CHARM 2025
The Canberra Health Annual Research Meeting (CHARM) is an annual event hosted in Canberra.
CHARM was held on 16 to 20 June 2025.
Program overview 2025
Day 1: Celebrating research excellence
- Opening day started with an engaging keynote presentation
- Spotlighting our local researchers with the Rising Star Awards
- Concluded with a CHARM favourite – the poster viewing event
Day 2: Abstract presentations and more
- A range of abstract presentations
- Keynote presentation, panel discussion and workshop
- Evening presentations on hot clinical topics
Day 3: Abstract presentations and more
- Concurrent abstract presentations
- Keynote presentation and panel discussion
Day 4: Dynamic pitches and workshops
- Fast-paced 3-minute pitches
- Enriching workshops tailored to various interests and skill levels
Day 5: Awards dinner
- Concluded the CHARM week with a very popular and memorable awards dinner.
CHARM award winners 2025
This year’s winners are driving positive change through their research in areas such as dementia, lung cancer, rural healthcare and persistent pelvic pain.
Congratulation to the 2025 winners:
- Best Nursing and Midwifery oral presentation - Macey Barratt, University of Canberra
- Best pre-clinical oral presentation – Dr Chelisa Cardinez, Australian National University
- Best Clinical oral presentation – Dr David Nwokeocha, Canberra Health Services
- Best population health oral presentation – Dr Anupam Rao, Canberra Health Services & Australian National University
- Best allied health oral presentation – Clare Stephenson, University of Canberra and Canberra Health Services
- Best Nursing and Midwifery oral poster – Jennifer Ohlmus, Canberra Health Services
- Best pre-clinical oral poster – Gemma Hart, Australian National University
- Best clinical oral poster – Zeeshan Naseer, Southern NSW Local Hospital District
- Best population health poster – Paul Siwabessy, Australian National University
- Best allied health poster –Thomas Do, Australian National University
- Best 3-minute pitch presentation – Dr James Miller, Canberra Health Services
- Best 3-minute pitch presentation – SaiShyam Ramesh, Australian National University
- Best poster related to ageing – Victoria Traynor, University of Wollongong
- Runner-up best poster related to ageing - Dr Anupam Rao, Canberra Health Services & Australian National University
- Impact on Patient Experience and Outcomes – Dr Sumeet Rai, Canberra Health Services
- Impact on Quality and Safety in Health Care – Dr Darcey Row
Rising star award winners 2025
The rising star awards aim to:
- recognise and showcase the achievements of developing Canberra health researchers
- contribute to a positive research culture which supports and acknowledges progress and development in research capacity and capability.
Read Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith’s acknowledgement of the rising star award recipients.
Congratulations to the 2025 award winners:
- Outstanding New Researcher Award: Dr Sumeet Rai – Canberra Health Services
- Clinician-Researcher Awards: Ms Gemma Wall – University of Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services & University of Canberra; and Dr Anupam Rao – Canberra Health Services & Australian National University
- Collaborative Research Award: Ms Kathleen Cook & Ms Clare Robertson – Canberra Health Services
Congratulations to this year’s highly commended recipients:
- Outstanding New Researcher: Ms Helen Truong – Canberra Health Services; and Dr Chirath Hettiarachchi – Australian National University
- Clinician-Researcher: Dr Christopher Chew – Canberra Health Services, University of Oxford (UK) & Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (Thailand)
Key dates 2025
- 20 January: Abstract submissions open
- 3 March: Abstract submissions close
- 12 March: Rising star awards submissions open
- 30 April: Rising star awards submissions close
- 16 to 20 June: CHARM sessions and workshops
- 20 June: Award ceremony and announcement of CHARM 2025 winners
Why you should attend
CHARM is an opportunity to:
- collaborate and network
- strengthen interdisciplinary research
- showcase the far-reaching impact of health research in the ACT.
It explores and demonstrates how research contributes to a learning health system through:
- discovery
- collaboration
- translation.
Who should attend
CHARM connects partners in the ACT health system including:
- researchers
- students
- clinicians
- policy makers
- consumers
- carers
- industry partners
- health administrators
- health leaders.
CHARM partners
CHARM is hosted by the Health and Community Services Directorate (HCSD) in collaboration with:
- Canberra Health Services
- Australian National University
- University of Canberra
- Australian Catholic University
- Health Care Consumers Association
The meeting is a cornerstone event in supporting the ACT’s health system to become a learning health system by investing in its people and showcasing the infrastructure and platforms which facilitate high-value research, directly delivering on objectives within Better Together: A strategic plan for research in the ACT health system 2022-2030 [PDF 6.9MB].
CHARM sponsors
CHARM sponsors provide financial support to make CHARM possible. We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their invaluable support.
Platinum sponsors
- HCSD - Centre for Health and Medical Research
- Australian National University – JCSMR, SMP and NCEPH
- Canberra Hospital Foundation
Gold sponsors
- Faculty of Health - University of Canberra
- HCSD - Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
- Canberra Health Services
Bronze sponsors
Award sponsors
- HCSD - Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
- HCSD - Human Research Ethics Committee
- Faculty of Health - University of Canberra
- Canberra Hospital Private Practice Fund
- Radiation Oncology Private Practice Fund
Contact us
For more information or to get in touch, please email CHARM@act.gov.au