About Us

The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) is an independent source of immunisation information, advice and recommendations for healthcare providers and members of the public. MVEC’s resources are evidence-based, up-to-date and regularly reviewed by our team of vaccine experts and other specialist contributors. 

Based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), MVEC works closely with SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community) and hospital immunisation services across Victoria. We are not‑for‑profit and are supported by the Victorian Department of Health. 

MVEC went live in 2012 as an educational website. We now provide vaccine news and education on our website, in our newsletter, through podcasts and on our social media platforms. MVEC also offers professional development opportunities on our Education Portal and through face‑to‑face events, such as the annual clinical vaccinology update (CVU). 

MVEC provides accessible education resources to promote vaccine safety and encourage health providers and members of the public alike to become better informed decision-makers when it comes to immunisation. Ongoing education not only improves health providers’ clinical practice but also increases confidence among both providers and consumers. 

Our resources are primarily tailored to healthcare professionals such as immunisation nurses, midwives, pharmacists, GPs, paediatricians and adult physicians. We also encourage members of the public to access our resources and endeavour to present information in a format that is accessible to everyone. 

MVEC is a part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Vaccine Safety Net. All Vaccine Safety Net members are verified by WHO as a source of reliable and credible vaccine safety information. 

If you are interested in collaborating with MVEC or have any feedback on our educational resources, please get in touch.

Meet the team

Professor Nigel Crawford

BMBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD
Director

Professor Crawford is a consultant paediatrician and vaccinologist. He is the Director of SAEFVIC, based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Head of Immunisation Services at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and Chair of the Victorian Specialist Immunisation Services (VicSIS). In 2021, Professor Crawford was appointed Chair of the Australian Therapeutic Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). He is an expert in the vaccination of special risk groups, a member of the ATAGI COVID-19 Working Group Executive, Chair of ATAGI Subgroup #3 (Vaccine Safety), Chair of Vaccine Safety Committee (B Part of It NT Study), Member of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) COVID-19 vaccine Expert Advisory Group (EAG) of the Department Health Canberra, and Member of the Victorian Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine Expert Advisory Group (EAG).

Professor Jim Buttery

MBBS, FRACP, MSc, MD
Adviser

Professor Buttery is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and vaccinologist. He is the inaugural Professor of Child Health Informatics at the University of Melbourne. He is Head of Health Informatics, Epidemiology and Signal Detection at SAEFVIC (MCRI) and Chief Clinical Research Information Officer and Infectious Diseases Physician at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Professor Buttery also serves as a member of the Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee, member of the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) Advisory Committee on Vaccines, member of the Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, SPEAC meta-DSMB COVID vaccines, and member of DSMB, COVID vaccine candidate, Serum Institute of India.

Dr Daryl Cheng

MBBS, MPH, FRACP, AFAIDH, CHIA
Adviser

Dr Daryl Cheng is a consultant paediatrician and clinical informatician with a special interest in immunisation and travel medicine, based at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and Monash Health. He also has clinical research and educational appointments at SAEFVIC & MVEC, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne.

HIs keen interests in health informatics and healthcare systems are fostered through roles with the Melbourne Children’s Centre for Health Analytics and the RCH Strategy, Quality & Improvement Team.

Dr Sally Gordon

BSc(Hons), MD, MPH
Adviser

Dr Sally Gordon is a paediatric and public health medicine registrar combining a career in clinical medicine and public/global health with a special interest in healthy equity and community empowerment. In 2021, she worked for the Victorian Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Program, including as manager of the Victorian Specialist Immunisation Services (VicSIS) during its inauguration.  

Dr Linny Kimly Phuong

BPharm(Hons), MBBS, DCH, MPH, FRACP
Adviser

Dr Linny Kimly Phuong is a paediatric infectious diseases physician who has current appointments at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Cabrini Health and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI).  

Linny researches paediatric infections with special interests in streptococcal disease, Kawasaki disease and vaccine safety. She is a PhD candidate with the University of Melbourne. 

Linny contributes to national and international infectious diseases committees including Australia & New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ANZPID) and the World Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (WSPID). 

Her passion is improving health equity with a focus on accessibility in health communication. 

Rachael McGuire

BNurs, GradCertClinEd
Education Nurse Coordinator

Rachael is an accredited Nurse Immuniser and experienced paediatric registered nurse. She has a strong interest in the immunisation of special risk groups, including those with immunosuppression, as well as vaccine safety. She is passionate about immunisation education and has recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education.

Lois Tham

DipMktg
Administrative and Technical Support

Lois is the administrative assistant at MVEC and personal assistant to Professor Nigel Crawford. She has a background in marketing communications, customer relations and has extensive experience in corporate/ private events management.

Alice Black

BA(Hons), GradDipPsych
Marketing Communications Assistant

Alice has a background in Psychology and English Literature. She is interested in language, writing and communication in health sciences. She is currently completing an Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing.