A Strong Beginning: The Inaugural Holsworth Oration Inspires Collaboration and Impact

The Holsworth Biomedical Research Centre marked a major milestone on Thursday 25 June, hosting the inaugural Holsworth Oration with Professor Michael Kingsley, Dean of Science at the University of Auckland, as the 2026 Orator.

Professor Kingsley delivered an engaging address titled “Beyond Prescription and Participation: Positioning Exercise as Effective Medicine”. His Oration highlighted the growing recognition of exercise as a powerful medical intervention, emphasising that both the quality and consistency of implementation are critical to achieving meaningful health outcomes.

The event brought together a diverse audience of researchers, clinicians and industry collaborators on the Bendigo campus of La Trobe University. Such diversity reflects the growing strength of the Holsworth Biomedical Research Centre (HBRC) and its regional impact in Bendigo. Discussions following the Oration sparked ideas for new collaborations and future initiatives, reinforcing the event’s role as a catalyst for ongoing engagement with the HBRC and the La Trobe Rural Health School.

The Oration recognised the generous support of Dr Bill and Mrs Carol Holsworth, and the Bendigo Tertiary Education Anniversary Foundation, whose vision enables research excellence and innovation. This was evident through Professor Kingsley's presentation that stepped through findings from within cardiac rehabilitation, sport, community health care and recent data supporting the use of exercise as medicine in cancer treatment.

The success of this inaugural event signals a promising future for the Holsworth Oration as a platform for connection, collaboration and scientific impact. The strength of these connections and collaborations will enable researchers within the Centre to develop scientific findings into medical interventions and models of care that can be implemented within our local communities.

"The inaugural Holsworth Oration was an excellent initial celebration of the Centre and the outcomes that can be achieved through research conducted in Bendigo", said Associate Professor Brett Gordon, Director of the HBRC. Planning is now underway for next years event to further stimulate innovative thinking on how we can partner with communities to strengthen the link between discovery and impact.

The Holsworth Biomedical Research Centre welcomes new partnerships and collaborations to advance biomedical science in the regions. To find out more or discuss opportunities, please engage with us.