The Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health (ACITH) is an Australian Government funded teaching and research collaboration between The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Health Sciences (particularly the School of Population Health), and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR).
ACITH aims to improve the health of populations in Australia and internationally through excellence in education, research and service by the provision of first-class coursework and research degree courses in international and tropical public health for Australian students, students from tropical developing countries and other students with a strong interest in these areas. Other objectives include the development of superior facilities for research and research training, to support international and Australian public health programs and the transfer of knowledge and technology to tropical developing countries, and to make special provision for the training of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The maintenance and further development of strong collaborative links with an extensive number of national and international institutions is also a key objective.
ACITH was established in 1995 as a joint venture between The University of Queensland (UQ) and QIMR. ACITH combines the resources and expertise of Tropical and International Health and Nutrition in the Division of International and Indigenous Health within the School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, with complementary elements of the QIMR. ACITH works closely with staff of the Australian Army Malaria Institute.
ACITH obtains core operating income from the Public Health Education and Research Program (PHERP) of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). This income supports staff critical to the public health effort and is matched by funds from the two parent institutions – UQ and QIMR.
The Centre reflects the continued commitment of the Australian Government to public health and medical research among disadvantaged communities and developing countries, particularly in the Pacific and Asian regions. As Australia's designated centre for international and tropical health and nutrition, ACITH provides a focus for higher education, new research endeavours and consultancies nationwide and includes a critical mass of scientists from a wide range of disciplines and professions.
ACITH has strong collaborative links with an extensive number of national and international institutions, which currently number over 50. These include links in China, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and the Solomon Islands.
