Shaping Policy
Health and medical research is influenced by policy decisions at all levels of government, as well as in organisations such as universities, hospitals and research institutions.
For this reason, Research Australia seeks to engage with policy makers to support more, better quality and higher impact health and medical research in Australia. Influencing government policy is important for achieving Research Australia’s goals of greater investment, capturing the benefits of research and optimising Australia’s global position.
This includes:
- Keeping track of government policies and priorities
- Developing submissions to government and parliamentary inquiries
- Representing the interests of the health and medical research sector in discussions with MPs, Cabinet Ministers and public servants.
"Better Research, Better Health": A summary of Research Australia's recent policy submissions - August 2008
Research Australia has continued to promote the needs of the health and medical research community to government. Over the course of 2008, Research Australia has made submissions to a number of major government inquiries including those considering the innovation system, the health and hospitals system, research training and higher education. This paper summarises the major recommendations from Research Australia's policy submissions.
Download a summary of Research Australia's recent policy submissions "Better research, better health" here
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Recent Research Australia submissions include:
The future of health research, translation and training: Follow-up on the Australia 2020 Summit - August 2008
The Australia 2020 Summit, held in Canberra on 19 and 20 April 2008, included a stream looking at "Health Research, Research Translation and Research Training" and participants proposed "Big Ideas" that could lead to improvements. This paper considers these ideas and how best to progress the 2020 agenda for health and medical research.
Download The future of health research, translation and training: Follow-up on the Australia 2020 Summit here
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Higher Education Review - Research Australia submission - July 2008
Research Australia considers that the multiple roles of the higher education sector in training, research and knowledge transfer are appropriate and reinforce each other. These activities should be promoted in all Australian universities, allowing each institution to specialise and develop unique areas of strength. Adequate funding through grants and block funding are necessary to allow this to occur.
Download the Higher Education Review - Research Australia submission here
Research Australia Submission - Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities - June 2008
Australia’s excellence in health and medical research is dependent on the skills of our researchers. To ensure that we continue to make new discoveries that improve our health and wellbeing, we need to be training a high-quality new generation of researchers.
Download the Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Australian Universities Submission here
Commonwealth Innovation Review: Research Australia Supplementary Submission - June 2008
Research Australia is concerned that the termination of Commercial Ready will exacerbate the "commercialisation gap" present in the Australian innovation system. Replacing the program as early as possible, either with a re-focused version of Commercial Ready or with a new commercialisation program, is critical for Australian companies.
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Download the Commonwealth Innovation Review: Research Australia Supplementary Submission here
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission - June 2008
Health and medical research has the potential to deliver substantial improvements in the prevention, treatment and management of illness, as well as improved approaches to health service delivery and health policy decision-making. Funding gaps in health services research and research infrastructure, as well as the integration of evidence into health care, are barriers to this potential being fulfilled.
Download Research Australia's National Health and Hospitals Reform Submission - June 2008
Research Australia Submission - Inquiry into Obesity - April 2008
Research Australia considers that more work needs to be done on translating our understanding of the causes and drivers of obesity into better and healthier lifestyles. This will involve a greater understanding of behavioural change and the most effective strategies. It will take better community education to address misconceptions about diet and lifestyle.
Download Research Australia's Inquiry into Obesity Submission - April 2008
Commonwealth Innovation Review: Research Australia Submission - April 2008
Research Australia considers that innovation, and a fully functioning National Innovation System, will promote Australia’s capacity to deliver improvements in material and social wellbeing.
An extremely important aspect of the innovation system is health and medical research (HMR). Not only is HMR proven to be effective in improving the length and quality of life, it has resulted in treatments that improve workforce productivity and increase the pool of workers able to drive the economy. HMR is also closely connected to the global medical technology sector, a knowledge-intensive industry capable of delivering well-paid jobs and profitable businesses to Australia.
Download Research Australia's Commonwealth Innovation Review Submission - April 2008
Australia 2020: Future Directions for the Australian Economy – Education, skills, training, innovation and productivity
Australia has a unique opportunity to grow its involvement in a global industry based on advanced skills and technology – medical technology, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices. Our pre-existing strength in health and medical research provides the ability to capture a greater share of this multi-billion dollar industry.
Download Australia 2020 Future Directions Submission - April 2008
Australia 2020: A long-term national health strategy
The challenges of an ageing population and increasing issues of chronic disease make a forward-thinking health policy crucial to our nation. Australia should aim for a health system based on equity, access and quality, along with the application of new knowledge to prevent and treat disease effectively.
Download Australia 2020: A long-term national health strategy - April 2008 Submission
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