Trained as a Public Health Physician and General Practitioner, with 20 years experience working within both Aboriginal community-controlled health services (ACCHS’s) in remote Australia and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) based in Canberra.

Occupied the position of Public Health Medical Officer from 1998-2012 for NACCHO, responsible for national health policy and program development, analysis and implementation. Fourteen years in remote Australia, with seven years as a General Practitioner in the Kimberley region of Western Australia with one year in north-eastern Victoria. Residency training was completed at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital, and Wangaratta Base Hospital. Worked as a microbiologist at Western General Hospital (1979-81).

REACCH (Research Excellence in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health)’- Chief Investigator (D): NHMRC grant- Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health: Sexually transmitted and bloodborne viral infections (2010-2015) (Administering Institution: University of NSW – Kirby Institute). “Talking about the Smokes” (TATS)- (Administering Institution: Menzies School of Health Research). DOHA- Tackling Smoking Measure in the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes (2011-2015).

Couzos S, Thiele D, Page P. Primary Health Networks and Aboriginal Health. Medical Journal of Australia [In Press]. Couzos S. Advocacy and the health professional role. In: Birks M et al.Professional and Therapeutic Communication. Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2016.