INSPIRE I Issue 36
This issue of INSPIRE shines a spotlight on the innovation, resilience, and research excellence driving better health outcomes for people living in regional, rural, remote, and very remote (RRRvR) Australia.
Australians in RRRvR communities continue to face unique barriers to healthcare — from workforce shortages and limited services to the burden of chronic disease, poorer mental health outcomes, and preventable deaths. Yet, despite these challenges, RRRvR communities offer valuable lessons: community partnerships, adaptive workforce models, and culturally responsive services are shaping new approaches to equitable care.
In this edition, we showcase the researchers, clinicians, and innovators working to close the health gap through research embedded in place, data and digital tools, and regional and community-led solutions. Across these stories, a clear message emerges: geography should not determine health outcomes. The work featured here shows how investment, collaboration, and innovation can transform healthcare access and quality — improving lives, strengthening communities, and enriching Australia’s overall research capability.
Professor Tracey O’Brien AM delivers the Last Word, highlighting how the Cancer Institute NSW is tackling inequities in cancer outcomes through innovation, partnerships, expanded regional services, greater access to clinical trials, and a renewed focus on prevention. We also welcome the Emergency Medicine Foundation to Research Australia.
We’re grateful to all our members for their contributions to this edition: Australian Cancer Research Foundation, C-C Cure, Central Queensland University, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia, Deakin University, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Digital Health CRC, Edith Cowan University, Ingham Institute, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Kids Research Institute, University of Queensland, and University of Western Australia.
INSPIRE continues to celebrate the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of Australia’s health and medical research community. We hope this edition inspires you to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much more we can achieve when research, industry, and government come together as strong partners to shape the future.
Enjoy reading this edition of INSPIRE.