Australian Research Funding System
Using research
Making practical outcomes for successful implementation of safe, quality healthcare in all settings.
Aligning research to make changes for people in need, ensures quality interventions, parity and improvements of outcomes in health. To lead these initiatives, planning and counselling amongst higher authority organisations using knowledge from scientific, clinical and medical studies is essential. The wisdom gained from these industry expert organisations and their experiences prioritises with implementation strategies to justify research.
Health services research focuses on changing policies, improving efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system. In Australia, immediate and critical issues regarding the vulnerable and disadvantaged are requiring increasing investments.
To ensure these consumer needs are met, a national initiative has been made to include consumers more. The Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research (2016) shares the vision:
Consumers, community members, researchers and research organisations working in partnerships, to improve the health and well-being of all Australians through health and medical research
(Australian Government, 2017).
Collaboration has shown to improve patient experiences and care through adherence to treatment regimens and focus on improving functional abilities. The outcomes are reducing rates of readmission, healthcare acquired infections and length of stays (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2012), Patient costs and liability claims are less, Workers have higher workplace satisfaction and there is improved staff retention (Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 2015)
Thomson Reuters InCites has researched the reality of Australia's impact in health services research and its position in world ranking shows research in health services has been neglected in comparison to biomedical and clinical sciences (as cited in Australian Government Science, 2015).
Figure 1. International Citation Comparison, 2010 to 2014 (Australian Government, Science, 2015).
Government encouragement
In 2015 the Australian Government assessed the priorities of health services and public health research.
Immediate and critical action was needed to improve the focus. Initiatives were made for better public policy formulation and health services management.
Health Services Research Association of Australia & New Zealand (HSRAANZ) have connected with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres (AHRTCs). Through this collaboration the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has been improving medical technology and advancing health care for Australians (Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2017).
The Australian Research Council (ARC) is the other main agency working for the Australian Government. It competes with the NHMRC in allocating research funding to academics and researchers.
Health Services Research Association of Australia & New Zealand
Since 2001, the HSRAANZ has facilitated communication and promoted education between individual researchers, corporate research groups, agencies and government policymakers.
The main areas of interest are Emerging Researchers and Indigenous Health Services Research (Health Services Research Association of Australia & New Zealand, 2107).
Sustaining capacity for healthcare services requires promotion of excellence, advocacy, funding for research, encouragement of strategically integrated research, collegiality and communication and exchanging of views to policymakers. (Health Services Research Association of Australia & New Zealand, 2017).
National Health and Medical Research Council
The NMRC is a leading national investor and advisor of health and medical research. It administers approximately $800 million each year for a variety of grants and develops ethical behavioural and conduct guidelines for; public or population health: health and research ethics: clinical practice (Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2017).
Next Generation Clinical Researchers program
- $78 million in clinical researcher fellowships
(Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2017)
The Medical Research Future Fund
- $20 billion investment in the health, economy and the sustainability
(Research Australia, n.d.)
Boosting Preventative Health Research
- $10 million investment lead by The Australian Preventative Health Partnership Centre (TAPPC)
(Australian Government, Department of Health, 2018)
Accelerated Research Investment
- $11.5 million investment in health and prioritising medical research and filling gaps in research effort.
(Australian Government, Department of Health, 2018)
CanTeen supporting adolescents and young adults with cancer
Cure4MND for motor neuron disease
Australian Epilepsy Research Fund SYNGAP-1 project
Jean Hailes Foundation for endometriosis
Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
- $5.9 million research initiative to prevent, detect and respond to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aged care facilities.
(Australian Government, Department of Health, 2018)
Fellowships
Scholarships
Figure 2. Science, Research and Innovation Budget Tables 2017–18 (Australian Government, Australian Research Council, 2018).
Australian Research Council
The ARC is a Commonwealth entity within the Australian Government. It is committed and responsible for giving researchers parity of opportunity to growing knowledge and innovation (Australian Government, Australian Research Council, 2017).
The ARC can work alone or with the NHMRC to fund the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) and consists of two elements—Discovery and Linkage (Australian Government, Australian Research Council, 2018).
Figure 3. The Australian Research Council funds research and researchers under the National Competitive Grants Program (Australian Government, Australian Research Council, 2015).
ARC Discovery Program - individual researchers and projects.
ARC Linkage Program - help to broker partnerships between researchers and industry, government and community organisations as well as the international community.
With the permissible overly of grant applications, the Office of NHMRC has conducted a review for the CEO to efficientise and prioritise their management. To maintain interest from early and mid-career researcher, advocacy and supportive measures, new programs and funding schemes are estimated to make valuable changes for creative and innovated research, offer shining researchers opportunities and improve time efficiency in applications and peer reviews for research grants (Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2017).
A new grant program was announced on May, 2017:
Changes to the Linkage Projects Funding commencing in 2018.
Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres
The NHMRC excelled in 2015 by internationally announcing the accreditation of Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres in 2015 as the world's best. More centres have been announced, integrating health services, education of health professionals. The stand enables the breaking of barriers enslaving federal industry leaders by improving with pace and scale. Funding makes research valuable by translating experimental and statistical research to improve patient well-being.
The nine Advanced Translation Centres have established an Advanced Health Research Alliance (New South Wales Government, Health, 2017).
As leaders, Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres translate evidence for research, education and healthcare delivery. They enable collaboration of partnership between hospital/s, universities and associated medical research institutes.
NHMRC accredited translation centres:
Acknowledgment for:
(Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research, Council, 2017; Smith, 2015)
An example of governance structure and leadership of a translation centre is well displayed by the New South Wales Regional Health Partners Centre for Innovation in Regional Health.
Figure 4. Centre Governance (New South Wales Regional Health Partners, 2017).
Translating research into practice fellowship aiming for excellence in patient care. Knowledge in policies and practices are disseminated widely to an international population.
Medical Research Future Fund
The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016 – 2021 Determination is a $20 billion support for health and medical research. It is the largest contribution the Australian Government has proposed. The expanse of research knowledge from finance, organisations, delivery and outcomes provides a forum for discussions and collaborations (Australian Government, Department of Health, 2018).
The areas that should benefit the most are of the strategic platforms: strategic and international horizons; data and infrastructure; health services and system; capacity and collaboration; trials and translation and· commercialisation (Australian Government, 2016).
There will be a flow of funding for health and medical research facilitating the National Health and Medical Research Industry Growth Plan.
Mental health
Advanced Health Research Translation Centres and Centres for Innovation in Regional Health
Preventative health
Health systems research
Women’s health
Genomics
Frontier health
Clinical trials
Diabetes and heart disease research translation
Industry collaboration
Biomedical and medical technology programs
Data sharing
Priority development
Administrative costs
With governmental organisations and alliances supporting structure and readiness with funding initiatives there is a need for vigilant researchers to generate interesting new ideas. Highly relevant research findings need to be accessible and registered.
References
About the NHMRC. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council Web site: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about
Accelerated research investment. (2018). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Department of Health Web site: https://beta.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/accelerated-research-investment
Advanced health research and translation centres. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council Web site: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research/advanced-health-research-and-translation-centres
ARC Medical Research Policy. (2018). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Australian Research Council Web site: http://www.arc.gov.au/arc-medical-research-policy
Boosting preventative health research. (2018). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Department of Health Web site: https://beta.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/boosting-preventative-health-research
Centre governance. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the New South Wales Regional Health Partners Web site: https://nswregionalhealthpartners.org.au/about/governance/
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$70 million boost for Australia’s next generation of medical researchers. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council Web site: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/releases/2017/70-million-boost-australia-s-next-generation-medical-researchers
Grants (2015). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Australian Research Council Web site: http://www.arc.gov.au/grants
Health - Capability Statement. (2015). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Science Web site: http://www.science.gov.au/scienceGov/ScienceAndResearchPriorities/Documents/Science-Research-Priorities-Health.pdf
Ian, Frazer. (2016, November). Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016 – 2021 Determination 2016. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016L01730
Medical Research Future Fund: The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016–2021.(2018). Retrieve 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Department of Health Web site: file:///Users/derek_pudniks/Downloads/australian-medical-research-and-innovation-strategy-2016%20(3).pdf
Medical Research Future Fund. (n.d.). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Research Australia Web site: https://researchaustralia.org/reports/mrff-research-australia-perspective/
NSW Government, Health, Hunter New England Local District. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the NSW Government, Health Web site: https://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au/ViewPosition.aspx?id=409383
Overview. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand Web site: http://www.hsraanz.org/about-2/
Smith, P. (2005, March). Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres announced. Retrieved from http://hospitalhealth.com.au/content/aged-allied-health/article/advanced-health-research-and-translation-centres-announced-736555448#ixzz5Gysau1B3
Standard: Australian research landscape. (2018). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Australian Research Council Web site: http://www.arc.gov.au/standard-australian-research-landscape
Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research. (2016). Retrieved June 1st, 2018, from the Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council Web site: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/s01
Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). (2018). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Department of Health Web site: https://beta.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/tackling-antimicrobial-resistance-amr
Welcome to the Australian Research Council. (2017). Retrieved 1st June, 2018, from the Australian Government, Australian Research Council Web site: http://www.arc.gov.au/welcome-australian-research-council-website
