In August 2016, ten foreign journalists spent a week learning about Australia's ground breaking scientific breakthroughs and cutting edge health and medical research facilities. Part of the DFAT International Media visit program, the journalists from Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam were impressed with the expertise and innovation in the they saw in Brisbane and Melbourne.

While in Brisbane the delegates visited the Australian e-Health Research Centre to see how Australia is developing and deploying digital innovations to improve service delivery in the health system. They also met with three of the University of Queensland's leading research establishments: the Queensland Brain Institute; the Institute for Molecular Bioscience; and the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre. Delegates were particularly interested in the Brain Institute's mission to treat Alzheimer's disease with ultrasound technology. The journalists also had the opportunity to speak with Australian of the Year 2006, Professor Ian Frazer at the Translational Research Institute and Dr Geoff Garrett, Queensland Chief Scientist.

Melbourne's program featured a valuable visit to Monash University to hear about the Eliminate Dengue program at the Institute of Vector-borne Disease where the journalists were able to learn about the program's use of wolbachia bacteria to stop the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. The journalists also enjoyed hearing about the regenerative capabilities of axolotls and zebra fish at Monash's Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute.

Following a visit to the brand new, cutting-edge Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the journalists had the chance to meet with Professor Peter Choong, a leading orthopaedic surgeon and pioneer of bionic limb technology, and discussed women and gender equality in science with a panel of prominent science and technology researchers. Other highlights of the Melbourne leg included speaking to international researchers at the Walter and Eliza Institute of Medical Research and visiting the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity to discuss Australia's commitment to the elimination of HIV/AIDS.