News

Renaming of the Centre for Rural Remote and Tropical Health Systems

Sept 2025
The Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening, established in 2015, has been renamed the Centre for Rural, Remote and Tropical Health Systems (CRRTHS).

The Centre will now be led by Professor Stephanie Topp as Director and Dr Karen Johnston as Deputy Director, stepping into these roles following over a decade of leadership from Professor Sarah Larkins and Associate Professor Catrina Felton-Busch. Their leadership laid the foundation for a strong record of achievement, including over $18 million in diverse research income, more than 570 high-quality publications, and enduring partnerships with health services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and Pacific institutions.

The CRRTHS will continue to pursue its goals through three strategic pillars:

• Working in partnership with governments, ACCHOs, Primary Health Networks, and Pacific institutions, leveraging its convening power and centring co-design in its work.
• Knowledge generation through multi-disciplinary, translational, and policy-relevant research in priority areas such as digital connectivity, health workforce, and health systems for ageing populations.
• Strengthening research capacity by embedding research in learning health systems, supporting Indigenous, rural, remote, and Pacific scholars, and co-developing professional development opportunities for health practitioners.

The Centre will continue to align with JCU’s commitment to regional impact, Indigenous futures, and health equity, positioning JCU as a national and regional leader in health systems research.