Vale Mr Nick Rushworth 23 June 1964 – 27 January 2026
On behalf of our colleagues across the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and the broader Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) at Monash University, we acknowledge with deep sadness the loss of Mr Nick Rushworth. Our thoughts were with Mr Rushworth's family, friends, loved ones and colleagues at Brain Injury Australia (BIA) as they farewelled him in Sydney yesterday.
Mr Rushworth was an invaluable collaborator with the University, and his impact on our Faculty was immeasurable. Our interim Head of School, Professor Sally Green, had the privilege of working alongside Mr Rushworth and witnessed firsthand the extraordinary dedication he brought to everything he did.
“Nick was deeply respected and loved across our Faculty, not just for his dedication to brain injury advocacy, but for the warmth and enthusiasm he brought to every collaboration. We have lost someone truly irreplaceable”, Professor Green reflected.
For 18 years, Mr Rushworth led BIA as its Executive Officer, becoming a steadfast voice for the organisation and the community it serves. Drawing from his personal journey with brain injury, he dedicated himself to advocating for others, amplifying the voices of those who often go unheard. He championed the needs of people living with brain injury and their carers in various forums – both within government and the broader community – persistently working toward systemic improvements and policy reforms that would benefit those affected by brain injury.
Mr Rushworth had strong ties to Monash University throughout his career. He collaborated with researchers across MNHS on numerous major projects spanning decades involving a diverse array of funding bodies, including the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council, health departments and other governing bodies – all driven by a common goal of improving outcomes and care for people living with acquired brain injury.
Mr Rushworth’s contributions to our research were both strategic and deeply personal. He was a key advisor to the $20M TAC funded Neurotrauma research program run through the Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research. He played a crucial role in securing this funding and helped shape the program’s investment priorities, including its emphasis on lifetime care and community integration. His consumer perspective was invaluable in guiding the research projects we pursued.
Mr Rushworth also worked closely with our Faculty researchers on The Prevalence of Acquired Brain Injury Among Victims and Perpetrators of Family Violence project, commissioned by the Victorian Government in response to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. The project was a consortium led by BIA with Monash University, Domestic Violence Victoria and No to Violence.
“Nick was instrumental in this project, and a fierce champion and advocate for family violence prevention”, Professor Belinda Gabbe, Co-Head of the Clinical and Health data Outcomes Innovation and Research, shared. The work brought much-needed attention to the links between acquired brain injury and family violence, influencing both research priorities and government policy.
Mr Rushworth's dedication, rigour and genuine compassion have left an enduring mark. His contributions will not be forgotten, and he will be profoundly missed.
“To work alongside Nick was to be reminded of the importance of pushing forward for the better. As a long-time collaborator, his unwavering belief in our shared research goals helped enormously and instilled in me the lasting conviction that we can all shape the system”, Professor Natasha (Tash) Lannin, Head of Brain Recovery and Rehabilitation Research, expressed.
Please see the BIA website for more information.