A big heart grant

Congratulations to Flinders NT researchers Dr Bryce Brickley and Dr Marita Hefler on their success in the Heart Foundation 2025 Research Awards. Well done to both researchers for their outstanding contributions to improving heart health in First Nations communities.

Dr Brickley received a First Nations Cardiovascular Disease Grant for his project ‘Exploring the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s groups in cardiovascular health promotion in very remote Australia’. The project will support community-led approaches to improve heart health.

Professor Hefler was awarded a Future Leader Fellowship for her project ‘Improving heart health by reducing commercial tobacco availability: a First Nations community-led and co-designed approach’, supporting her growing leadership in cardiovascular research and public health.

 

Expert panel calls for law reforms

Professor Vivienne Brand from Flinders Law has joined a group of experts from professional associations, business and universities calling for reforms to the complex Corporations Act.

The Corporate Law Reform Alliance aims to raise awareness of how the nation’s complex and unclear corporation law framework is holding Australia’s economy back.

In 2023, the Australian Law Reform Commission described the Corporations Act 2001, which includes financial services law, as no longer fit for purpose, unclear and extremely difficult to navigate and administer.

As well, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has also called for updates to the administration of the Corporations Act, with businesses facing new challenges from AI’s rapid development to environmental and productivity challenges, geopolitical instability and other pressures.