As South Australia hosts the 2026 AFL Gather Round (9–12 April), Flinders University researchers and students will be delivering real-time health insights to the community.

At the centre is Flinders’ International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing (ICPOCT), working alongside the South Australian Government, The Shane Warne Legacy and SiSU Health to provide free health checks across Adelaide Oval, Elder Park, Norwood Oval and the Norwood Food & Wine Festival.

Now in its third year, the initiative encourages fans to “know their numbers”, helping detect early risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Using SiSU Health Stations, participants can access quick screenings for blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and diabetes risk.

Flinders medical scientists will also provide targeted finger-prick blood tests for cholesterol (lipids) and long-term blood sugar (HbA1c), with results available in minutes.

In 2025, more than 9,100 people took part, with one in three advised to follow up with their GP, highlighting the impact of bringing preventive healthcare into community settings.

 

Leading innovation in community health “Our Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing continues to lead the way with the innovative and impactful application of point-of-care testing for the direct benefit of communities across Australia. We are again pleased to be at the forefront of delivering important health checks for diabetes risk and heart health using point-of-care testing at this year’s Gather Round event. Taking pathology testing from the laboratory to primary care settings and community events is a key focus of our Centre’s work, and it is having significant and positive clinical and public health benefits.” Professor Mark Shephard, Co-Director, Flinders University’s International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing

 

👉 Heading to Gather Round? Drop by a site and take a few minutes to get checked, it could make a real difference to your health.

Real-world learning in action

Flinders Medical Scientists, as well as Medicine and Paramedic students will be working alongside ICPOCT experts at each site, gaining hands-on experience in diagnostics and community-based healthcare.

A pathway into point-of-care testing

Point-of-care testing is one of the fastest-growing areas in healthcare, transforming how and where diagnostics are delivered, from hospitals and clinics to remote communities and major public events.

Through initiatives like Gather Round, students can see first-hand how a career in medical science can extend beyond the laboratory, into roles that directly improve access to care and health outcomes.

 

Study where impact happens

Interested in a career in health? Flinders offers pathways into both laboratory science and frontline care:

👉 Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) – advanced lab, research and diagnostic skills.

👉 Bachelor of Medical Science (Laboratory Medicine) – research labs, public health, and private pathology services.

👉 Paramedicine at Flinders – hands-on training for emergency and pre-hospital care careers.