Advocacy

HSRAANZ Advocacy: HSRAANZ Calls for Australian Government to Pursue Horizon Europe Membership

November 2025

The Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) has made a submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources which is calling for information about Australia's possible association to Horizon Europe. Horizon Europe is the European Union’s premier funding program for research and innovation, with a funding pool of €93.5 billion from 2021 to 2027.

HSRAANZ Advocacy: HSRAANZ Calls for MRFF to address the exclusion of ethics application fees from eligible expenses

November 2025

The Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) has formally written to the MRFF raising concerns about the exclusion of ethics application fees from eligible expenses under several MRFF funding schemes, including past Clinical Trials Activity initiatives.

HSRAANZ Advocacy: HSRAANZ Calls for Urgent Action as NHMRC Funding for HSR Falls to Record Low

April 2025

HSRAANZ Advocacy: Consultation on the National Health & Medical Research National Strategy

March 2025

HSRAANZ Advocacy: MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission Review

February 2025

HSRAANZ Response - MRFF/MREA Alignment Meeting

July 2024

Increasing consumer engagement in the Health Services
Research Conference 2022 | Summary Report

February 2024

This report summarizes the outcomes of a review of consumer engagement activities at the 2022 Health Services Research (HSR) Conference in Australia. The review aimed to identify successful strategies and areas for improvement in engaging consumers (patients, carers, and community members) in health services research conferences. Key findings include the importance of clear purpose and planning, realistic scholarships, co-design and co-presentation, diverse representation, and providing support and resources for consumers. The report also highlights the value of consumer engagement in challenging assumptions, disrupting norms, and adding diverse perspectives to research. Recommendations for future conferences include improving the timing and diversity of consumer engagement sessions, providing more guidance and support for consumer presenters and chairs, and ensuring that scholarships adequately cover travel and accommodation costs. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of meaningful consumer engagement in health services research and provides practical recommendations for enhancing consumer involvement in future conferences.

HSRAANZ Response - Letter of Support for Environmental considerations in HTA

February 2024

In response to the recent Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review Consultation 2 Options Paper, HSRAANZ has provided support for the integration of environmental impact considerations into Health Technology Assessments (HTA).

Our key areas of advocacy include: (1) Endorsement of Environmental Impact Integration into HTA processes; (2) Support for Environmental Impact Reporting Options and (3) Call for Research Funding: we've called for dedicated research funding to support further assessment of carbon emissions in healthcare products and procedures, ensuring evidence-based implementation and evaluation of these reforms.

HSRAANZ Response - Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research Public Consultation

December, 2023

The HSRAANZ has submitted views to the joint National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) on the draft Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation.  Our response has stressed that the Statement needs to reflect Health Services research as well as basic science. We also highlight that the Statement presents an opportunity to: a) advocate for research that is directly aimed at improving the health or health care of people who are gender diverse, and b) recognise the influence of gender, sex, variations in sex characteristics and sexual orientation on the careers and experiences of people who are gender diverse working in the health and medical research setting. 

HSRAANZ Response - Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and Priorities

September, 2021

The HSRAANZ has submitted views to the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) on the next Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2021-2026 and its related Priorities.  Our response has stressed that the strategy needs to reflect that Health Services research is a true priority for the MRFF through the inclusion of a specific objective that highlights the importance of HSR,  embeds it in all MRFF priorities and grant schemes and ensures sufficient support to build capacity in HSR.   

HSRAANZ Response - Primary Health Reform Steering Group Draft Recommendations - Discussion Paper

July 2021

HSRAANZ Submission to the final consultation on New Zealand's first prioritisation vehicle for health research

April 2019

In 2017, the first 10-year New Zealand Health Research Strategy was released, with 4 strategic priorities, the first of which is to “invest in excellent health research that addresses the health needs of all New Zealanders.” Four actions support this priority, beginning with “prioritise investments through an inclusive priority-setting process.” To this end, a discussion document was released in September 2018 and a further consultation document in March 2019. After feedback has been analysed, the final prioritisation model will be published in June 2019 and health research funders including the HRC, the Ministry of Health, MBIE and the National Science Challenges will then be required to prioritise their funding in line with the model.

The most recent consultation document can be found at http://www.hrc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/Consultation%20Document%20-%20March%202019_0.pdf HSRAANZ made a submission which you can read here.

We were particularly pleased to see the support for health services research and the strong focus on equity in the revised document. It will be important to see these now translate into future funding opportunities.

HSRAANZ A Snapshot of the health services research community and its impact: are we demonstrating value?

March 2018

Interested in discussing this work in more detail? Please contact: elizabeth.fradgley@newcastle.edu.au

In 2016, the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) commissioned a University of Newcastle team led by Dr Elizabeth Fradgley to explore the funding and impact of the health services research community. Over 400 health services researchers provided details on their projects, the barriers experienced in conducting multidisciplinary health services research, and their views on how to enhance the impact of their work. The study findings have just been published in the Australian Health Review. Read More

Read the full paper at: https://www.publish.csiro.au/AH/AH18213

View our full infographic of the key findings https://infograph.venngage.com/ps/vo4N6pM74pw/state-of-hsr-research

HSRAANZ  Submission - The Medical Research Future Fund 2018-2020 Priorities Consultation

August 2018

In July/August 2018 the independent Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) conducted a national consultation to inform the development of the second set of Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities (Priorities) for 2018-2020.

AMRAB was interested in hearing reflections on the first set of MRFF Priorities and how the next set of Priorities should extend or reset the direction of the MRFF.   They sought views on a number of specific questions:

1. 1.    Are there any outstanding Priorities from 2016-2018 that need to be extended or re-emphasised?
2. 2.    What are the unaddressed gaps in knowledge, capacity and effort across the healthcare continuum and research pipeline?
3. 3.    What specific priority or initiatives can address any of the above deficits?
4. 4.    How can current research capacity, production and use within the health system be further strengthened through the MRFF?
5. 5.    Free text commentary with reference to the Discussion Paper.

The Medical Research Future Fund 2018-2020 Priorities Consultation Discussion Paper

HSRAANZ  submission to SA Health’s draft strategic framework – Research Focus 2020.

April 2017

In early 2017 SA Health undertook consultation on a draft strategic framework to support health and medical research in South Australia.

The draft Research Focus 2020 (PDF 135KB)(opens in a new window) documents was developed following extensive consultation with the South Australian health and medical research sector.

SA Health stated:

"SA Health recognises the important role of health and medical research in driving advances in health care delivery, policy and decision making and delivering significant benefits to the broader community.

South Australia is investing strongly in the Health and Biomedical Precinct in the West End of Adelaide, built on a strong partnership between the:

• South Australian Government
• South Australian universities
• South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
• private sector.

It is imperative, therefore, that SA Health is able to identify the value proposition of health and medical research, and to establish appropriate strategic priorities that can inform further activity to foster a strong and innovative health and medical research sector in South Australia."

The final Research Focus 2020 document is expected to be released in mid-2017.

Structural Review of NHMRC’s Grant Program – HSRAANZ Survey Results and Submission

To inform its submission to the Structural Review of the NHMRC's Grant Program the HSRAANZ undertook an online survey of health services researchers’ views on the three possible alternative models to the existing grant program. The survey was completed by 50 individuals: 18 SRs (36%), 11 MCRs (22%), and 21 ECRs (42%). The responses were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to inform the responses to the consultation questions.

Summary of key messages from HSRAANZ survey respondents

A consistent theme within respondents’ qualitative feedback was the inability to provide an informed opinion on the relative advantages of the three alternative models. The lack of detail within the Consultation Paper was noted as a major concern for many individuals, with many suggesting there is need for modelling or evidence on the advantages of each approach (Box 4). This lack of detail may have also led to some respondents’ belief that these alternative models are similar to the existing NHMRC structural approaches and will not achieve change. Furthermore, individuals reported some difficulty in determining the differences between the models; this was evidenced in the number of individuals who could not easily allocate rankings across the three models.

Overall, Alternative Model 1 was ranked first in the following four NHMRC objectives: reduce grant preparation time; encourage ECR and MCR progress; balance safe and innovative research; and provide opportunity across career stages. Alternative Model 3 was also ranked first in the four NHMRC objectives: reduce grant review times; balance health and medical research; provide funding support for health service research; and encourage translation of health service research into policy and practice. It is important to note, that Alternative Model 2 was not ranked first in any of the reviewed NHMRC objectives.

There was also conflicting feedback on the value of each structural approach in relation to achieving a balance between ECR, MCR and SR career stages. This balance was also discussed in relation to the size of the applicants’ research institutions; with those SRs within large centres likely to receive an inequitably higher proportion of research funds, while ECRs within smaller teams less likely to benefit from the opportunity to participate in applications.

HSRAANZ NHMRC Structural Review Survey Results

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey and Dr Elizabeth Fradgley who prepared the final report.

Results of the HSRAANZ Data Availability Survey

The report of the HSRAANZ's survey on data availability has been submitted to the Productivity Commission.

Overall, key messages from HSRAANZ survey respondents were:

• Imperative to improve the speed and ease in accessing data, to provide more up-to-date and relevant information for policy and practice to improve health and wellbeing.
• Need to improve timeliness for approval and delivery of data, both for non-linked and linked datasets.
• Potential to improve streamlining of processes to reduce delays and prevent duplication of effort, by researchers and data custodians.
• Suggestions to improve standardisation and centralisation for cross-jurisdictional data linkage, to reduce duplication of same requirements with multiple gatekeepers.
• Acknowledgment that access to linked data has been steadily improving.
• Many examples provided by HSRAANZ survey participants of research projects with high impact and benefits, which highlights why access and use of data is important.

The full report can be viewed here.

Australian Medical Research and Innovation - Five Year Strategy

June 2016

NHMRC Public Consultation - Principles of Peer Review

February 2013

Submission to the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research - Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand.

October 2012

Submission to the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research - Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand.

March 2012

National health reform needs strategic investment in health services research

Jane P Hall and Rosalie C Viney

Med J Aust 2008; 188 (1): 33-35.

Abstract

• With new funding for the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to provide an evidence base for policy and practice reform, it is timely to revisit Australia’s recent experiences with health services research and policy development.
• We provide a broad review of the contribution of Australian health services research to the development of health policy over the past 20 years.
• We conclude that three preconditions are necessary to influence policy:
  • political will;
  • sustained funding to encourage methodological rigour and build decisionmakers’ confidence; and
  • the development of sufficient capacity and skills.

Assessing the capacity of the health services research community in Australia and New Zealand

• Jane Pirkis¹Email author,
• Jane Hall⁶ and
• Amohia Boulton⁹

Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2005

2:4 DOI:10.1186/1743-8462-2-4

The conclusions of a web-based survey was administered to members of the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) and delegates of the HSRAANZ's Third Health Services Research and Policy Conference.

Health services research: saviour or chimera?