Advancing health and medical research and innovation across Regional, Rural, Remote and Very Remote Communities in Australia

This policy discussion paper reviews the policy, funding and systems landscape for health and medical research and innovation in regional, rural, remote and very remote (RRRvR) Australia. An earlier version guided discussion at Research Australia’s University Roundtable, held at Charles Sturt University in July 2025; the final version incorporates Roundtable feedback and further member input, and was guided by a steering committee of regional university members. Drawing on published analyses, the paper notes that NHMRC-funded rural or remote research rose from 1% in 2000 to 2.4% in 2014, that the MRFF had invested $297.4 million in 70 grants focused on RRRvR health research to 30 April 2023, and that organisations in RRRvR areas lodged 130 applications, only 3.7% of all applications. Publicly available NHMRC data since 2022 show $1,276.34 million to Group of Eight universities compared with $2.87 million to the Regional Universities Network, and only 13% of the HMR workforce live in regional or remote areas. Recommendations are grouped under six priorities: funding equity through systems change, diversity and intersectional discrimination, research capacity, workforce, genuine community partnerships and national coordination. They include dedicated RRRvR funding streams, changes to Sapphire to include community co-investigators, long-term rural research chairs, funded research roles in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and ongoing publication of RRRvR funding data.