NEWS
Blackmores partners with RMIT
A recently launched partnership between RMIT University and Blackmores is set to provide opportunities for collaboration in the field of health.
Blackmores Institute was launched in 2012 as a centre of excellence for natural health research and education to pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, GPs and naturopaths. Core activities include research funding, systematic reviews of natural medicine, and education programs.
Blackmores offers a range of education options to support the quality use and expert recommendation of complementary medicine. For pharmacy assistants, Blackmores provides face-to-face and online programs.
RMIT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising its relationship with industry partner Blackmores Institute, the research and education division of Blackmores Limited.
The partnership aims to open up opportunities for clinical research collaboration, joint consultancy activities, continuing professional education, workforce development, scholarships and work-integrated learning activities for health sciences students.
Blackmores Institute director Dr Lesley Braun said her Institute could foresee many avenues for mutually beneficial engagement with RMIT.
“Our goal is to support ongoing training and development for health practitioners and to promote clinical research in areas of common interest,” Braun said.
“We are very excited and proud to have formalised our relationship with RMIT.”
Founded 80 years ago by pioneering naturopath Maurice Blackmore, Blackmores Limited operates in 11 countries across Australasia and Asia. The company draws on the traditional use of herbs as medicines, combined with the latest knowledge of nutrition, to develop its range of more than 250 vitamins, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements.
Blackmores Institute was launched in 2012 as a centre of excellence for natural health research and education to pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, GPs and naturopaths. Core activities include research funding, systematic reviews of natural medicine, and education programs.
Blackmores offers a range of education options to support the quality use and expert recommendation of complementary medicine. For pharmacy assistants, Blackmores provides face-to-face and online programs.
In 2015, the Institute delivered accredited education to 4,000 healthcare professionals and 10,000 pharmacy assistants.
The Institute aims to further enhance the education offered to healthcare professionals by partnering with RMIT.
Professor Charlie Xue, Executive Dean of RMIT’s School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, said RMIT had a long and proud tradition of providing quality education, innovation and collaboration with industry.
“Our partnerships and dialogues with leading organisations are critical,” Xue said.
“They play a key role in enabling us to develop our programs, and to make a positive contribution to Australia’s national prosperity.”
This collaboration will provide avenues for health sciences students to gain industry experience through involvement in industry projects and research activities, and it is hoped it will also lead to scholarship opportunities to support quality clinical research and industry placements.
Work-integrated learning and engagement with industry is fundamental to the design, delivery and review of every RMIT program.
Story: Pauline Charleston