The Australian Government is investing $15 million to improve health outcomes by supporting health service focussed research projects that foster collaboration between health services and research organisations across both metropolitan and regional, rural and remote areas.
Sixteen chief investigators and their research teams will share in this funding administered under the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) 2024 Collaborations in Health Services Research (CHSR) grant opportunity. This investment includes projects based in metropolitan and regional/rural/remote areas. Six of the funded projects focus on health services in regional/rural/remote areas.
These projects will foster collaboration between researchers, health service providers and end users to improve health care through a leveraged investment of almost $10 million committed by funding partners, bringing the total to $25 million.
Health services research seeks to understand and improve the effectiveness, quality, safety, social and environmental dimensions of health care including access, distribution, timeliness and efficiency.
University of Tasmania researcher, Associate Professor Dawn Aitken, together with the Tasmanian Collaboration for Health Improvement, have co-developed 5 priority projects to address the health needs and regional health challenges in Tasmania.
Professor Keryln Carville from Curtin University will conduct 6 projects within a community healthcare service, providing evidence to develop an innovative model of care for patients with venous leg ulcers.
Based out of the University of Sydney, Associate Professor Michelle Dickson, will implement the community-informed What Matters 2 Adults measure (WM2Adults) into clinical care, which is a wellbeing measure grounded in the values and preferences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The aim of CHSR is to stimulate health services research to improve health outcomes by increasing collaboration and building research and translation capacity, as well as competitiveness of the health services sector.
Full details of the researchers and projects funded are available to download on NHMRC's outcomes of funding rounds page.
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:
"Creating opportunities and strategic alliances for our top Australian researchers to collaborate across sectors is integral to enhancing our research expertise, capabilities and networks.
"This unique grant opportunity is intended to support research that emphasises improving our health system and how we can look to future proof our health services in both metro and rural areas.
"Research funded under this opportunity will support improved health outcomes right across Australia, helping to both protect and save lives."
