Author: Talia Avrahamzon

Research Australia’s Submission in Response to the National Health and Medical Research Strategy

Research Australia were please to submit a response to the National Health and Medical Research Strategy Survey. The National Health and Medical Research Strategy offers a timely, much needed, and unique opportunity to reform and reimagine a whole of system that sets up a future Australia. One that is responsive, affordable, and sustainable. Research Australia has advocated for the Strategy since 2021, and we are committed to its success.

According to Research Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Strategy must

  • Be developed by the sector for the sector;
  • Be led by a long-term vision and a theory of change;
  • Facilitate coordinated, sustainable investment in research;
  • Strengthen the connection between research and healthcare;
  • Support emerging innovative health industries;
  • Embed collaboration across the sector through leadership, governance and systems; and
  • Ensure accountability through embedding monitoring and evaluation of measures of success

Research Australia recommends and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to:

  • The development of a long-term vision supported by a Theory of Change for the sector, across the whole pipeline;
  • Identification of interconnected Priority Reforms with key action areas to enable systemic reform;
  • Identification of leadership and governance structures in partnership with the sector to ensure accountability during the implementation of the Strategy;
  • Identification of accountable and transparent processes to identify research priorities;
  • Development of a Strategy Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with outcome measures defined jointly by the sector and government; and
  • Alignment with other relevant reforms, frameworks and policy agendas at a Commonwealth and jurisdictional level

Read our submission here.

RESEARCH AUSTRALIA WELCOMES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY AND ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO BOTH SERVICES AND RESEARCH

The national peak body for health and medical research innovation, Research Australia, welcomes the release of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035 (the Strategy) by the Federal Government and National Suicide Prevention Office, as well as the Government’s announcement of $69 million in funding to support suicide prevention initiatives and research.

The Strategy outlines a comprehensive plan to guide unified, government-wide efforts in suicide prevention.

Research Australia, with input and expertise from across the membership, made a submission during the consultation process in late 2024.

It is pleasing to see that some of Research Australia’s recommendations have been embedded into the final Strategy. In particular, the Strategy and Government’s announcement recognises the importance of research and data-driven approaches as well as the need to further embed lived experience into research and policy, data improvement aiming for better data linkages and evidence translation. The Strategy also includes actions to address social determinants pertaining to suicide and further upskill mental health and social service professionals.

While the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035 is a welcome and crucial step in providing a national, evidence-based suicide prevention system, but clearer pathways for long-term research funding and system-level coordination are needed to make a lasting impact.

It is critical the Government commits funding over the forward estimates of the Federal Budget to implementing and fully funding all aspects of the Strategy.

Research Australia thanks all members who contributed to our Submission last year. You can read our Submission in detail here.

SMARTER INVESTMENT NEEDED IN FEDERAL BUDGET TO ENABLE BOLD AND AMBITIOUS REFORMS FOR AUSTRALIA’S HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SECTOR

Research Australia, your national alliance and peak body, has submitted its Pre-Budget Submission on behalf of the health and medical research innovation sector.

Key asks include:

  • Smarter Investment: establishing a measurable path to R&D investment of 3%; developing a definitive pathway to funding the full costs of research; and utilising the Government’s procurement powers to better support Australian businesses and activate innovation through establishing an Australian-designed BARDA system.
  • A Diverse and Supported Health and Medical Research Workforce Plan that defines and invests in the workforce the country needs and wants for research, innovation and commercialisation, including a dedicated focus on early-mid career researchers.
  • A whole of system, pipeline and government approach, across portfolios and jurisdictions by putting health and medical research, development and innovation, including prioritising prevention, at the heart of all government policy.

Read Research Australia’s 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission here

Research Australia response to the “Introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings: proposals paper”

The Australian Government’s interim response to the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia discussion paper sought views on:
• the proposed guardrails
• how they are proposing to define high-risk AI
• regulatory options for mandating the guardrails

Research Australia’s submission was informed by the previous work of Research Australia, including its response to the consultation by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on Safe and Responsible AI in Australia in 2023. Research Australia’s submission is attached here.

Research Australia responds to MRFF priorities and Act Review

Research Australia participated in consultations for the MRFF Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities and the MRFF Act Review. We were invited to a round table hosted by AMRAB, and provided a written submission. We recognised many positive enhancements have been suggested in the draft priorities for 2022-24. Our main concern was the lack of cohesion that links all the priorities to drive transformation across the entire health and medical research and innovation ecosystem.

Click here to access our submission.