• The Charles Sturt University Rural Health Research Institute celebrated three years of advances in rural health with a symposium at Charles Sturt in Orange  
• The Institute has broken new ground with innovative research in areas such as mental health, substance dependence and First Nations health
• The symposium is a two-day event dedicated to improving health outcomes in rural and regional communities, held on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 June.

The Charles Sturt University Rural Health Research Institute (RHRI) has marked three years of advancing rural and regional health with a two-day symposium.   

The 2025 Rural Health Research Institute Symposium was held at Charles Sturt in Orange, featuring a range of presentations over two days outlining the RHRI’s work to improve health outcomes in country communities. 

The event brought together researchers, health professionals, community partners and stakeholders to celebrate research that is already making a real-world impact. 

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Renée Leon was proud to welcome a range of guests, including VIPs, during an evening function on Tuesday 17 June at the University in Orange.  

“Charles Sturt University is an anchor institution in regional Australia, one which proudly serves the people of those communities,” Professor Leon said. 

“Regional Australians face higher incidences of chronic diseases and mental health issues compared to their metropolitan counterparts. These issues require regionally-informed and evidence-based responses. 

“Our Rural Health Research Institute is a key part of our mission to improve health outcomes for regional Australians via the impactful research projects highlighted at this symposium.” 

Rural Health Research Institute Acting Executive Director Professor Anna Walduck said the symposium marked the culmination of the RHRI’s first phase of research. 

“More than 35 research presentations featured throughout the event, covering key areas such as rural health service delivery, First Nations health equity, improved mental health outcomes, and regional research capacity building,” she said. 

Research projects highlighted at the symposium include:

• The ‘Structured Nature Walks’ study, led by Acting Deputy Director of the RHRI Professor Julaine Allan, demonstrated that clinician-led nature walks significantly improved mental well-being in patients with chronic mental illness. The program’s success has led to its integration into national guidelines and the training of 30 additional mental health professionals in NSW to adopt nature-based interventions.
• The ‘Central Obesity Among Indigenous Australians: Building Evidence for Policy Interventions study found that central obesity is more prevalent in females (67.7 per cent) than males (46.2 per cent), with lifestyle and geographic factors influencing the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes. This study was led by Research Fellow of Rural Public Health (Epidemiologist) at the RHRI Dr Kedir Ahmed.
• A third initiative, the ‘Family Empowerment Program,’ also led by Professor Julaine Allan, focused on supporting rural families of individuals with substance dependence. The program led to reduced depression and anxiety, improved life satisfaction and enhanced problem-solving abilities among participants.

Since its establishment in 2022, the RHRI has made additional strides in rural health research by establishing a health and medical research hub at the Orange campus, supporting the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine and School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences with 30 researchers. 

It has also partnered with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and regional stakeholders to co-design impactful research projects. 

During this time, four researchers and one faculty affiliate were also ranked among the top 2 per cent of researchers globally. 

RHRI researchers have also published more than 290 peer-reviewed articles, making significant advances in biomedical sciences, rural clinical health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. 

The symposium ran from 9am until 5pm on Tuesday 17 June and again from 9am until 2pm on Wednesday 18 June at the site of the Rural Health Research Institute at Charles Sturt University in Orange on Leeds Parade. An evening event was held on Tuesday 17 June with a range of guests, including local politicians.

ENDS