The government is looking for plenty of engagement with the sector before the final strategy is presented at the end of the year.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036 for phase two consultations with the research community.
Chair of the National Strategy Rosemary Huxtable said she had been “encouraged” by the level of engagement and positive approach to developing solutions that had been part of the first phase of consultations through 2024 and 2025.
“Supporting a thriving health and medical research ecosystem and skilled Australian researchers is essential for advancing knowledge and strengthening both the research and health sectors, ultimately leading to meaningful improvements in the wellbeing and prosperity of the Australian community,” she said.
“It reflects the collective insights of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, industry leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and community leaders and consumers.”
Phase 2 of the consultation will consist of roundtables across the country, submissions (written, survey and video), webinars and thematic workshops.
The final strategy will be presented to the government at the end of 2025.
Nine themes had emerged over the first phase of consultation, the draft strategy detailed:
- research impact;
- priority setting;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health;
- funding;
- direct and indirect costs;
- translation and commercialisation;
- research processes;
- workforce; and
- emerging technology.
The draft strategy also identified five goals for the next 10 years:
- drive national prosperity and security;
- lead the world in health outcomes;
- deliver equity – no one left behind;
- secure a resilient and sustainable health system; and
- strengthen regional and global partnerships.
Federal health minister Mark Butler said Australia had “world-class medical researchers whose ideas can bring better health outcomes for Australians and people around the world”.
“This landmark strategy will accelerate health and medical research in Australia to deliver innovative, equitable health outcomes,” he said.
“This strategy will not only enable bold and transformative ideas but also strengthen our global leadership in health and medical research.
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“I encourage members of the Australian health and medical research community to review and provide feedback to Ms Huxtable on the draft strategy to ensure it reflects their vision and priorities.”
The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences welcomed the release of the draft strategy, saying it was pleased to see several of the priorities it had been lobbying for, including:
- embedding research and innovation as functions of the health system to deliver better health outcomes for Australians;
- unified and coordinated commonwealth health and medical research funding to reduce duplication and strengthen alignment across the system, and national coordination of priorities and investment to ensure research delivers maximum impact;
- a strategic approach to workforce development, support and planning, including for clinician–researcher pathways and EMCRs;
- emerging technologies and AI – coordinated national policy, responsible harnessing of AI, data linkage and building trust in science;
- horizon scanning to anticipate emerging health challenges and opportunities;
- support for collaborative platforms and networks, including Research Translation Centres, to drive research into practice;
- stronger academia-health-industry integration and sovereign capability;
- research and its translation to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and wellbeing; and
- a secure, resilient and a sustainable health system that recognises climate change is an urgent health priority.
Research Australia said the final strategy must facilitate “coordinated, sustainable investment in research; strengthen the connection between research and healthcare; and support emerging innovative health industries”.
“From the very beginning of this process, Research Australia has been actively calling for a strategy that doesn’t just sit on a shelf,” said RA CEO Nadia Levin.
“We are very pleased to see the focus on governance structures, implementation and evaluation frameworks included in the draft strategy released today.
“If we continue to only tinker at the edges of reform, we consign ourselves to being consumers of global innovation rather than producers — dependent, reactive and increasingly uncompetitive.”
Read the full draft strategy here.