|
 |
|
|
| |
Research Australia belongs to our members. As you plan your year, please bear in mind our fantastic programs, some of which might fit nicely with your own public affairs or advocacy plans. Whether it’s using our EurekAlert! Service, getting involved in our Scientific Review Panel, finding the right candidate to fill a job vacancy, or honouring a special contributor to your institute/hospital/university programs, please call on us! Some of the Research Australia highlights in 2008 were:
Advocacy
Our advocacy and initiatives reached decision-makers, opinion leaders and the public
- Research Australia has worked for several years to engage Members of Parliament to gain their support for health and medical research. Research Australia strongly promoted a continuation of funding growth for the NHMRC from 2010- 2011, to double research funding by 2014-2015. Our policy for a $1 billion Health and Medical Research Investment Fund formed a central component of our platform.
- On 14 May 2008, following the budget announcements, we issued a media release welcoming the Federal government’s $10 billion fund to support investment in hospitals, health care technology and medical research. Through meetings with parliamentarians and government advisors, letters to the paper, and general media, we also ensured government heard the concerns of many of our members about the decision to terminate the Commercial Ready program, and the serious impact this would have on commercialisation of research.
- Our submissions to government have been well supported by direct advocacy to government to support Australian biotechnology industries through a range of new funding initiatives. The Cutler and Bradley Reviews highlighted the important contribution made by research, and carry recommendations consistent with submissions by Research Australia. Specific areas endorsed by these Reviews relate to funding for research infrastructure, support for research students and academic staff, and in particular, an increase in the value of Australian Postgraduate Awards.
- Research Australia has a long and established reputation a leader in parliamentary advocacy. We have conveyed the views of members in direct communications to Ministers, through written correspondence, and meetings with government advisors during the course of the year. We have appreciated the government’s willingness to receive our ideas and to engage in discussion. However, we await a significant and long-term national funding commitment to health and medical research.
- Through our new national Research Australia Youth Ambassador Program, we targeted Year 9 and 10 students in 2057 Australian secondary schools. From the 63 participating schools, we identified state and national Research Australia Youth Ambassadors who convened in November to develop a communiqué issued to State and Federal Health Ministers. Our Youth Ambassadors identified obesity and lifestyle related issues are a major concern. Many of our Youth Ambassadors have undertaken work experience or “shadowing” programs with our members, hopefully, as a first step towards a career in science.
“It is pleasing to note that today’s young people such as your Youth Ambassadors have an interest in and recognise the importance of preventative action in the areas of obesity and mental health. Please be assured that the Victorian Government concurs that these are significant health challenges for young Victorians and...Is taking significant action to tackle these issues. Minister Daniel Andrews, Victorian Health Minister.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve got health professionals recognising and acknowledging my thoughts.” Ms Francesca Dudas, Research Australia National Youth Ambassador (WIN TV News (Sunshine Coast) interview 16 September 2008.
Go to Top
Media
National and regional media coverage of our work and messages helped us reach thousands of Australians. Highlights were:
- Research Australia’s groundbreaking “Healthy Planet, Places and People” report generated a story in the Sydney Morning Herald on January 29, 2008, “We’re fat because we have to drive.”
- The Business Review Weekly, on 26 June 2008 printed a letter from Rebecca James, entitled “Budget cuts hinder innovation.”
- Picking up on Research Australia’s submissions to the Review of Higher Education, The Australian, on 26 July 2008 carried an opinion piece under the heading “Why $25,000 a year isn’t much for our best and brightest.”
- Research Australia Chairman, Dr Chris Roberts was interviewed on radio about the government’s decision to terminate the Commercial Ready program and the impact this would have on Australian biotechnology.
- Our Research Australia Youth Ambassadors carried the message of youth through the media, including a television interview of our National Youth Ambassador, Francesca Dudas on Win TV news on September 16, 2008. Other Youth Ambassadors identified the impacts of lifestyle and obesity on youth, through print media and radio, across the nation.
- Winners of Research Australia “Thank You Day” Awards also drew media attention, with particular focus on Professor Fiona Stanley, winner of the Bupa Australia Leadership and Innovation Award, and the winners of the Macquarie Group Foundation Great Australian Philanthropy Award, Jack and Judy Gibson.
- Research Australia and the Mater Medical Research Institute teamed up over cereal and a sausage sizzle, in an outside broadcast with 4BH’s high profile Breakfast Team, Moyd Kay and Loretta Ryan from 5.30 am to 9.00 am on 26 November to celebrate “Thank You” Day and Australian research with researchers, consumers and members of the Brisbane community.
- Rebecca James was interviewed and reported in The Australian on 8 December 2008 on “Sustainability and the culture of excellence,” highlighting the strengths and contributions made by health and medical research.
Go to Top
Member Benefits
We provided out members with advocacy resources and tools to help them communicate with the media and general public including:
- 218 member media releases were posted on our website, which is a valuable source of information about what is happening in Australian research
- 175 member media releases reached a world wide media audience through our EurekAlert service through the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Our new member employment service attracted a growing number of job advertisements from members. This trial service provides a further means of reaching prospect new staff!
- Our Annual Public Opinion Poll contained major new findings about community priorities and highlighted that despite the growing sensitivity to economic cost pressures on the family budget health is an ongoing concern that deserves attention.
- The release of our philanthropy publication Health and medical research: A guide to philanthropic grantseeking will help research institutes, universities and others in understanding how the philanthropic sector makes decisions on what research causes to support.
- Our website was updated to include the latest in current affairs and events, the addition of a new philanthropy website http://www.researchaustraliaphilanthropy.org/ and we developed a new blog for our youth ambassadors http://resasweetscience.blogspot.com/.
Go to Top
Policy
Government reviews and inquiries have embraced many of our policy proposals.
Research Australia Philanthropy’s referral service, which provides advice to Trusts and Foundations seeking to source potential research activity of interest to their clients.
Go to Top
Events
Our national and regional forums and interest group meetings keep us constantly on the move. This year, we were delighted to join with our members at:
- Member briefings and events in most States and Territories, including over a dozen individual “Thank You” Day community awareness events conducted by our members.
- Medallion member lunches with invited guest speakers, held in Sydney and Melbourne.
- A Forum in Melbourne on 24 June with the Health and Hospital Reform Commissioners, chaired by former Research Australia CEO, and now Commission Chair, Dr Christine Bennett.
- A Wine and Cheese Tasting in Melbourne on 22 July.
- Conferences and member forums, including 2008 Health Policy and Research Exchange held by the Sax Institute on 29 November.
- The Research Australia “Thank You Day” Awards dinner, a fantastic night of celebration, held on 27 November, 2008 with our Award winners and leaders, members and supporters from research, government, philanthropy and industry.
- Research Australia Philanthropy Discussion Forum in Sydney on 29 April and ShareGift presentations in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Go to Top
2009 and Beyond
A new cadre of Research Australia Youth Ambassadors will join our 2007 – 2008 alumni to help promote medical research careers to the next generation of budding scientists. We are currently seeking a member in each state/territory to support this year’s program.
Our “Thank You” Day campaign will be bigger and better than ever, with continued support to our members to help them develop community awareness programs to suit their own strategic objectives.
Research Australia Philanthropy will continue to publish tools to help grant makers and grant seekers and to promote philanthropic giving to health and medical research.
The Research Australia Public Opinion Poll will explore community perspectives in a world of social and economic change, and continue to test the public’s strength of commitment to medical research.
We will continue to work closely with members to ensure we represent their interests in Canberra and elsewhere, to achieve our mission of making health and medical research a higher national priority.
We are currently planning to introduce new programs on philanthropy, CEO lunches with high profile guest speakers and workshops in effective parliamentary advocacy.
We hope to see you there!
Visit www.researchaustraliaphilanthropy.org
Visit www.thankyouday.org
www.thankyouday.org
Go to Top
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|