Research Strengths

Centre for Remote Health
Charles Darwin University, Flinders University

The Centre for Remote Health is a joint centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin University. It is one of a network of University Departments of Rural Health (UDRH) funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health under the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Programme to improve the health status of populations in rural and remote areas

Queensland Tropical Health Alliance
Griffith University, James Cook University

Bringing together the State’s leading tropical researchers to address relevant health issues, ranging from fighting diseases such as dengue fever to improving responses to tropical cyclones.

Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM)
James Cook University

AITHM aspires to excellence in tropical health and medical research, biotechnology and research education, supporting better health for people in the tropics worldwide.

Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
La Trobe University

A centre for social research into sexuality, health and the social dimensions of human relationships. It works collaboratively and in partnership with communities, community-based organisations, government and professionals in relevant fields to produce research that advances knowledge and promotes positive change in policy, practice and people’s lives.

NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing
Griffith University

Developing strategies to influence nursing practices and policy, and further develop nursing research expertise in Australia.

Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity
Flinders University

Helping inform initiatives and policy at local, regional, state and national levels to promote population health and reduce health inequities and their underlying causes.

Griffith Institute for Health and Medical Research
Griffith University

Providing a critical mass of research expertise focussed on issues that are vital in developing sustainable health systems for the future.

Menzies School of Health Research

Dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Indigenous Australians, and a leader in global and tropical research into life-threatening illnesses.

Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Murdoch University

Working to prevent and reduce the impact of disease on people and communities around the world, while advancing medical and scientific knowledge in global healthcare with a focus on immunology and infectious diseases.

CRC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University

The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was in operation from January 2010 to June 2014, funded through the Australian Government’s collaborative CRC program. Five of the seven IRU universities were involved with the project.

CRC for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP)
Charles Darwin University, Flinders University

The CRC-REP ran from 1 July 2010 until 30 June 2017 and delivered significant economic and social benefits to remote Australia. It was a public good collaborative research program with 59 partners including IRU members Charles Darwin University and Flinders University.

The Asia Research Centre
Murdoch University

For more than two decades, the Asia Research Centre has been an international leader in the study of East and Southeast Asia, undertaking fundamental disciplinary and interdisciplinary research examining a range of social, political, historical, environmental and economic forces and developments within this dynamic region.

Griffith Institute for Social and Behavioural Research
Griffith University

The Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR) is dedicated to increasing our understanding of current challenges facing the modern world through the application of innovative humanities and social science research, incorporating the knowledge of academics from a broad range of interrelated disciplines.

Living with Disability Research Centre
La Trobe University

The Living with Disability Research Centre is one of the pre-eminent centres for social research into the lives and experiences of people living with cognitive disability in Australia. It has a national and international reputation for delivering quality research outcomes. Importantly, it is extremely effective at research translation – that is, working with the disability sector, its people and organisations, to implement projects that are evidence-based, as well as including people with a disability in research.

The Cairns Institute
James Cook University

Bringing together the expertise and intellectual resources of more than 20 disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, The Cairns Institute is a uniquely robust and vibrant hub of research, capacity building and public debate in the tropics, for the tropics.

Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Well-being
Flinders University

Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island health, social, spiritual and emotional well-being through centres in Alice Springs and Adelaide funded via the generosity of Australian health philanthropist Mr Greg Poche AO.

Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research
Flinders University

Undertaking innovative research aimed at challenging common myths about Indigenous communities and enabling social transformation of Indigenous inequality.

Indigenous Knowledge and Education
Charles Darwin University

Closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage and making a significant contribution to the development of the intellectual and social capital of Indigenous Australians.

National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF)
Griffith University, James Cook University, Murdoch University

The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) works to support decision makers throughout Australia as they prepare for and manage the risks of climate change and sea-level rise. Based at Griffith University, NCCARF has a national focus across Australia to build resilience to climate change in government, NGOs and the private sector.

National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training
Flinders University, James Cook University, La Trobe University

The NCGRT  is based at Flinders University with 12 partner universities and a growing list of more than 19 government and industry partners. Its role is to advance understanding of Australia’s groundwater resources, and to train the next generation of groundwater researchers.

Australian Water Recycling Centre for Excellence and Smart Water Research Centre
Griffith University

Developing solutions to secure water supply through industry research projects across the water recycling spectrum. The Smart Water Research Centre builds, shares and applies new knowledge to improve water cycle management.

Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems
La Trobe University

The Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems (CFE) supports decision-making regarding maintenance and restoration of the long-term health of rivers, catchments, floodplains and wetlands and is founded on a long history of research under the auspices of the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.

North Australian Centre for Oil and Gas
Charles Darwin University

The North Australian Centre for Oil and Gas (NACOG) is a hub located at Charles Darwin University for training and education programs (both on campus and externally through distance learning) together with research capabilities targeted at the specific needs of oil and gas operations and developments in the region.

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies undertakes world-best integrated research for sustainable use and management of coral reefs. It is funded under the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence program and headquartered at James Cook University in Townsville.

Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture (CSTFA)
James Cook University

CSTFA provides research outputs for sustainable food production to local, state, federal and international resource managers, both in government and in the private sector, making it a key player in helping secure aquatic food production in the tropics for future generations.

The Centre for Rhizobium Studies (CRS)
Murdoch University

Since its inception in 1997, the CRS has become an internationally recognised hub for research and training in the science of the root nodule bacteria. These organisms are unique in their ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available nitrogen by forming symbiotic associations with legumes.

WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC)
Murdoch University

The SABC is the collaborative university Centre for R&D in agricultural and veterinary biotechnology in Western Australia. It provides platform technologies and world class equipment and facilities for R&D in agricultural biotechnology to researchers from universities, state government and industry. At any time 15-20 research groups and companies rent space and use the SABC facilities.

Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory (SSML)
Murdoch University

Centre for AgriBioscience
La Trobe University