Northern Community Health & Research Foundation

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Northern Community Health & Research Foundation The established Northern Community Health and Research Foundation (“the NCH Research Foundation”

The foundation delivers impact across the health and wellbeing needs of local northern communities in South Australia:

• 24 years supporting the northern communities in South Australia

• $5M accumulated with 1.3M of grants and initiatives

• Supporting local South Australian research, health and wellbeing programs

Grants and awards are provided by NCH Research Foundation to promote and assist health and medical-related research, support projects promoting better health and projects or programs incidental to the foregoing objectives. The Northern Community Health and Research Foundation’s (NCH Research Foundation) vision is to improve health in northern communities of South Australia, and in particular the districts of the Councils of Prospect, Walkerville and Port Adelaide/Enfield. The foundation receives donations to support a wide range of activities related to the foundation's programs.

With the progress of our inaugural Research Week, and the recent Plenary Presentation, it demonstrates how we deliver fu...
28/09/2026

With the progress of our inaugural Research Week, and the recent Plenary Presentation, it demonstrates how we deliver funding to initiatives which focus on achieving better health outcomes and enhancing the health and wellbeing of communities in northern Adelaide.

You can be part of building better health outcomes by donating to the Northern Community Health & Research Foundation. During Research Week, the Foundation is matching all donations received for our flagship programs. Find out more and donate at https://nchrf-donate.raiselysite.com/

Our current priorities include:

Improving Health Outcomes for Older South Australians: Through targeted community support programs, we aim to enhance the health and quality of life for older individuals in the northern suburbs.

Driving Innovation: We will continue to push the boundaries of health research and practice to find new and better ways to address local health challenges.

Connecting Research and Practice: By bridging the gap between researchers and healthcare providers, we strive to ensure that research leads to real-world, actionable outcomes.

Strengthening Partnerships: We aim to build deeper, more effective partnerships with universities, health researchers, primary healthcare networks, and service providers in the northern communities.

Our focus is local. Your impact can be global. Donate now and the Foundation will match your contribution.

Donate at https://nchrf-donate.raiselysite.com/

Today in our NCHRF Research Week Hopes for Health series, we are focusing on a growing challenge to our ageing community...
25/09/2026

Today in our NCHRF Research Week Hopes for Health series, we are focusing on a growing challenge to our ageing community and the healthcare practitioners who support them.

The Northern Community Health & Research Foundation has been supporting research in the area of ‘social prescribing’ through an initial pilot project and subsequently through a major research project called Prescriptions for Connection: A Social Prescribing Approach for Healthy Aging which commenced in 2024.

Social prescribing is defined as “a means for healthcare workers to connect people to a range of non-clinical services in the community to improve health and wellbeing.” This project is focused on identification of barriers to, and facilitators of, social prescribing for older patients from identified vulnerable communities, with the aim of facilitating a scalable, sustainable approach to health and ageing ‘in place’.

This project is supported by the Councils of Port Adelaide Enfield, Walkerville, and Prospect, the Adelaide Primary Health Network, Flinders University, and the Northern Community Health & Research Foundation, with funding from The Northern Community Health & Research Foundation, The Hospital Research Foundation and significant in-kind support from The Adelaide Primary Health Network.

General practice nurses, council professionals and older people were involved in the co-design of the study, which is believed to be the only study of its kind involving volunteers. General Practitioners and volunteers received training prior to implementation of the trial program, called “Prescriptions for Connection”, across three council areas.

Benefits of social prescribing include improving patient health and wellbeing, improving function, reducing isolation and loneliness, and reducing demand on health professionals.

It is widely recognised that older adults in Australia can experience many causes of ill-health, with social isolation and loneliness contributing to around 20% of GP consultations. Given South Australia’s aging population, the importance of finding better ways to assist patients and their healthcare professionals to reduce social isolation can only increase.

Previous research has clearly identified the need for easily accessed non-medical support options. A scalable program that can assist in the reduction of reliance on health services is likely to have far-reaching positive impacts on the wider health system and recognise the importance of holistic understanding of care, as well as improving individual health and wellbeing outcomes.

This project is currently in its implementation phase. It is just one of the major projects supported through the Northern Community Health & Research Foundation. During Research Week, we are matching all donations to our programs, meaning you can double your impact and your contribution to accelerating better health outcomes. Find out more about our flagship programs and donate at https://nchrf-donate.raiselysite.com/

24/09/2026

Today in our Hopes for Health series, we are focusing on the power of “being what you can see”.

This is the underlying principle of the School to Scholar Program, an initiative designed to support and inspire secondary school students from Adelaide’s northern suburbs to pursue careers in medicine, while providing senior medical students with valuable experience in mentoring, leadership, and community engagement. NCHRF supports this program which is jointly led by the Adelaide University and the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, the School to Scholar Program reflects a shared commitment to educational opportunity, professional development, and stronger community connections.

Many young people in northern Adelaide face barriers when aspiring to a career in medicine. They may be the first in their family to attend university, have limited exposure to medical professionals, and few natural links to medical school. The School to Scholar Program addresses these challenges by pairing students with senior medical students from the Northern Scholars program as mentors. Through one-on-one mentoring, interactive workshops, and community-based activities, students gain practical guidance, inspiration, and the confidence to see a medical career as achievable.

By providing visible and relatable role models, the program helps students navigate the path to medical school and beyond.

The program also benefits senior medical students, who step into funded mentoring and leadership roles. These students, completing their clinical training through the Northern Scholars program at Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, develop essential skills in teaching, leadership, and community engagement. These experiences enhance their professional growth while giving them the opportunity to positively influence the next generation of health professionals.

By funding initiatives like the School to Scholar Program, the Foundation is supporting grassroots change in the community, benefiting secondary and medical students and contributing to the development of the essential expertise to support better health outcomes.

Throughout Research Week, the Foundation has pledged to match all donations received to support this program. Find out more and donate today at https://nchrf-donate.raiselysite.com/

22/09/2026

Perhaps one of the most powerful ways to change health outcomes for the better is to foster the networks of the best medical and healthcare research minds, enabling the opportunities for conversation and collaboration.

This is one way the Northern Community Health & Research Foundation has been supporting critical research and application for over 20 years, through our Visiting Professor Program.

Each year, a peer-nominated international expert is invited to visit Adelaide, where they spend time with students and researchers sharing their latest research and insights. Their program typically includes Grand Rounds at various hospitals and presentations designed to share world class, leading research findings with South Australia’s research community, practitioners and interested members of the public.

Recently our 2024 Visiting Professor, Professor Rafael Perera-Salazar, Director of Medical Statistics in Primary Care, University of Oxford, returned to Adelaide to further connections made during his initial visit. Professor Perera-Salazar’s research focus is emerging trends and insights in the management of multimorbidities. Research has shown that treatment can be more effective if all of a patient’s health challenges are viewed together and the impacts of one condition on others is taken into consideration. During the Professor’s recent visit, NCHRF hosted an expert round table discussion investigating emerging trends and insights in the management of multimorbidities.

In 2025, the NCHRF Visiting Professor was Professor Peter Grace, a renowned expert in chronic pain therapeutics. As Associate Professor and Chair ad interim of the Department of Symptom Research, Director of the Preclinical Neurobehavioral Core, and Associate Lead of the CCSG Cancer Neuroscience Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Associate Professor Grace shared his studies in the identification of new drug targets for pain. Professor Grace spent significant time with students during his visit, also sharing his experiences and advice on building research networks and collaborative research projects.

Our 2026 Visiting Professor, Professor Emilio Nuzzolese, is responsible for the Human Identification and Forensic Odontology Research Laboratory at the University of Turin. This week he has joined with South Australian experts in the field to consider victim identification through forensic odontology with an audience including students, researchers, emergency services personnel and criminal investigation professionals.

It is game-changing insights such as these that have the potential to change the health outlook of all Australians. Fostering these connections is an important way in which the Foundation supports researchers.

You can help us achieve more by donating at https://nchrf-donate.raiselysite.com/

This week, as NCHRF Research Week commences, South Australian clinicians, researchers, students, practitioners and commu...
21/09/2026

This week, as NCHRF Research Week commences, South Australian clinicians, researchers, students, practitioners and community representatives, and members of the public will be participating in a range of events and forums, including our Research Week Plenary Presentation at the National W**e Centre.

Our focus is local. Your impact could be global. Remember, donate during Research Week and the Foundation will match your gift, doubling your impact and your contribution to accelerating better health outcomes.

Poorer health outcomes are an increasing challenge to our communities. This is why we are also launching our Double Your Donation campaign for Research Week, during which the Foundation has pledged to match all donations received. You can find out more at https://www.nchrf.com.au/donate-to-nchrf

Your donation will enable us to expand capacity and impact of our flagship programs, including:

✦ FREWIN RESEARCH FUND, which provides funding and recognition for researchers, to support and develop their research and the growth of productive academic networks

✦ VISITING PROFESSOR PROGRAM, which brings globally renowned health and medical researchers to Adelaide to work with researchers, clinicians, students and healthcare professionals

✦ SCHOOL TO SCHOLAR PROGRAM which brings secondary students and senior medical students together in a mentoring relationship to encourage students to realise their dream of becoming a medical practitioner.

The Northern Community Health & Research Foundation’s purpose is to create sustainable improvements to health outcomes through research, partnerships and community programs. Through decades of providing support and our strong relationships with leading researchers, clinicians and practitioners, the Foundation has contributed to knowledge and practices which have positively impacted health outcomes beyond Adelaide’s northern communities to deliver benefits at state and national levels and contributed to global expertise and insights.​​

Donate at https://nchrf-donate.raiselysite.com/

14/09/2026

Our inaugural Research Week and Plenary Presentation is a week away, and there is still time to register for this special evening on 22 September.

Register to attend, and discover insights and learnings on Forensic Odontology for Casework: Global and Local Perspectives

The 2026 Visiting Professor, features Professor Emilio Nuzzolese of the University of Turin, who will share insights from his work as an internationally-recognised academic clinician in the field of forensic odontology casework for victim identification.

Followed by a panel discussion led by Professor Nuzzolese, Dr Sher-Lin Chiam, Senior Forensic Odontologist at the Adelaide University and Dr John Berketa, Forensic Odontologist, Researcher and Scene Team Leader, Forensic Odontology Unit, Adelaide University.

This session will provide attendees with a greater understanding of South Australian forensic odontologic practice, including how artificial intelligence is supporting this vital work.

An evening not to be missed, register at https://events.humanitix.com/nchrf-research-week-plenary-presentation

Tuesday 22 September, National W**e Centre, 6pm-9pm

Congratulations to the finalists in this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for students in Adelaide Universit...
08/09/2026

Congratulations to the finalists in this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for students in Adelaide University’s College of Health: Eva Moore and Emily Phipps. Both students then competed successfully against finalists from across Adelaide University, with Emily’s taking first prize and Eva winning the People’s Choice category.

3MT is an international competition recognising research communication skills and celebrating the wide range of research being undertaken by PhD candidates. The Northern Community Health & Research Foundation provides support for this competition annually.

Read more https://www.nchrf.com.au/post/congratulations-to-three-minute-thesis-winners

26/08/2026

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected with latest news and research updates at https://www.nchrf.com.au/newsletter

In our latest issue:
📣 NCHRF Research Week Plenary Presentation - book at https://events.humanitix.com/nchrf-research-week-plenary-presentation
📣 Global expert in forensic odontology Professor Emilio Nuzzolese comes to Adelaide
📣 Multimorbidity roundtable update - Professor Rafael Perera-Salazar returns to Adelaide

Current NCHRF programs include funding for community programs and research, School to Scholar, Research Week with our Visiting Professor's Address from Professor Emilio Nuzzolese, and grants for emerging researchers.
Find out more at nchrf.com.au

09/08/2026

Join the Northern Community Health and Research Foundation at the Plenary Presentation for our inaugural NCHRF Research Week.

This event features our 2026 Visiting Professor's Address, in which Professor Emilio Nuzzolese of the University of Turin will share insights from his work as an internationally-recognised academic clinician in the field of forensic odontology casework for victim identification.

The Visiting Professor's Address will be followed by a panel discussion led by Professor Nuzzolese and Dr John Berketa, Forensic Odontologist, Researcher and Scene Team Leader, Forensic Odontology Unit, Adelaide University. This session will provide attendees with a greater understanding of South Australian forensic odontologic practice, including how artificial intelligence is supporting this vital work.

Along with the focus on our 2026 research topic of forensic odontology, the Northern Community Health & Research Foundation will present an overview of recent work of the Foundation and announce the winner of the 2026 Derek Frewin Early Career Researcher Award for 2026.

Register now at https://events.humanitix.com/nchrf-research-week-plenary-presentation



Adelaide Medical Students' Foundation (AMSF) Flinders University Medical Science Society - FUMSS Adelaide PHN Country SA PHN Northern Adelaide Local Health Network - NALHN Preventive Health SA City of Port Adelaide Enfield City of Prospect Town of Walkerville City of Salisbury, SA, Australia City of Playford

07/07/2026

When NCHRF invests in research and community projects through our grant programs, we know we are investing in the future. Never has that investment been more important than now, as communities everywhere, and particularly in northern Adelaide, are facing complex health challenges.

NCHRF recently hosted an expert roundtable with leaders in health and medical research, educators and representatives of South Australian health agencies and councils. This group met with Professor Rafael Perera-Salazar, Director of Medical Statistics in Primary Care, University of Oxford to discuss emerging insights and trends in management of multimorbidities.

The objective of this meeting was to bring together experts to learn more about the trends and insights emerging from the data and to discuss the trends in management of multimorbidities in the Australian context. Professor Perera-Salazar was the NCHRF Visiting Professor in 2024 and this visit progresses discussions and collaborations established at that time.

This event happened to be scheduled exactly one year to the day since our highly successful Research Impact event in 2025. Between May 2025 and 2026, NCHRF has supported and progressed more projects and programs. Stay up to date with our activities, grant opportunities and research projects by signing up for our news at https://www.nchrf.com.au/newsletter

Read more https://www.nchrf.com.au/post/connection-and-collaboration-to-progress-research-outcomes-for-adelaide-s-north

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140 Greenhill Road UNLEY
Adelaide, SA
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