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To ensure we can make healthy food choices, we need dietary advice based on the best scientific evidence. This Guideline seeks to offer the best advice on dietary patterns that promote optimal health and wellbeing for the generally healthy Australian population.  

Consuming a sensible, balanced diet can help us to achieve optimal health throughout life. NHMRC has guidelines for healthy eating based on the best available scientific evidence.

Updated in August 2018, the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) provides guidance to water regulators and suppliers on monitoring and managing drinking water quality. 

The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in adults, adolescents and children in Australia is intended for use by clinicians including general practitioners. 

Our rescinded guidelines are stored for historical purposes on the Australian Government Web Archive (AGWA). Below are the links to many of these. This list may not be fully comprehensive but is current at December 2017.

In consultation with the Australian Government Department of Health and the New Zealand Ministry of Health, NHMRC has established three committees to provide guidance and advice on Phase One of the review of Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes (NRVs).

The Guidelines to promote the wellbeing of animals used for scientific purposes: The assessment and alleviation of pain and distress in research animals (2008) provide guidance on how to support and safeguard the wellbeing of animals used for scientific purposes. Notice: This publication is more than five years old and may no longer reflect current evidence or best practice. 

This document outlines required essential nutrient intake believed adequate to meet the nutritional needs of the majority of healthy people to prevent deficiency. The document can be used by health professionals to assess the likelihood of inadequate intake in individuals or groups.

The Infant Feeding Guidelines are written to assist health workers provide consistent advice about breastfeeding and infant feeding. They provide a review of the evidence, and clear evidence-based recommendations on infant feeding for health workers.

This document provides principles and best practice guidance for the care and use of non-human primates for scientific purposes. The document is intended for use by those involved in the care and use of non-human primates for scientific purposes, including institutional animal ethics committees, investigators and animal carers.   

These guidelines aim to protect Australians from threats posed by the recreational use of coastal, estuarine and fresh water environments. These guidelines are currently being updated by NHMRC’s Recreational Water Quality Advisory Committee. 

Breastfeeding infants exclusively to around six months, and continuing up to 12 months and beyond as solids foods are introduced, provides clear benefits for both the infant and the mother. Supporting women to continue to breastfeed is key to improving rates of breastfeeding.

Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol.

The NHMRC uses a number of research classification systems to categorise research applications including Broad Research Area, Field of Research, Burden of Disease and Research Keywords.

This guide supports the implementation of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013) by providing advise about the specific and unique needs of Australian native mammals can be met when these animals are used for scientific purposes.  It provides information for investigators, institutions, animal ethics committees and all those involved in the care and use of Australian native mammals for scientific purposes. 

Priority Round 1 is about the implementation of dementia research into clinical practice and care in various settings, such as hospitals, community, aged care facilities and general practice. Applications addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health are encouraged, as are applications targeted at regional and remote community health.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong condition characterised by severe neurodevelopmental impairments (with/without physical impairments) that results from prenatal alcohol exposure. 

NHMRC established the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Advisory Committee under section 39 of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992 to advise the NHMRC Chief Executive Officer on the current needs for research and clinical guidance on ME/CFS. The Committee finalised its report in late April 2019.

Complementary and alternative medicine’ describes a wide range of healthcare medicines and therapies. Many Australians use complementary medicines for specific health conditions or health benefits. To help Australians to make informed decisions about their health care, we support research into complementary and alternative medicine and publish information about the effectiveness of various treatments.