Congratulations to Amy Le Compte, Corrine Butler, Isobel Walker, Michael Riceman and Natalie Merida who have each been awarded the 2024 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence.
The Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence is awarded annually to recognise outstanding achievement by students undertaking public health and health research courses. Each of the recipients consistently achieved very high grades and are highly regarded by their lecturers.
Amy Le Compte
Amy Le Compte is an emerging qualitative researcher with the Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre. She is based in Nhulunbuy, NT and currently oversees the Air in East Arnhem project and contributes to a range of other research initiatives at Menzies. She has also previously worked with the maternal and child health team at Menzies.
Amy is in the final stages of completing her Master of Public Health (mid-2025). She has an extensive clinical background as a Midwife, having fulfilled diverse roles across Australia, New Zealand, and in developing country settings.
“I have enjoying having the opportunity to work with and learn from many Menzies colleagues throughout my Graduate Diploma of Public Health, our lecturers have a great deal of knowledge and very personal approach to teaching”
Corrine Butler
Corrine Butler is a proud Kuku Yalanjii, Wulgurukaba and South Sea Islander woman with strong family connections to Yarrabah, Far North Queensland. She is currently the Director Allied Health First Nations Peoples, Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer, Queensland Health. Corrine has over 15 years experience delivering occupational therapy services in a wide range of areas, including mental health, community and population health. Corrine was awarded the 2018 Indigenous Allied Health Professional of the Year Award for her commitment, dedication, and contribution to promoting the importance of health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families, and communities.
In 2020, Corrine was awarded the Menzies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship to complete the Graduate Diploma of Health Research part-time. Corrine completed the Graduate Diploma of Health Research in December 2021. During her studies Corrine demonstrated academic excellence and was awarded the Indigenous Commonwealth Reward Scholarship 2020 and the 2021 Val Asche Memorial Price for Academic Excellence.
Corrine was awarded the Menzies 2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Scholarship to support her to complete the Master of Health Research. Corrine completed the Master of Health Research in June 2024. Completion of the Master of Health Research equiped her with the skills necessary to achieve her career goal of completing a PhD. She looks forward to continuing her journey with Menzies.
Isobel Walker
Isobel Walker is a physiotherapist who has worked in the field of continence for a decade and recently commenced practising in the allied health paediatric disability sector.
Isobel has previously completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy. Studying health research has provided a broader view of health and particularly health equity. Isobel will continue her studies at Menzies and hopes to complete her Masters of Health Research in 2023.
“I am so grateful to Menzies for supporting me to achieve my Diploma. There have been challenging periods trying to balance work, study and family particularly over the COVID-19 pandemic however it has been achievable thanks to Menzies flexible and incredibly supportive approach.”
Michael Riceman
Michael Riceman is currently working as a medical registrar in Adelaide and is dual training in both Infectious Diseases and General Medicine. During his training, he has spent time working in Adelaide metropolitan hospitals, Alice Springs and Darwin and has valued the rich learning opportunities afforded to him by his mentors and patients alike.
The Masters of Public Health at CDU has opened my eyes to what “health” means beyond care at a tertiary hospital. It has inspired me to pursue interests in Indigenous health and planetary health, and consider all determinants of health in my daily clinical work. I look forward to using the skills I’ve developed later this year as a registrar in Darwin’s Centre for Disease Control.
Thank you to all the academic staff and their efforts in creating an excellent curriculum. Thank you to my wife, Shabnam, and parents, Ela and Bill, for their unwavering support.
Natalie Merida
Natalie Merida first started working in the health space as a consumer representative following the birth of the premature twins. To complement her consumer work, Natalie completed the Master of Health Research (MHR) at Charles Darwin University. She enjoyed diving deep into the health research world. MHR provided her with an excellent introduction to the health research context in the NT and broader Australasia Pacific.
"I was so impressed by the quality of the teaching and the high levels of support that I received from lecturers and support staff during the MHR. The flexibility of the MHR allowed me to pursue study and also juggle family and work. I learned so much and now get to put my learnings into practice as a part-time researcher at Menzies."