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

This submission responds to the initial consultation survey for the National Health and Medical Research Strategy, combining a covering letter with Research Australia’s answers to the survey questions. Research Australia, which has advocated for a national strategy since 2021, maintains that the survey does not build on existing sector evidence, omits questions on governance, accountability and evaluation, and forces respondents to pick three priorities from a list in which all items matter and prevention and gender equity are missing. It notes that 20 national health and medical research reviews over 15 years have produced more than 550 recommendations, many unimplemented, with the most consistent being to restructure research funding and, in over half, to establish a national strategy and governing body. From 2024 member consultation it proposes four Priority Reforms: a whole-of-system approach, smarter investment, a diverse and supported workforce, and advancing primary prevention, underpinned by equity, collaboration, systems integration and AI, data and digital health governance. It recommends that the Strategy be developed by the sector for the sector, guided by a long-term vision and theory of change, run for at least ten years, include a monitoring and evaluation framework with jointly agreed measures and governance structures, focus strongly on innovation and industry, and align with related strategies such as the Universities Accord, the National Preventive Health Strategy and the Closing the Gap National Agreement.