planning for an online version. I would encourage anyone interested in this education-focused professional development opportunity to apply. You can find further information about the Program and how to apply here. Applications close Friday 20 June.
Thirdly, many of you will remember the Career Hackathon session from the 2025 CMPH retreat. During this session, we asked attendees to share what they wish they had known early in their career. There were wide-ranging and engaging discussions at every table, and these thoughts have been collated for all staff to access here. Thank you to everyone who made this session so enjoyable. I hope this is a useful resource for you, regardless of the stage of your career.
And finally, my sincere congratulations to both Emma Kennedy and David Watson on the recent recognition they have received. Both are well-deserved acknowledgements of the lasting impact of their contribution to education, research and the College.
Dean, Education, College of Medicine and Public Health
Congratulations
Congratulations to Emma Kennedy AM
We’re proud to celebrate Emma Kennedy, Director of the Northern Territory Medical Program, who has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours. Recognised for her outstanding service to medical education and the NT community, Emma’s work as a GP, educator, and advocate for cultural understanding in healthcare has made a lasting impact. Read more
Congratulations to David Watson, who was awarded Honorary Membership of the Moynihan Chirurgical Club at its recent meeting in Adelaide. This rare honour recognises his outstanding leadership in surgery, global reputation for academic excellence, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of surgeons. The 116-year-old UK-based surgical society, meets internationally each year — with Adelaide the host city in 2025.
We are pleased to share that following a competitive recruitment process, Andrew Blyth has been appointed to the continuing position of Senior Manager, Technical Services. Andrew has capably led the team in this role on an interim basis since December. He will continue to support the College through his leadership across a broad range of technical services for our researchers and educators. Please join us in congratulating Andrew on his ongoing appointment.
Out and About
FHMRI Sleep Health researcher Danny Eckert appeared on ABC News this week to shine a spotlight on Australia’s growing sleep crisis.
He highlighted that 40% of Australians aren’t getting enough sleep and warned of serious health risks linked to untreated conditions like insomnia and sleep apnoea. Flinders-led research shows personalised treatments such as CBTi can dramatically improve outcomes, yet access remains low. He called for national action to prioritise sleep health, noting it could save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and boost productivity across the country.
Colourful Socks, Meaningful Conversations: Supporting Mental Health in Medicine
Flinders SA Regional Training Hub proudly supported Crazy Socks for Docs across our Rural and Remote Health SA campuses on 4 June. This global movement raises awareness about mental health in the medical profession by encouraging health workers to wear bright, mismatched socks as a show of solidarity.
Staff and students came together for a colourful lunch to spark conversations and break down stigma, highlighting the importance of supporting those who care for others.
Get to know your College
How Emma’s Honours year shaped her research career
PhD Candidate at the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (Sleep Health) Emma Thomas has always been fascinated by physiology and pharmacology—interests that naturally steered her toward a career in medical science. But it was during her Honours year at Flinders that she discovered the power of research to improve patient outcomes.
Expressions of Interest
Collaboration Catalyst – Virtual Development Program (closes Friday 20 June)
Following the success of the first program, Dean of Education, Karen Lower is excited to announce the launch of an Online Collaboration Catalyst Development Program, designed specifically for uplifting collaborative and leadership capacity in our college across our entire footprint. This program offers an opportunity for you to enhance your professional skills, drive your personal growth, and contribute to our continued collective success in education at the college. The program is designed for CMPH teaching specialists and balanced staff members who are heavily involved in teaching and who are located at any site across Australia. See more information or express your interest in participating.
Caring Futures Institute EMCR Rapid Fire Showcase (August)
FHMRI EMCRs are invited to share a snapshot of your research area, skills and collaborations in 3 minutes with 3 accompanying slides at the CFI Rapid Fire Showcase. Following the presentations, there will be table discussions with opportunities for questions and networking. Lunch will be provided. We would love to showcase you and your research! If you would like to present, please register your interest before July 18.
Events
- Monday 16 June: Real Talk for Flinders University: a conversational approach to support (Register now)
- Tuesday 17 June: Clinical Supervisor Training Event (RSVP here)
- Thursday 19 June: Medical Grand Round, 12:15 - 1:30pm, Lecture Theatre 1, Lvl 5, FMC
- Friday 20 June: Menopause Workshop: All Staff Welcome (Read more or register)
FHMRI Cancer Impact Seminar Series (12pm, Tuesday 17 June, Lvl 2 HMRB Seminar Space)
Applying health economic research to drive change for cost-effective cancer prevention interventions presented by Louisa Collins (Research Lead, Cancer Prevention and Survivorship, Viertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland). Lunch and networking will follow the presentation from 1pm - 2pm.
Join Vice-Chancellor Colin Stirling for a town hall on Wednesday 18 June, 11.30am–12.30pm in South Lecture Theatre 1 (Anchor Court, Bedford Park). He’ll share highlights from the past year and what’s ahead for Flinders in 2025. Can’t make it in person? Join online with your FAN, or catch the recording later via the VC webpage.
HDR CoP Skills and Snacks: Getting Conference ready
3pm - 4:30pm, June 18, Room 203 HMRB. Join to hear about conference presentations, posters, and networking. Chat with other PhD students over snacks after!
SAGC and FHMRI presents: Bioinformatics workshopNextflow vs Snakemake
9am - 5pm, Friday 27 June, Flinder's City Campus, Room 312
Streamline your bioinformatics analyses with Nextflow and Snakemake in this hands-on workshop led by John Salamon (Introduction to Nextflow) and Michael Roach (Introduction to Snakemake). Learn how these powerful workflow management tools support reproducibility, scalability and collaboration, and compare their usability and performance through a simple practical workflow. Learn more or register
FHMRI Inspiring Leaders Seminar Series: Next seminar - Tuesday 1 July
12:30 (lunch provided), Level 2 Seminar Rooms, Health and Medical Research Building. No need to register – livestream link is in the calendar invitation
- Tue 1 Jul: Lezanne Ooi - Neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration (University of Wollongong)
- Mon 28 Jul: Peter van Wijngaarden - Ophthalmic neuroscience (Florey Institute)
- Mon 1 Sep: Dr Grace Lidgerwood – Stem cell disease modelling (University of Melbourne)
- Wed 24 Sep: Joseph Trapani – “Small molecule inhibitors of lymphocyte perforin as focused immunosuppressants for auto-immune and post-infectious immunopathologies” (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)
- Wed 29 Oct: Laura Downie – Optometry & vision science (University of Melbourne)
- Wed 19 Nov: Fiona Blyth - Public health & pain epidemiology (University of Sydney)
- Mon 8 Dec: Thomas Cox – Matrix and metastasis (Garvin Institute of Medical Research)
Open to all disciplines, these seminars offer valuable insights for everyone. Nominate a speaker
3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Competition 2025. HDR supervisors - encourage your students to polish their presentation skills for their milestones & conferences, and have the chance to win cash prizes! Register now. Key Dates:
- Recorded info session: learn what 3MT is about and hear from ‘24 winner
- Practice sessions: June and July -refine your presentation with feedback
- Registrations close: 11 July
- CNHS + CMPH Heat: 23 July
Are you looking to recruit honours, masters or PhD students? FHMRI’s annual Road to Research (11:30am - 1pm, Thursday 28 August) student recruitment event is an opportunity to showcase your research to potential students and capture their interest in joining your research team. Potential supervisors are invited have an interactive display or activity to demonstrate your research to a range of prospective students and spark conversations. Examples have included origami from protein folding researchers, and standard drink pouring from NCETA. Register your interest by Friday 25 July.
Need to know
Reminder: Round 2 CMPH Travel Schemes applications close Friday 27 June
The College is accepting travel applications for academic and professional staff travelling between August 2025 – January 2026. Support is available for domestic and international travel for conferences and professional development opportunities. Full details of the schemes and links to the online applications can be found on the CMPH staff website. Deadline for Round 2 applications is 5pm, Friday 27 June. Please forward any enquiries to cmph.operations@flinders.edu.au
Qualtrics Survey: Help us match you with the right funding
Looking for philanthropic funding that suits your career stage and research area? Complete a short survey to help CMPH Research tailor funding opportunities to your needs. Your responses will guide us in connecting you with relevant grants, nationally and internationally. You'll be contacted within 24 hours of completing the survey.
Advance notice: Car park 1 restrictions on Monday 16 and Friday 20 June, there will be parking restrictions on the upper level of car park 1 during Enrichment Events for schools. A small number of parks will be available on the upper level on one side (FMC / right side) only, to allow space for school buses. The middle and lower levels of car park 1 will not be affected.
Shaping Australia Awards 2025 are now open!
Universities Australia has reopened entries for the 2025 Shaping Australia Awards, celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals and teams across our universities. From research breakthroughs to workforce development and community service, the awards honour initiatives that shape a better future for the nation. Entries close Friday, 5 September.
|
Professional Staff Awards: Nominate a colleague who goes above and beyond! These awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of professional staff. Find out more about the rules and eligibility here or submit your nomination here. Nominations are open until 1 August. |
|
Reconciliation Awards: The Flinders Reconciliation Awards recognise the individuals and teams that are actively working towards reconciliation. These awards are open to all staff. Find out how to nominate here or submit your nomination here before 29 August. |
$10,000 CureCell Awards: Encourage your PhD students to apply now
PhD students working on cell or biological therapy projects are invited to apply for the 2025 AusHealth CureCell Awards. Five awards of $10,000 are available to help ease cost-of-living pressures. To apply, simply submit a one-page PDF outlining your project by 31 July. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to give a five-minute pitch. Winners will be announced by 30 September. For judging criteria and details, visit curecell.org. Flinders students: contact ellen.czabania@flinders.edu.au with any IP concerns before applying.