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 .

The nation’s leading health and medical researchers, innovators and advocates have been recognised at Research Australia’s 21^st Health and Medical Research Awards Gala Dinner this evening in Melbourne.

Research Australia’s CEO Nadia Levin reflected on the importance of the Awards. “They honour and celebrate Australia’s outstanding researchers and innovators, and those who support their work across the health and medical research innovation pipeline – whether that be in transformative research, or impactful data innovations. The fact all awards are nominated by sector peers significantly recognises how exceptional these nominees are in contributing to national and global health outcomes.

As the national peak body for the entire health and medical research innovation pipeline, Research Australia views the awards as a celebration of what is working well across the pipeline.

Ms Levin in her speech highlighted some of the current complexities and opportunities in the sector. “We recognise that researchers and innovators are working in a rapidly changing landscape. National and global challenges are becoming more complex. It is imperative that our sector, including the policy and funding landscapes, mobilises the disparate parts of our pipeline, activates the implementation of the policy levers and removes barriers for research and innovation to thrive; and ignites the urgency of getting this done now.

“Right now, we have the unique opportunity to reform and reimagine a whole of system that sets up a future Australia.  One that is responsive, affordable, and sustainable, but also one that enables Australia to reach its potential as a health and medical research innovation global leader. The calibre of the nominees, finalists, highly commended and winners demonstrates Australia’s exceptional talent and our broader potential in health innovation.”

The prestigious Peter Wills Medal, which recognises an individual who has made an outstanding, long-term contribution to building Australia’s international reputation in areas of health and medical research and fostering collaboration for better health, was presented by Research Australia Chair, Martin Bowles AO PSM to Clyde Campbell AM. Mr Campbell founded Shake It Up Australia Foundation, in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, following a  diagnosis Parkinson’s at age 44. The Foundation aims to increase awareness and funding for Parkinson’s research to prevent, slow and stop the progression of the disease and ultimately lead to a cure. Australia is renowned globally for leading researchers and innovators specialising in Parkinson’s.

Research Australia’s premium event partner was the University of Melbourne, and the award sponsors included Australian National University, AbbVie, the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Digital Health CRC and GSK.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Ged Kearney delivered a keynote address at last night’s event. Attendees also heard from Deputy Premier of Victoria, the Hon Ben Carroll MP, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Senator Steph Hodgins-May, Greens Spokesperson for Industry, Innovation and Science.

A full list of winners follows.

2024 Award Winners

Peter Wills Medal: Created in honour of Research Australia’s founder, Peter Wills AC, the Peter Wills Medal is the flagship award and recognises someone who has made an outstanding, long-term contribution to building Australia’s international reputation in areas of health and medical research and fostering collaboration for better health.

Winner – Mr Clyde Campbell AM (Shake It Up Foundation)

Discovery Award (sponsored by Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions): This Award recognises an early career researcher (anytime from qualification but no more than 5 years past PhD) whose paper/patent/discovery has already demonstrated its importance or impact.

Winner – Dr Mustafa Atee (The Dementia Centre, HammondCare)

Great Australian Philanthropy Award: This Award profiles personal philanthropy that is outstanding in its generosity, effectiveness, vision, high impact and transformative quality. The Award recognises and encourages personal philanthropic donations over a period of time by an individual or family to Australian health and medical research.

Winner – Paul and Sue Taylor

Advocacy Award (sponsored by AbbVie): This Award recognises and congratulates exceptional contributions made by research champions who help raise community awareness and understanding of the importance of health and medical research.

Winner – Dr Jane Tiller (Monash University)

Frontiers Research Award (sponsored by Australian National University): This Award recognises transformative research that could revolutionise health outcomes in Australia and internationally.

Winner – Centre for Microbiome Research (Queensland University of Technology)

Digital and Data Innovation Award (sponsored by Digital Health CRC): This Award recognises an individual or team whose innovation is considered to represent one of the most impactful new data innovations in the health and medical research sector within the past five years.

Winner – The RMIT University-Telstra Health-Digital Health CRC project team

Health Services Research Award: This Award is for an individual or team who has provided leadership and made an outstanding contribution to health services research; driven research that has led to a significant improvement in healthcare; and/or has championed the development of the health services research field.

Winner – Professor Christobel Saunders AO (The University of Melbourne)

GSK Award for Research Excellence: The GSK Award for Research Excellence recognises outstanding achievements in medical research with a focus on improving human health.

This is one of the most prestigious and long-standing awards available to the Australian research community. GSK Australia is proud of its research legacy, having now presented the Award for Research Excellence for more than 40 years, supporting local research and helping to improve health outcomes for patients in Australia and around the world. This year’s award is accompanied by a grant of $100,000 to advance the winner’s research.

Winner – Professor Matthew Kiernan AM (Neuroscience Research Alliance)

The national peak body for health and medical research innovation, Research Australia, welcomes the appointment of Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM to lead the development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy.

Research Australia has led the call for the development of such a strategy emphasising the need to facilitate coordinated, sustainable investment in research; strengthen the connection between research and healthcare; and support emerging innovative health industries.

Developing the National Health and Medical Research Strategy provides an opportunity to bring a whole of pipeline and whole of governments approach to health and medical research. However, Research Australia reiterates the call that the strategy must include innovation and industry. Just as the Strategic Examination of R&D, currently underway, must include health and medical research.

To be truly national, the Strategy must have input from all States and Territory Governments, all portfolios and jurisdictions.

On behalf of our members across the whole of the health and medical research innovation pipeline, Research Australia looks forward to working with Ms Huxtable who has considerable experience in policy, bringing strong insight into the complexities of research and innovation policy and investment.

Research Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement that it will finalise the establishment of the much-anticipated Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

The announcement is in response to the government’s release of the independent inquiry into Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research Australia also encourages the expansion of the recommendations to include direction of emergency funding and a wider remit in supporting the alignment of Australian research and innovation with unmet health needs.

Research Australia CEO, Nadia Levin said “the establishment of an Australian Centre for Disease Control is an important first step in ensuring Australia is prepared for the next pandemic. In the event of a health emergency, the Australian CDC should have the capacity to direct emergency funding provided by the Australian Government from outside normal funding streams”.

The CDC, with its extensive data gathering and analysis capabilities and its responsibility for assessing and mediating the risks of future health emergencies, will also be ideally placed to coordinate the application of research into prevention and control of disease.

An Australian CDC should play a role in identifying promising interventions (e.g. from clinical trials) with the potential to help address a disease and support the activities needed to help implement and test the intervention in a pilot program and its subsequent scaling up into routine care.

“Research Australia will continue to work with the Australian Government and the Department of Health and Aged Care as the role of the interim CDC is developed and calls on the Government to consider a broader role in supporting Australian researchers across the health and medical research and innovation pipeline”, Ms Levin said.

The national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia, today notes the Australian Government’s announcement that it intends to introduce a National Planning Level for new international student commencements from 2025.

It is widely known that the revenue universities receive from international student enrolments is reinvested back into universities, especially in the funding of research. More than half of all R&D funded within the higher education sector comes from the universities themselves, with health and medical research accounting for 35% of all R&D expenditure in universities.

Research Australia acknowledges that some universities, especially in regional centres may not have their international student numbers reduced under the caps. However, overall Research Australia is concerned that these caps will see a reduction in the amount of lifesaving health and medical research being undertaken, as well as severely reducing some universities’ capacity to cover the full costs of research.

“International students add immensely to Australia’s tertiary education landscape. Research is inherently a collaborative and international endeavour. The diverse perspectives brought by international students foster innovation, drive research forward, and lead to more comprehensive nationally and globally relevant outcomes”, CEO & Managing Director of Research Australia, Nadia Levin said.

“Research Australia urges policymakers to carefully consider solutions that do not jeopardise the future of Australia’s health and medical research capabilities”.

Research Australia will be working closely with our members over the coming weeks to understand the impact of what has been proposed today and will continue to advocate for a strong and sustainable health and medical research landscape and workforce.

Media Release 16 July 2024

The national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia, welcomes today’s release of a new RNA blueprint for growing medical manufacturing by the Federal Government.

Australia’s RNA Blueprint: Understanding our ribonucleic acid (RNA) potential outlines Australians current RNA capability and opportunities for future growth and capability building.

Research Australia welcomes the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ recognition of the need for governments, academia and industry to work together on the blueprint’s 5 goals and actions, which include:

• Connect and promote our national RNA ecosystem
• Increase skills and access to infrastructure
• Improve research, translation and investment
• Lead RNA regulation and guidance development
• Build and strengthen international partnerships

Whilst the potential actions outlined within the blueprint are welcome, there are a number of policy reforms government could implement to better support local health innovators and manufacturers, including:

• Better supporting innovators with early-stage development advice through the TGA on prospective treatments and devices to assist in bringing products to the Australian marker quicker
• Government procurement as a tool to support Australian innovations
• Better supporting innovators in the progression of research to translation and commercialisation.
• Better support to attract and retain innovation and manufacturing in Australia.

“Australian health innovation represents 26% of all Australian R&D activity. Australia is leading the world in many health technologies but bringing them to market more quickly and efficiently is key to facilitating better commercial, economic and social outcomes for Australia and Australians.” Nadia Levin, CEO & Managing Director of Research Australia said.

“Australia needs a strong and thriving medical manufacturing industry to ensure Australians have access to world-leading therapies and technologies. This can only be achieved when government, academia and industry work together.”

“Research Australia was pleased to be able to contribute to the consultation on this blueprint and look forward to working with Government to progress the actions outlined by the Department.”

Media release 10 July 2024

The national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia, is calling for better support for clinician researchers.

In its response to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s consultation paper on a draft outline of the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy, Research Australia, is calling for better recognition of the role of allied health professionals as clinician researchers in creating a self-improving allied health sector. Doing so will support the retention of allied health professionals, a primary goal of the Strategy.

In supporting clinician researchers, the Strategy needs to:
• Create a more research aware and research active allied health workforce.
• Provide resources and training to allied health professionals so they can rapidly translate evidence into clinical practice
• Better partnerships between universities and healthcare agencies to enable clinical research to be done in clinical settings, with support for allied health professionals to undertake education and training, including higher degrees on topics relevant to health industry partners.
• Allow for better pathways to support allied health practitioners to upskill, particularly in research.
• Provide more opportunities for AH practitioners to become allied health clinician researchers and find ongoing employment.

“Australia needs more experts to bridge the growing divide between medical science and healthcare delivery. Clinician researchers, especially those in allied health, are crucial in connecting our knowledge with practical healthcare to ensure the best outcomes for everyone,” Nadia Levin, CEO & Managing Director of Research Australia said.

“Despite this vital role in the healthcare workforce, allied health clinician researchers are often overlooked and poorly understood”.

Read Research Australia’s submission to this consultation here.