Welcome from the Dean

This year marks the start of an exciting new direction for the Faculty of Health Sciences. The faculty is embarking on a new strategic plan driven by the internationalisation of health and health professional education.

The plan is focused on building strategic partnerships that allow our learning, teaching and research to be at the forefront of this change.

As a world leader in health sciences research and education in health, disability, functioning and rehabilitation, we have much to offer, particularly in our own Asia Pacific region. We are committed to preventative health and to improving the quality of life of individuals and families worldwide who experience impairment, injury, illness, chronic health conditions or disability.

We achieve this through our focus on multidisciplinary and collaborative research of the highest quality, on research-enhanced learning and teaching and through workplace learning that advocates holistic patient-centred care. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, our new strategic plan has allowed us to reflect on the important role we play as advocates on health and social policy issues.

Our research underpins everything we do. Our people are changing the health landscape by conducting pioneering research into prevention and wellbeing. We are breaking new ground on some of the big issues facing our health and social care systems, which include:

• How do we prepare for an ageing population?
• How can we best support the needs and rights of people with disabilities?
• Is exercise the key to halting the growth in chronic disease?

Our learning and teaching programs are enhanced by our research efforts and aim to develop a new generation of allied health practitioners, corporate professionals, academics and researchers who will drive change within the health sector. We attract the best and brightest students from all walks of life and give them the opportunity to become the future leaders in health.

As you can see, the Faculty of Health Sciences has an exciting future ahead. Building on a long and proud history of success, we are eager to rise to the new challenges we have set ourselves.

If you share our vision and our passion for global health we look forward to welcoming you as a student, a member of our alumni community, a colleague, a sponsor or a corporate partner – all of whom are integral to us achieving our vision.

Gwynnyth Llewellyn

Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences