The past two decades have seen the Kirby Institute build on its long history of translating research into population-level impact, developing new approaches to turning evidence into practice at scale. This seminar examines that shift, from research institution to implementation force, and what it took to get there.
The session will draw on landmark initiatives including EPIC-NSW, which contributed to a near one-third decline in HIV transmissions among gay and bisexual men in NSW, and TTANGO (Test, Treat and Go), a community-led point-of-care testing program for STIs in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We will explore what we learned about embedding research into health practice at scale.
Central to this seminar is the evolution of First Nations research leadership at the Kirby Institute. The session will explore what genuine partnership looks like in practice, how the Institute has invested in building First Nations research leadership, and what still needs to change.
Featuring perspectives from researchers, implementation leaders and community partners, this seminar reflects on a period in which prevention and implementation became core to the Kirby Institute's identity and considers what those lessons mean for the future.
Speakers to be announced.
Kirby Institute 40 Years of Impact Seminar Series
In celebration of 40 years of research impact, in 2026 the Kirby Institute is coordinating a special series of seminars. In this series, we will look back over the four decades of our institute to reflect on the achievements we have made, the lessons we have learned and the crucial partnerships that made it all possible.
As we reflect on our 40th anniversary one thing is clear: we are only just getting started. Through these seminars, we will explore what has come to define the Kirby Institute, the extent to which we have responded to the needs of impacted communities, and what elements of our history we want to carry forward into our next 40 years to ensure we can continue to do more good, for more people, as long as it is needed.
Opinions expressed in this Seminar Series are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Kirby Institute or UNSW.
