Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia's peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the conduct of health and medical research.

As the nation’s leading expert body in health and medical research, the NHMRC set high standards of integrity and scientific rigour, and champion the pursuit of better health outcomes for all Australians.

The NHMRC brings together within a single national organisation the functions of research funding and development of advice. It draws upon the resources of all components of the health system, including governments, medical practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals, researchers, teaching and research institutions, public and private program managers, service administrators, community health organisations, social health researchers and consumers.

Vision and mission

Building pathways to a healthier future through research funding, health guidelines and ethical standards.

The mission statement of the NHMRC is 'Building a healthy Australia'.

How the NHMRC can help

NHMRC has a statutory responsibility under the NHMRC Act 1992 (the Act) to raise the standard of individual and public health throughout Australia and foster the development of consistent health standards between the various states and territories. They advise the community on matters relating to:

  • the improvement of health
  • the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease
  • the provision of health care
  • public health research and medical research
  • ethical issues relating to health.

Information / help lines

  • Call +61 (02) 6217 9000, Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm (AEST).

Recommended links

Last reviewed: February 2023

Information from this partner

Found 42 results

Healthy Eating for Infants, Children and Teenagers | Eat For Health

To achieve and maintain a healthy weight be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Food shopping tips | Eat For Health

Once you know which the healthier choices in the supermarket are, shopping can actually get easier, quicker and cheaper.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Eat for Health Calculators | Eat For Health

Calculate your daily nutrient requirements The Nutrients Calculator helps estimate how much of each nutrient is needed per day by healthy individuals to maintain their health and wellbeing.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Choosing nutritious foods | Eat For Health

The Australian Dietary Guidelines, recommend that we choose widely from the Five Food Groups and limit discretionary foods that are higher in saturated fat, added salt and added sugars.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Health effects of water fluoridation | NHMRC

Community water fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to reach a level that can help to reduce tooth decay.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Homeopathy | NHMRC

NHMRC has reviewed the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy in treating a variety of clinical conditions with the aim of providing Australians with reliable information about its use. This page contains the NHMRC Statement, the Information Paper detailing the evidence as well as an Administrative report. The comprehensive assessment of the evidence included:

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Ethical guidelines for Assisted Reproductive Technology | NHMRC

Public consultation on Mitochondrial Donation Supplementary Section The Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve's Law) Act 2022 came into effect on 2 October 2022 and amended the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (RIHE Act) and the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 (PHCR Act) to facilitate the staged introduction of mitochondrial donation into Australian clinical IVF practice.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Vitamin K for newborns | NHMRC

Vitamin K helps blood to clot and is essential in preventing serious bleeding in infants. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding can be prevented by the administration of vitamin K soon after birth. By the age of approximately six months, infants have built up their own supply of vitamin K.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Healthy meal and snack ideas | Eat For Health

Breakfast Try fruit or vegetable pikelets. Fruit toppers or a thin spread of unsaturated margarine or unsalted nut paste on wholegrain pikelets, wholegrain English muffins, toast or crumpets too. Vegetables fresh sliced or cooked such as tomatoes/onions/mushrooms/corn/zucchini; these are also great on wholegrain toast or English muffins. Wholegrain cereal, porridge or untoasted muesli with low fat milk or yogurt and fruit. Main meals

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Tips for eating well | Eat For Health

The recommendations in the Australian dietary guidelines and Australian guide to healthy eating help us choose foods for good health and to reduce our risk of chronic health problems.

Read more on NHMRC – National Health and Medical Research Council website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.