Transforming the future of healthcare

Made possible thanks to a generous gift from Dennis Bastas, Executive Chairman and CEO of DBG Health, a unique health academy is equipping future healthcare leaders with the tools to make lasting change.

^{Professor Jane Gunn AO, Dennis Bastas, Gina Bastas, former Provost Professor Nicola Phillips and Professor Jenny George at the launch of the Bastas Academy for Health Leadership.}

Around the world, health systems are under strain, overwhelmed by workforce shortages, chronic under-investment and rising levels of burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic made clear that tackling today’s complex health challenges requires more than clinical expertise. It demands capable, forward-thinking leadership at every level.

Enter the Bastas Academy for Health Leadership (BAHL): a bold new initiative made possible through a $7.5 million gift from philanthropist and entrepreneur Dennis Bastas. Launched as a unique partnership between the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Business School, BAHL aims to equip health professionals with the skills and mindset to lead lasting change.

I’m proud to help establish this Academy.

Bastas says, “It will provide opportunities for emerging health leaders from diverse backgrounds and upskill the sector workforce with an innovative approach to confronting complex health issues.”

From strategic thinking and financial management to collaboration and change leadership, BAHL focuses on capabilities often missing from traditional health training. It also fosters a broader ecosystem for health sector innovation, ensuring Australia remains actively engaged in shaping better outcomes at home and globally.

"Not all health professionals begin their career with the intention of becoming a leader. Yet leadership is vital at all levels of the health sector," Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Professor Jane Gunn AO says.

"The capabilities and knowledge required for effective leadership in healthcare, such as strategic thinking, collaboration, communication, financial management, change management and innovation, are often under-valued compared to technical and academic competencies. That is why we’re partnering with Melbourne Business School to deliver this initiative."

With its pioneering vision, the Bastas Academy is building a new generation of leaders ready to meet the challenges of 21st-century healthcare, while driving a healthier, more resilient future for all.

^{Inaugural cohort at the Bastas Academy for Health Leadership.}