Image: Foundation Chair of Global Health Alliance Melbourne, the Hon John Brumby AO

Burnet Institute has played a central role in the establishment of a new platform, the Global Health Alliance Melbourne (GLHAM), which aims to capitalise on Victoria’s strengths and capabilities in global health expertise.

Launched by former Victorian Premier the Hon John Brumby AO, and Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, GLHAM is based on the highly successful Washington Global Health Alliance, recognising Melbourne as the hub in this field in the Asia-Pacific.

Burnet Director and CEO Professor Brendan Crabb AC, and board member Associate Professor Helen Evans AO, have been appointed to GLHAM’s foundation committee, which is charged with developing new strategies to meet health challenges in the region.

“Burnet Institute is honoured to be a foundation member of Global Health Alliance Melbourne and looking forward to contributing to a major shift in healthcare in Australia and regionally,” Professor Crabb said.

“Burnet and our new partners have very similar missions and objectives, yet we bring different strengths and skill sets to the table. Together we can be much stronger than the sum of our parts.”

Member organisations in the Alliance will span nine sectors: client groups, research, education, entrepreneurship, service delivery, advocacy, policy, corporations, and philanthropy.

Mr Brumby said the 10 foundation organisations – Australian Red Cross, Bio Melbourne Network, Burnet Institute, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Global Ideas, Medicines Development for Global Health, Monash University, Nossal Institute for Global Health, Save the Children, and the University of Melbourne – are committed to the creation of new partnerships.

“Together GLHAM partners will help to close the gap in inequality of healthcare provision in the countries in which our members work, including Indigenous Australia,” Mr Brumby, the GLHAM foundation Chair, said.

Lord Mayor Doyle said GLHAM had facilitated the formation of several partnerships even before the Alliance’s official launch.

“These include projects to address neglected tropical diseases such as River Blindness, efforts to improve adolescent health, and a very exciting initiative in Indigenous and tribal people’s health,” he said.

A priority project for 2017, Local to Global, will focus on Indigenous health in Victoria and in the developing countries where members work.