Australian WHO Collaborating Centres

Definition

WHOCCs are institutions (or subunits thereof) that have been designated by the Director-General to support the WHO as part of a global network.

The designation is a recognition of the institution’s historical collaboration with the WHO and outlines a schedule for a future program of work.

Following at least two years of successful joint activities, the WHO may propose to formalise the relationship by designating the eligible institution as a WHOCC. It is not possible for institutions to self-nominate. This is a time-limited agreement – typically four years – during which the WHOCC will undertake specific activities that contribute to the WHO priorities and workplans at a global or regional level.

WHOCCs are often smaller subsections of a host institution, typically universities, research institutes, hospitals, academies or governments. The designation itself is tied to the specific organisational unit – department, laboratory or centre – that has been collaborating with the WHO. Designations are non-transferable and are linked to the organisational unit and not to the individual Centre Director or other staff members.

Function and Incentives

WHOCCs are designated across a wide range of public health areas, reflecting the diversity of WHO core functions. These can include data collection, disease classification, training, capacity-building, technical advice and more. As such, individual workplans of the WHOCCs are planned and implemented in collaboration with the WHO, directly aligned with WHO strategic plans and linked to the relevant technical areas.

The WHOCC mechanism is grounded in a win-win relationship. That is, the WHO can access world class institutional capacity for support of its activities and avoid duplication of effort where in-country expertise already exists. Meanwhile, WHOCC host institutions enjoy increased visibility, recognition and the associated benefits at a national and international level.

WHOCC designations are separate from financial support from the WHO. Indeed, in most cases the WHOCC is required to cover the costs through core budget for the agreed work program and, possibly, by mobilising additional resources. This does not prevent WHO from co-contributing financially for activities beyond the agreed work program, provided there is funding available.

Current list of Australian WHO Collaborating Centres

WHO Collaborating Centre

Name of Host Institution

Location

Director(s)

 

 

WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Quality Assurance

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

ACT

Dr Lisa Kerr

WHO Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications

Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW)

ACT

Mr. Michael Frost

WHO Collaborating Centre for the Quality Assurance of Vaccines and Other Biologicals

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

ACT

Dr Lisa Kerr

WHO Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building on HIV and STI Care, Treatment and Support

The Albion Centre

NSW

Professor Julian Gold

WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Trauma Care

The George Institute for Global Health

NSW

 

Co-directors: Dr Margaret Peden & Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor

WHO Collaborating Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

University of New South Wales

NSW

 

Professor John Kaldor and A/Prof Susana Vaz Nery

WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development

University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

NSW

 

Ms. Michele Rumsey

WHO Collaborating Centre for Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity

University of Sydney

NSW

 

Professor Adrian Bauman & Professor Stephen Colagiuri

WHO Collaborating Centre for Population Salt Reduction

The George Institute for Global Health

NSW

 

Professor Jacqui Webster

WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance

NSW HP Microbiology, The Prince of Wales Hospital

NSW

 

Monica Lahra

WHO Collaborating Centre for Strengthening Rehabilitation Capacity in Health Systems

University of Sydney

NSW

 

Professor Emerita Gwynnyth Llewellyn and Dr Kim Bulkeley (Co-Directors)

WHO Collaborating Centre for the Elimination of Asbestos Related Diseases

Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute

NSW

 

Kim Brislane

WHO Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis

The University of Sydney

NSW

 

Professor Ben Marais

WHO Collaborating Centre for Air Quality and Health

International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health

QLD

 

Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska

WHO Collaborating Centre for Children’s Health & Environment

The University of Queensland

QLD

 

Professor Paul Jagals

WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria

Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute

QLD

 

Professor Dennis Shanks

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis

Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services

QLD

 

Ms. Megan Staples

WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention

Griffith University

QLD

 

Associate Professor Kairi Kolves

WHO Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis Bacteriology

Pathology Queensland Central laboratory at Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital

QLD

 

Dr Chris Coulter

WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases

James Cook University

QLD

 

Professor Maxine Whittaker & Professor Peter Leggat (Co-directors)

WHO Collaborating Centre for Advancing Health in All Policies Implementation

SA Health

SA

 

Professor Katina D’Onise

WHO Collaborating Centre for Mass Gatherings and Global Health Security

Flinders University

SA

 

Professor Paul Arbon

WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections Point-of-Care Testing

Flinders University

SA

 

Professor Mark Shephard & Dr Susan Matthews (Co-Directors)

WHO Collaborating Centre for Adolescent Health

The Royal Children’s Hospital & The University of Melbourne.

VIC

 

Professor Susan Sawyer

WHO Collaborating Centre for Anaemia Detection and Control

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)

VIC

 

Associate Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha

WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance

Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne

VIC

 

Professor Ben Howden & Professor Kirsty Buising (Co-Directors)

WHO Collaborating Centre for Child Health

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)

VIC

 

Professor Julie Bines

WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnostics and Laboratory Support for HIV/AIDS and other Blood-borne Infections

NRL – an operating division of St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research

VIC

 

Dr. Philippa Hetzel & Mr Wayne Dimech (Co-Directors )

WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Workforce Regulation

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

VIC

 

Mr Nick Lord

WHO Collaborating Centre for Law and Non-communicable Disease

The McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer at Cancer Council Victoria

VIC

 

Ms. Hayley Jones

WHO Collaborating Centre for Leadership in Health Promotion

Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)

VIC

 

Dr. Sandro Demaio

WHO Collaborating Centre for Mycobacterium Ulcerans

Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) – Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory (MRL)

VIC

 

Professor Paul Johnson

WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Related Research and Training

Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University

VIC

 

A/Prof. Gary Sacks and A/Prof. Kathryn Backholer

WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Protection

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)

VIC

 

Dr. Rick Tinker

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza

Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)

VIC

 

Professor Kanta Subbarao

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rickettsioses

University Hospital Geelong, Barwon Health

VIC

 

Professor John Stenos

WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Child and Neonatal Health

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, & The University of Melbourne

VIC

 

Professor Trevor Duke

WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health

St Vincent’s Hospital

VIC

 

Professor Helen Herrman & Professor Chee Ng (Co-Directors)

WHO Collaborating Centre for Scabies Control

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

VIC

 

Professor Andrew Steer

WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Blindness

Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

VIC

 

Professor Mingguang He

WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine

RMIT University

VIC

 

Distinguished Professor Charlie C Xue

WHO Collaborating Centre for UV Radiation

Cancer Council Victoria

VIC

 

Craig Sinclair

WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis

Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)

VIC

 

Professor Benjamin Cowie

WHO Collaborating Centre for Women’s Health

University of Melbourne, Centre for Health Equity

VIC

 

Associate Professor Cathy Vaughan

WHO Collaborating Centre for Ear and Hearing Health

Ear Science Institute Australia

WA

 

Sandra Bellekom

WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment

Curtin University

WA

 

Dr. Ivan Hanigan

WHO CC for Geospatial Disease Modelling in Australia

Telethon Kids Institute

WA

 

Prof Peter Gething