MACH-Track, our structured, mentored and fully funded career development program, continues to foster outstanding research-driven healthcare professionals across the healthcare spectrum – with our first cohort of future leaders set to graduate this year.
In 2025, the program expanded its scope to accept applicants from all recognised allied health professionals alongside doctors, nurses, midwives and physiotherapists.
Meet Professor Angela Morgan: Co-Director for Allied Health Professionals
Professor Morgan is a leader in childhood speech and language disorders with over 27 years of clinical research experience.
As Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Speech and Language and an NHMRC Dame Elizabeth Blackburn Fellow, she is translating genetic research into direct clinical diagnoses and treatments for families – identifying over 40 genes linked to childhood apraxia of speech.
Professor Morgan is also a Dame Kate Campbell Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Speech Apraxia clinic at the University.
Professor Morgan is excited about the potential of MACH-Track now speech pathologists have a potential career path to drive research breakthroughs in the clinic.
“Through MACH-Track, we now have the opportunity to nurture the next generation of clinician researchers who will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in child health and communication disorders,” she says.
Meet Professor Alicia Spittle: Co-Director for Physiotherapists
Professor Spittle brings a wealth of experience as a clinician researcher with over $30 million in grant funding and more than 230 publications. Professor Spittle was named the top Australian researcher in paediatric medicine in 2020.
She serves on the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine board and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)’s Extreme Preterm Infant Centre (EPIC) of Research Excellence, while maintaining clinical work at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Professor Spittle says MACH-Track offers physiotherapists a fantastic platform to bridge the gap between clinical practice and research.
“I am passionate about supporting the next generation of clinician researchers and delighted to be able to contribute from my own experience as a physiotherapist and researcher working across the University of Melbourne, MCRI and the Royal Women’s Hospital”.
Shaping our sixth cohort
With the next MACH-Track cohort set to be announced in November, MACH Executive Director Professor Sir John Savill is enthusiastic about the unique expertise and vision the newly appointed Co-Directors bring to the leadership team.
“As we head towards our sixth cohort of future healthcare leaders, Professors Spittle and Morgan’s mentorship and guidance will be instrumental in shaping the future of clinical research and innovation across Victoria and beyond,” he says.