Research Australia welcomes the launch of Australia’s inaugural National Health and Medical Research Strategy at Flinders University Health and Medical Research Building by the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing. We were pleased to join Minister Butler and colleagues in South Australia for the release event, which marks a significant milestone for our sector.
The Strategy provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen Australia’s position as a global leader in health and medical research and innovation, while ensuring Australians benefit more rapidly and equitably from new discoveries, treatments and technologies.
“Australia’s greatest health and economic challenges demand bold thinking, collaboration across sectors and a commitment to keeping people at the centre of innovation – and that is exactly what a strong Strategy will need to achieve”, said Research Australia Chair, Professor Dawn Freshwater FRCN.
Today’s launch follows sustained advocacy by Research Australia on behalf of our members and the broader health and medical research and innovation sector. This includes initiating national consultations with the sector in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to elevate the urgency for a coordinated, long-term strategy to strengthen Australia’s health and medical research and innovation ecosystem. It was the trust and sharing of stories directly from our members that led to an unambiguous call for a national strategy.
Since 2020, Research Australia has championed the need to bring together the entire sector – universities, medical research institutes, public and private health systems, industry, patient advocacy organisations, and government – to create a strategically coordinated and long-sought vision and roadmap to deliver better health outcomes, a stronger economy, productivity and national resilience.
“Today’s launch is a pivotal moment for Australia’s health and medical research sector, and for the patients and communities who ultimately benefit from research and innovation,” said Nadia Levin, CEO and Managing Director of Research Australia.
“Investing in health and medical research is not only about better care – it’s about building a more productive, resilient and sustainable Australia. The development of a dedicated Strategy recognises this”.
Throughout the Strategy’s development, Research Australia has worked closely with the Strategy Chair, Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM, and the broader sector to ensure the Strategy reflects the priorities and expertise of Australia’s world-leading research and innovation community.
“In this year’s Federal Budget, we began to see a welcome shift in the national conversation – recognising that investment in research and development is fundamental to productivity and long-term economic growth and with the release of MRFF. The Strategy now gives Australia the opportunity to build on that momentum with real ambition,” said Nadia Levin. “It’s time for industry and health to work together to create a healthier, wealthier Australia”.
Research Australia thanks our members for their insights and contributions throughout this campaign and remains resolved to continuing to work with Government, researchers, consumers and industry on the details to support implementation of the Strategy and ensure its long-term success over the next decade and beyond. This must not sit on a shelf, and the government needs to continue to resource its implementation and ensure all reforms are moving in the same direction – Ambitious Australia, clinical trials reforms, and the HTA Review.
