Expertise in translating health and medical research into improved health care in regional and rural areas has been recognised through a newly accredited Research Translation Centre in western Victoria, now one of 12 accredited centres nationally.
As a result of the latest round for accreditation, the Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre has been accredited for the first time as a Research Translation Centre by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre consists of 11 organisations from across regional and rural western Victoria with a wide range of research needs, aspirations and capabilities. These are:
- Deakin University
- Grampians Health
- Barwon Health
- Colac Area Health
- East Grampians Health Service
- Federation University Australia
- South West Healthcare
- Western District Health Service
- Western Victoria Primary Health Network
- Maryborough District Health Service
- Portland District Health
The purpose of Western Alliance is to ‘improve community health and wellbeing by supporting our members to generate translational research and apply research evidence in their practice.’
NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres are collaborations between health care organisations, research and education/training organisations and are a key mechanism driving the translation of health and medical research into clinical practice, policy and health systems.
NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh said collaboration was at the centre of research translation.
'Translating research outcomes into patient care is critical to improving the health of Australians,'
'This Research Translation Centre brings together the partnerships that make that possible. NHMRC accreditation recognises the strength of these collaborations.' said Professor Wesselingh.
Accreditation recognises the track record of these collaborations in working together to translate research findings into evidence-based healthcare for the benefit of their patients and communities, and in building the capacity and capability of health services partners to undertake research of direct relevance and benefit to its population, in regional, rural and remote Australia.
As an Australian academic health science centre focusing on regional health outcomes, Western Alliance supports the development of healthier rural and regional communities in recognition of the significantly poorer outcomes experienced by more than 700,000 people living in these regions of western Victoria.
The partnership supports its members to collaboratively improve the health of their communities through research-based and evidence-informed health care that is underpinned by a robust program of training, education, funding and advocacy.
In their '2023 year in review', the Western Alliance reported on the significant progress made towards their strategic objectives for translational research into health policy and practice, including:
- strengthening partnerships and collaborations,
- building capacity and capability of individuals and teams,
- creating an enabling environment, and
- targeting support and funding.
Executive Director of Western Alliance, Professor Warren Payne, said that in any setting, but particularly in health services, it is important to question the way we do things and try to improve our practice.
‘Research Translation is an integral part of this cycle, and with poorer health outcomes in rural and regional areas, we need to ensure that we are doing all we can to bridge this health gap,’ said Professor Payne.
Chief Operating Officer, Mr Drew Aras, said that Western Alliance identifies consumer and community involvement as an essential element of health and medical research.
‘By fostering strong connections between researchers, health organisations and the wider community, we support our member organisations within Western Victoria to drive high quality health research process, practice and translation,’ said Mr Aras.
Of the 12 accredited Research Translation Centres in Australia now, 5 have a regional, rural, or remote focus and 7 have a metropolitan or state-wide focus, with accreditation lasting until 2027.
These are:
- Central Australia Academic Health Science Network
- Health Translation Queensland
- Health Translation SA
- Maridulu Budyari Gumal – The Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE)
- Melbourne Academic Centre for Health
- Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre
- NSW Regional Health Partners
- Sydney Health Partners
- Top End Academic Health Partners
- Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre
- Western Australia Health Translation Network
- Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre.
NHMRC also recognises 2 emerging Research Translation Centres - Tasmanian Collaboration for Health Improvement and WA Rural Research and Innovation Alliance. They are recognised as being collaborations with the potential to achieve accreditation but needing more time to develop.
All 12 accredited Research Translation Centres, as well as the emerging centres, collaborate nationally as the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA). Information about AHRA, including its work on translating research for improved patient outcomes and health systems, is available on AHRA’s website.
Further information on the NHMRC Research Translation Centre initiative is available on the Recognised Research Translation Centres webpage.
