The Ramaciotti Regional and Remote Health Sciences Training Centre

About

The Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre enables regional and remote youth to overcome barriers to the health workforce by providing multiple entry and exit points to training, study and employment. Youth can enter the program via:

• High school engagement pathways
• Certificate level training
• Undergraduate training
• Postgraduate training and research

The Centre leverages existing partnerships with communities, schools, training organisations and employers in order to deliver high-quality training in health. The Centre also builds on existing programs in remote community schools.

The program is co-led by highly experienced researchers who are committed to creating opportunities for young people entering the health workforce. A dedicated project manager and student placement coordinator facilitates student placements, ensures students receive recognition for the skills they acquire, and works with the team and other Menzies personnel to ensure that students receive academic support, pastoral care and mentoring.

Students can undertake a range of educational and workplace training experiences, including;

• Laboratory techniques
• Data analysis
• Computer literacy
• Literature reviews
• Coding
• Bioinformatics
• Health promotion
• Allied health.

Laboratory-based training includes;

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Molecular biology
• Biochemistry
• Parasitology
• Genomics
• Metagenomics
• Microbiomics
• Transcriptomics

Students also undertake training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice and clinical trials.

Logo:

The Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre was established in 2020 and is based in Darwin, NT within the Menzies School of Health Research. The Centre logo, titled ‘Turtle on a Journey,’ was created by two Australian First Nations people, a former Centre student and now graduate nurse, Zoe Fitzpatrick (Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Wambya and Wanyi woman) and Co-lead of the Centre, Mark Mayo (Mudburra and Mabuiag man). The turtle is depicted on its journey through the sea, representing the journey we all take through life. The lines connecting the circles signify the connections between people, and the way they support and protect the individual on their journey. The Centre is guided by overarching values of equity, reciprocity, self-determination, mutual support, and trust; these values are represented as the shapes on the back of the turtle:

Equity: the right for all of us to learn and be provided with education

Reciprocity: the sharing of all our unique cultures with one another

Self-determination: the right of the person to choose their path as a unique and special individual

Mutual support:    

Background:

In regional and remote areas of Australia, hurdles to education can be exacerbated by distance and extreme social disadvantage. Approximately 50% of NT youth do not complete high school. Low high school completion rates result in reduced training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth who live in regional and remote communities in northern Australia.

One of the main barriers to a local health workforce in northern Australia is a lack of supported pathways into employment for youth. This gap is addressed by the Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre. The Centre focuses on delivering high-quality training in order to develop a local health workforce for rural and remote northern Australia. Students benefit from training in the latest technology, industry partnerships, dedicated trainers, mentoring programs, internships across institutions, and access to Menzies School of Health Research teams and networks.

The Centre’s governance structure includes the Management Team, Steering Committee, and a Youth Advisory Group. Non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander representatives are included as members of these groups; however, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives are sought for the majority of positions. Youth advisors are included as representatives on the Steering Committee. This governance structure enables the Centre to grow and connect youth from across the NT to previously unimagined pathways into the health workforce.

Banner image: The Centre was gifted a Larrakia name, ‘Dawudlirra’ at a Saltwater Ceremony led by Larrakia Elder and Centre Cultural Advisor Dr Richard Fejo on Monday 8 July 2024.

Training Opportunities:

The Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre offers laboratory and non-laboratory training to the following groups:

• Work experience students: students 16 years and over seeking to undertake work experience in the field of health sciences
• Traineeships: school-leavers seeking pathways prior to, or instead of, tertiary study
• Cadetships: students currently enrolled in undergraduate study

Training Enquiries:

For all enquiries about work experience, traineeships and cadetships, please complete the training enquiry form. For any other enquiries, please email us.

Scholarship Opportunities:

The Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre is offering 3 month training scholarships to successful applicants.

In order to be eligible to apply, applicants must be:

• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young person
• Aged 18 – 24
• Able to undertake a full-time 12 month placement with the Centre based at Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, NT.

Eligible applicants must be able to enrol in post-secondary education qualifications (VET or university) or already enrolled.

More information about the scholarship opportunity can be found here.

Please send your completed application form and current CV to menzies-ramaciotti@menzies.edu.au.

Partners and collaborators:

• Biyamarr ma
• HealthLAB
• Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA)
• IAHA National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy

Funders and donors:

• The Ian Potter Foundation
• Perpetual, as Trustee of the Ramaciotti Foundations
• Bridging the Gap Foundation
• Integria Australia
• Barlow Impact Group
• Edwina Menzies and Ian Albrey
• Northern Territory Government

The Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre was established in 2020 with the funding from the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation Biomedical Research Award.

Staff

Centre co-leads:

• Mark Mayo, Associate Deputy Director, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, Laboratory project manager and senior researcher
• Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths, Director, Poche SA+NT, Flinders University & Research and Education Lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance
• Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan, Menzies School of Health Research Associate Director for Research (HDR and Ethics), Menzies HealthLAB Head

Laboratory supervisor:

• Kim Piera

Youth training and engagement officers:

• Jen Dillon
• Philip Mayo

Project officer and laboratory trainer:

• Jayde Hopkins

Centre administration:

• Charlotte Valle

1. 

   MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies youth training Centre honoured with Larrakia name

   Date

   July 08, 2024 - 12:15pm

   This afternoon Menzies staff and invited guests will come together for a saltwater ceremony led by Dr Richard Fejo. Held at Casuarina Beach, this event recognises the gifting of a Larrakia name ‘Dawudlirra’, meaning sea turtle, to the Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre.

2. 

   ABC News | Men's health

   Date

   October 23, 2021 - 19:00pm

   Menzies Indigenous project assistant, Jahdai Vigona talks about why it is important for more young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to enter the health workforce.

3. 

   Training centre to boost biomedical workforce

   Date

   February 16, 2021 - 11:56am

   The new Ramaciotti Regional and Remote Health Sciences Training Centre will provide a pathway in the health sector for young NT residents.

4. 

   Media Release | Opportunities for the next generation of local scientists

   Date

   February 09, 2021 - 13:39pm

   A new training centre aimed at developing a sustainable, local biomedical and health sciences workforce has been launched at Menzies School of Health Research.

5. 

   NT News | $300k raised to assist in bridging gap

   Date

   November 07, 2020 - 08:00am

   SMALL acts of charity and an AFL legend from the Territory have played a crucial role in raising $300,000 for five new traineeships at a cutting-edge research centre in Darwin.

6. 

   This 'Time Machine' is showing what the future holds - for your face

   Date

   November 02, 2020 - 16:00pm

   NITV - Ever wondered how you'll look at 60? What if you're a smoker? This new app will show you the difference.

7. 

   CDU Origins Edition 1 2020 | Award secures future of NT biomedical services

   Date

   April 01, 2020 - 10:00am

   Associate Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan and her Menzies team are using the 2019 biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award to establish a sustainable centre for excellence focussing on biomedical career entry and progression for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

8. 

   Ramaciotti awards

   Date

   December 09, 2019 - 10:36am

   Menzies' researchers are developing a new centre to develop the biomedical workforce in the Northern Territory. Associate Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan, Dr Robyn Marsh, Dr Kalinda Griffiths and Mark Mayo have received the biennial $1 million...

9. 

   2019 Ramaciotti AWARD WINNER

   Date

   November 25, 2019 - 09:15am

   View a short film of the 2019 Ramaciotti BioMedical Research Award recipients.

10. 

    Ramaciotti Biomedical Award worth $1 million granted to Northern Territory research team

    Date

    November 07, 2019 - 01:00am

    The biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award, worth $1 million, has been granted to a biomedical research team at the Menzies School of Health Research, based in Darwin.

11. 

    Ramaciotti Foundations recognise strides in Australian-based research

    Date

    October 31, 2019 - 00:15am

    Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan and her team at Menzies have been awarded the biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award, worth $1 million.

For more information about the Centre, please email or call us on (08) 8946 8635.

1. 

   Brandon Turner

   Brandon is a Larrakia man with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biomedical Science at Charles Darwin University. He is currently undertaking his Doctorate of Medicine with Flinders University while working part-time in the Menzies laboratory.

2. 

   Callum Rowe

   Callum has been a member of, and chaired the Menzies-Ramaciotti Youth Advisory Group, and involved in supporting research projects looking at youth Type 2 Diabetes.

3. 

   Helena Warria

   Helena is a laboratory training scholarship recipient at the Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre currently undertaking a Certificate III in Laboratory Skills and Undergraduate Certificate in Biomedical Science.

4. 

   Henrique Thomas

   Henrique is a proud Indigenous Australian of the Yuin nation and Badu Islands who has been born and raised in Darwin.

5. 

   Jayde Hopkins

   Jayde Hopkins is a proud Gurindji and Woolwonga woman from Darwin. She is currently completing her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at La Trobe University.

6. 

   Lucy Mayo

   Lucy Mayo is a young Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander woman born and raised in Darwin. She has completed a tertiary enabling program and is aiming to undertake a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at CDU.

7. 

   Mia Hardcastle

   Mia is a recipient of the HOT NORTH Menzies-Ramaciotti Centre Vocational Placement and is studying a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Tasmania.

8. 

   Nyasha Majoni

   Nyasha has undertaken vocational training in laboratory sciences at Menzies School of Health Research facility. He is currently working on a project under the supervision of Dr Robyn Marsh in Chronic Suppurative otitis media (Chronic ear infection).

9. 

   Porsche Cahill

   Porsche was born in Adelaide and moved to the Northern Territory when she was 6 months old.

10. 

    Royce Ramsamy

    Royce was born in Cairns, QLD and moved to Darwin in 2010. He completed school in 2021.

11. 

    Shenea Tipungwuti-Edwards

    Shenea is a proud Tiwi and Burarra woman who grew up on Kunwinjku country in a community called Gunbalanya.

12. 

    Taylah Church

    Taylah is a proud Indigenous woman born and raised in Darwin. Her journey with Menzies began in 2018 when she commenced a Traineeship with the Medicinal Plants project.