Category: News

Research Australia, the national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, joins the growing chorus of organisations urging the Australian Government to formally sign up to Horizon Europe to unlock new opportunities for Australia’s researchers and innovators and secure our nation’s position as a global leader in science and innovation.

Horizon Europe is the European Unions multi-billion Euro research program that supports international collaboration across a number of key areas, including health, climate change and digital transformation. Around 18 non-EU countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, have already signed agreements, allowing their researchers to compete for funding and lead multi-national consortia.

“Australia risks being left behind if we do not act swiftly,” said Ms Nadia Levin, CEO & Managing Director of Research Australia. “Joining Horizon Europe would open the door to world-leading collaborations, accelerate innovation, and enhance the global impact of Australian health and medical research and innovation.

“As we seek to grow Australia’s innovation economy and deliver solutions to complex health, environmental and technological challenges, full participation in Horizon Europe would provide a strategic platform for impact,” said Ms Levin. “The government has been calling for solutions through the Strategic Examination of R&D and National Health and Medical Research Strategy. We have already been putting forward a call to join Horizon Europe as one of the solutions.”

Australia’s health and medical research and innovation sector already collaborates extensively with European partners, but current arrangements limit access to major funding streams and leadership roles in consortia. Association would strengthen these partnerships and bolster Australia’s ability to respond to shared global challenges.

Research Australia urges the Australian Government to prioritise negotiations and deliver a clear signal to the global research community that Australia is committed to international scientific collaboration at scale. The risk of not doing so impacts on Australia now and for our future.

Research Australia, the national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, welcomes the announcement of the Coalition’s Shadow Ministry and looks forward to continued engagement across portfolios critical to the future of Australia’s health and medical research system.

As the national peak body representing the entire health and medical research pipeline, Australia is committed to working with the Shadow Ministry to strengthen Australia’s research capacity, accelerate health innovation, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our health system.

We are particularly pleased to see the re-appointment of Senator the Hon Anne Ruston as Shadow Minister for Health, Aged Care and Sport, and welcome the addition of the important National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) portfolio to her responsibilities. Senator Ruston’s longstanding support for Australia’s health and medical research and her active interest in the development of a National Health and Medical Research Strategy offer confidence and continuity during a pivotal time of reform.

Research Australia also welcomes the appointment of Senator Jonathon Duniam to the Education portfolio, the Hon Alex Hawke MP to the Industry and Innovation portfolio and the Hon Melissa Price MP to Science. They all bring valuable experience and will be key stakeholders as major policy reforms progress, including the Strategic Examination of R&D, the National Research Infrastructure roadmap, and the implementation of the Universities Accord.

While noting these important appointments, we are disappointed that the Science portfolio will sit outside of Shadow Cabinet. Given the central role science plays in Australia’s prosperity and for improving productivity and innovation, we urge the Opposition to ensure that science and research policy remain prominent in its policy priorities. We look forward to working with the Shadow Science Minister and the broader Coalition to maintain momentum on critical national reforms.

Health and medical research accounts for over a quarter of Australia’s R&D and ensuring the success of initiatives such as the Strategic Examination of R&D and the National Health and Medical Research Strategy is essential for the health and success of our sector, and our nation.

The 48th Parliament presents a generational opportunity to reform Australia’s R&D system and health and medical research and innovation sector to ensure it is more responsive, sustainable and future-focused. There is a lot of work for this term of Parliament and Research Australia looks forward to continuing to work with all Parliamentarians to champion the contribution of our members and the broader health and medical research sector.

Research Australia, the national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, warmly welcomes the announcement of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new Federal Ministry and congratulates all returning and newly appointed Ministers on their portfolios.

The health and medical research and innovation sector is a fundamental pillar of a strong Australia, now and for our future – our sector sits across multiple Federal Government portfolios and directly contributes to productivity, better health outcomes, reduces costs across the health care system, and creates new industries, including through commercialisation, clinical trials, precision medicine, and digital health.

As the national peak body representing the entire health and medical research pipeline, Research Australia looks forward to working closely with the Cabinet, Outer Ministry and Assistant Ministry to advance Australia’s research capacity, health innovation, and system sustainability.

“We congratulate the Prime Minister on the formation of the new Cabinet and commend the Government’s continued commitment to health and medical research and innovation as a national priority. We also acknowledge the enormous contribution of former Ministers and Assistant Ministers across portfolios to our sector,” said Research Australia CEO, Nadia Levin.

“We particularly welcome the reappointment of the Hon Mark Butler MP as Minister for Health and Ageing, who has been an ally of Australia’s health and medical research & innovation sector, particularly in his support for the development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy. We also welcome the re-appointment of the Hon Jason Clare MP as Minister for Education and will work with him as the Government progresses the University Accord recommendations.

“We welcome Senator the Hon Tim Ayres as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. With Minister Ayres’ portfolio look forward to working closely with the new Minister in highlighting the critical importance of life sciences to Australia’s science, industry and research priorities, especially as the Strategic Examination of R&D progresses.”

Research Australia also acknowledges the vital intersection of health and medical research with portfolios including Education, Treasury, Finance, Defence, Social Services and Climate Change, and welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with the Government across all relevant areas.

“The 48th Parliament presents a generational opportunity to reform Australia’s R&D system and health and medical research and innovation sector to ensure it is more responsive, sustainable and future-focused. There is a lot of work for the incoming Ministry to progress, and Research Australia looks forward to continuing to partner with government and champion the work of our members across the pipeline with them,” Ms Levin said.

Research Australia, the national peak organisation for health and medical research & innovation, as part of its submission to the Strategic Examination of R&D Discussion Paper, is calling for a strong and coordinated national approach to health and medical research, development and innovation (RDI), urging the Australian Government to align the forthcoming National Health and Medical Research Strategy (National Strategy) and the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD).

As the national alliance representing the entire health and medical research pipeline, Research Australia has long advocated for a strategic framework to support the sector’s growth. With 26% of national R&D investment dedicated to health and medical research, this sector must be recognised as a pillar of Australia’s innovation economy.

“2025 presents a generational opportunity to reform Australia’s R&D system to ensure it is more responsive, sustainable and future-focused,” said Nadia Levin, CEO & Managing Director of Research Australia. “We must not treat the National Strategy and the SERD process as separate. Their alignment is essential to achieving transformative outcomes.”

Research Australia’s submission to the SERD highlights the economic urgency of diversifying Australia’s export base. Despite being among the world’s wealthiest countries, Australia ranks 99th in global economic complexity (a decrease from 91st in 2022) out of 145 countries. Over-reliance on a narrow export portfolio, exposed starkly during the COVID-19 pandemic, places the country’s economic resilience at risk.

Health innovation offers a powerful solution. The sector not only improves health outcomes and reduces costs across the health system, but also creates new revenue streams through commercialisation, clinical trials, precision medicine, and digital health.

“Bold and ambitious reform made over the next 18 months both through the SERD and National Strategy will determine whether we create a robust policy framework that embeds health RDI into Australia’s long-term innovation infrastructure,” Ms Levin said.
“It is incumbent on us all – researchers, innovators, funders and policy makers – to ensure we do not continue with fragmented, short-term and piece-meal approaches to reforming our sector”

A strong, integrated approach will unlock new opportunities for sovereign capability, export growth, and enhanced national productivity, positioning Australia as a regional hub for world-class health innovation.

Read Research Australia’s full submission to the Strategic Examination of R&D, including a summary of key recommendations here.

The submission has been developed drawing on previous Research Australia submissions, the contribution of members and broader input. Research Australia thanks all member organisations who contributed to the development of this submission.

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.

Research Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s response to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee report: Issues related to menopause and perimenopause.

Research Australia is pleased to note that our recommendations have been incorporated into the final recommendations. These include:

• Research to establish a comprehensive evidence base about the diverse symptoms and impacts of menopause and perimenopause on women in Australia, including understanding the unique experiences for First Nations women, women living with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse women and LGBTQI+ women and gender diverse populations.

• Improvements to the collection and use of data to assist with research into the experience of menopause and perimenopause, and surveillance of the outcomes of the use of MHT.

Research Australia’s CEO, also a Special Advisor on the Women’s Health Council, Nadia Levin, highlighted the importance of research and data needed to respond to the historical gaps in understanding and investment in menopause and perimenopause, and more broadly women’s health.

“Sustained progress relies on rigorous, high-quality research into contemporary women’s health, and how it impacts on women’s participation in community and the economy. We need commitment for continued investment into health and medical research to inform and implement sustainable evidence-based practices and policies – from the local to the national,” she said.

However, Ms Levin noted that the recommendations cannot be implemented in isolation and need a whole of systems approach. “To ensure the sustainable implementation of the recommendations, not only do they need to be incorporated into the National Women’s Health Plan, they must be incorporated into the development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy and other national reforms”, Ms Levin said.

Research Australia also welcomes the Government’s announcement of $573 million investment to improve women’s health services, noting that parts of this announcement will be implemented upon the re-election of the Government. Research Australia acknowledges the Opposition’s commitment to match this funding.

“This bi-partisan commitment signals a critical commitment to evidence-based healthcare and addressing longstanding gender disparities in Australia’s health systems. Addressing gender bias in health research and healthcare requires systems transformation and will lead to better health, social and economic outcomes not only for women, but for all.”

Our original submission was referenced a number of times in the Inquiry’s report, tabled 18 September. A number of our concerns and recommendations were specifically highlighted throughout the report and in the recommendations. These include the need for better understanding of the diversity of symptoms which impact women’s lives differently; the lack of robust data; the diverse experiences of different groups within Australia (such as First Nations women or women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds), and research needed to identify and address the current gap in our understanding of HRT.

Research Australia continues to be committed to advocating for a broader women’s health research roadmap, leveraging existing expertise and the current research landscape.  In 2024 we undertook a national survey across our membership to identify the current strengths, opportunities and systematic changes needed in the health and medical research landscape to enable gender equity in research as well as health outcomes.  On Thursday 20 February, we are hosting a Roundtable bringing together a diverse group of key stakeholders in women’s health, including representatives from research, health systems, industry, and consumer groups.  For further information about the project and Roundtable, please contact Sam.Mills@researchaustralia.org .