Australia’s Draft National Science and Research Priorities: Response to the Consultation

This submission responds to the 2023 consultation on Australia’s draft National Science and Research Priorities, limiting its comments to Priority 2, Supporting Healthy and Thriving Communities. Research Australia maintains that the priority is not itself a specific challenge, although the challenges listed under it, such as equitable access to care, ageing, prevention, chronic disease and mental health, are genuine, and that its objectives and aims overstate what science alone can deliver because the health system must implement research findings. It suggests reframing objectives, for example to be world leaders in preventive health research, adding an objective on advances in diagnosis, treatment and health care delivery, and clarifying unclear aims and how one health issues such as antimicrobial resistance fit. It supports involving First Nations people in setting research questions, design and implementation under NHMRC ethical guidelines. It recommends that research paths start with a stocktake of current research, funding and impediments. Noting that the National Obesity Strategy, National Preventive Health Strategy and National Mental Health Research Strategy contain research actions without funding or influence over funders, and that NHMRC, Medical Research Future Fund and ARC programs operate separately, it asks that the National Science Statement explain how the priorities will integrate with the National Health and Medical Research Strategy under development and influence government investment, and how they will leverage funding from industry, philanthropy, states and universities.