We are one of Australia's leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We are also a leader in global and tropical health research into life-threatening diseases. Through effective partnerships with communities across northern Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, we aim to translate our research into real change.  

Our current impact:

  • Across the Northern Territory, Australia and the Asia-Pacific, our activities generated a total benefit of $1.1 billion, with a net benefit of $697.9m, with every dollar spent returning $2.70 to the economy. 
  • 150+ research projects and programs
  • 60+ remote community partnerships across central and northern Australia
  • Pioneering global and tropical health work extending into 20+ countries across the Asia-Pacific

Menzies was established in 1985 as a body corporate of the Northern Territory Government under the Menzies Act 1985. This Act was amended in 2004 to formalise the relationship with Charles Darwin University (CDU). Menzies is now a major partner of CDU and constitutes a school within the University’s Institute of Advanced Studies.

Our work addresses critical issues such as mental health, nutrition, substance abuse, child health and development, as well as chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney disease and heart disease.

We also lead global research into life-threatening illnesses in the Asia-Pacific, such as malaria, melioidosis and tuberculosis.

We endeavour to break the cycle of disease and to reduce health inequities in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for disadvantaged populations.

Our mandate is to seek enduring solutions to problems that matter; the kind that when tackled, have the potential to make an immense difference to the quality of lives both here and abroad.  

Where we work:

See maps of where we work.

Menzies’ headquarters are in Darwin, with offices in Alice Springs, Melbourne and Dili, Timor-Leste. We also collaborate with partners at the Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation in Timika, Papua Indonesia and the Infectious Disease Society in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, to support the design, implementation and interpretation of research activities in these key overseas locations.

Our work spans central and northern Australia, and developing countries within our global neighbourhood.

Our primary international partners are Indonesia and Malaysia. We also work in Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Tanzania.