About us
An independent voice for health and medical sciences
The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) is Australia’s Learned Academy for health and medical sciences: an interdisciplinary body of Fellows, made up of Australia’s most influential experts in health and medicine.
- We are an independent voice for the sector.
- We provide expert advice for decision makers.
- We engage with governments, industry, patients and the public.
The Academy is the impartial and expert cross-sector voice for health and medical science in Australia. We are uniquely positioned to bring together stakeholders from all relevant sectors to address the most urgent and important health issues facing society.
We are a not-for-profit charity. Find out more about how you can support us.
Our Fellows are the heart of our Academy
Our Fellows are elected by peers in recognition of exceptional contributions to health and medical sciences. They make up an interdisciplinary body of scientists, researchers and innovators in the health and medicine.
Our 532 Fellows are located in all Australian states and territories and come from a variety of organisations and institutions including:
- Universities
- Medical research institutes
- Health services
- Industry bodies
- Charities
- Public service
The wealth of experience and diversity of expertise among these Fellows enables the Academy to generate a representative and authoritative voice that spans the breadth and depth of healthcare and medical science.
Together, the Fellows of the AAHMS engage with governments, industry and the community for everyone’ s benefit.
We work to address the most important health challenges
Established in 2014, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences is uniquely positioned to address the most pressing, urgent and important health challenges facing society.
Find out more about our strategy and vision in our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan. You can also learn about the first five years of the Academy in our document, 2014-2020: Celebrating the formative years of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
The drive behind what we do at the Academy
Our purpose
We advance research and innovation in Australia to improve everyone’s health. We do this by:
- Fostering leadership in our sector
- Providing expert advice to decision makers
- Actively engaging patients and the public
Our vision
Better health for Australia and the world, driven by the best health and medical science.
Our values
We are:
- Evidence-based
- Impartial
- Trusted
- Inclusive
- Sustainable
Our objectives
Celebrate and strengthen research
We recognise outstanding achievements across health and medical research and innovation. We celebrate excellence, promote diversity and inclusion, build trust, address misinformation, and recognise meaningful community involvement in the sector.
Nurture future research leaders
We support and inspire future health and medical research leaders in Australia through programs, events, and the development of new initiatives that help the next generation thrive.
Influence policy
We use our expertise, independence and networks to deliver advice to governments, industry and healthcare on the most pressing health challenges. We influence policy to foster a strong environment for research and innovation, and promote and engage in active community consultation.
Build the health-academia-industry interface
We cultivate an environment for innovation in Australia by providing an independent forum for cross-sector, multidisciplinary collaboration and promoting the crucial role of collaboration across health, academia and industry.
Support Indigenous health and wellbeing
We work to contribute to the improvement of Indigenous health and wellbeing, and the representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers.
Read more about our purpose, vision and objectives in our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan.
Discover more about the Academy
The Academy is a member of the Australia Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP).
We were established in 2014 and formally recognised by the federal government as a Learned Academy in 2020 under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
We are governed by an Executive (our Board) and Council. Our patron is Professor Emeritus Sir Gustav (Gus) Nossal AC FRS FAA FAHMS. Find out more about our governance.
