Community engagement at Menzies

Menzies has an important and productive relationship with the Tasmanian community. The community’s support of our research is vitally important and highly valued. We engage with as many people in the community as possible, with the aim of informing and inspiring them about our research and inviting them to join us in our mission.

Menzies Public Talks

Menzies holds up to five public talks per year. At these events a line-up of speakers, usually including Menzies researchers and a clinician from the Tasmanian Health Service, to speak on a topic of public interest. These talks are free and are advertised on the Menzies website, social media and to our mailing list. To join our mailing list for news and information on events, sign up at the bottom of our homepage (www.menzies.utas.edu.au) or email Menzies.news@utas.edu.au.

Community talks and tours

Speakers from Menzies are available to visit community groups to speak generally about Menzies and our research, or specifically about a particular research area. We are also able to co-ordinate on-site visits to the Institute, showcasing the laboratory, clinic and providing further information on our research.

If you are co-ordinating a talks program for your community group, association or club and wish to know more about medical research in Tasmania please contact Angela Wilson, Communications Manager, on angela.wilson@utas.edu.au

Fundraising by community groups

Your support and the fundraising efforts of the community are fundamental to our success. Fundraising can be rewarding, challenging and fun – especially when your efforts are furthering important medical research. There are many ways to fundraise, and we have prepared guidelines to help you understand the requirements under Tasmanian State law when you choose Menzies as the beneficiary for your upcoming fundraising activity. Please do not hesitate to contact our fundraising team on 03 6226-7707 with any questions.

Self-Guided Tours

Information exists for members of the public who want to take a self-guided tour of the public areas of the Medical Science Precinct. Ask for a flyer at our reception desk.

Schools and students

Open Day

Are you interested in studying Medicine, Medical Research, Paramedicine, Nursing or Health Sciences? Open Day is your chance to experience a taste of university life, talk to staff and students and find the right course. Open Day is held every year in August and includes tours of the Medical Science Precinct. Visit: http://www.utas.edu.au/open-day

Taster Days

What are you are going to do when you leave school? To help you make your decision come and experience a Taster Day at the Medical Science Precinct. Taster Days give you the opportunity to see find out more about the content of courses in health and medicine, and the types of careers they can lead to.

See http://www.utas.edu.au/health/study/taster-days.

Brain Bee

Menzies helps to coordinate the Tasmanian section of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge, a competition for Year 10 students to learn about the brain and its functions, neuroscience research and careers in neuroscience. The Brain Bee is run under the auspices of the Australasian Neuroscience Society Inc. The Tasmanian State Coordinator is Dr Catherine Blizzard. If you have a question about the Tasmania Brain Bee Challenge, please contact Catherine via email at catherine.blizzard@utas.edu.au.

Do you have an inquiry about studying Medicine or Medical Research at the University of Tasmania?

Email the School of Medicine at teamleader.med@utas.edu.au.

School tours

Our research laboratory operates under strict quarantine and safety protocols and taking children or large groups through is challenging because of the resources required to do this safely and professionally. Because of this and the other opportunities for engagement outlined above, we do very few tours for individual schools or large groups. Exceptions can be made depending on the size of the cohort, whether the students have alternative opportunities for science engagement through their school, and the availability of Menzies engagement and research staff.