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NHMRC review of public health research

In March 2008, Professor Warwick Anderson, CEO of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) appointed a Public Health Research Advisory Committee to review the ways in which NHMRC can marshal its funding to most effectively contribute to improved public health in Australia.

The Nutbeam Review

In March 2008, Professor Warwick Anderson, CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), appointed a Public Health Research Advisory Committee to review the ways in which NHMRC can marshal its funding to most effectively contribute to improved public health in Australia.

Professor Don Nutbeam, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Sydney has been appointed to Chair the Committee of experts in the field of public health research. The review will be informally known as the Nutbeam Review.

The Review involves two stages. The first stage involves consultation with the public health researchers and users of public health information, and will lead to the development of a draft report by mid July 2008. The second stage will involve further targeted consultation and preparation of a final report in September 2008, which is expected to be released publicly shortly thereafter.

Request for Input into the Review

The Committee is seeking participation from public health researchers and users of public health information in this first stage of the review process. Participation is invited in one of two ways.

Written submissions

Input can be made via direct written submission against the Review’s Terms of Reference to the NHMRC secretariat via email to Nutbeam.Review@NHMRC.gov.au or by mail. See below for details on How to make a Submission. As time is limited, written submissions are requested by 30 June 2008.

Consultations

Members of the Committee will be holding a series of consultations with public health researchers as well as users of public health information in a number of locations throughout Australia. These meetings are being managed with the support of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), and will provide participants with the opportunity to suggest how current NHMRC public health research initiatives could be improved or new initiatives developed. See below for details on the Consultations and Schedule for Consultations.

Given the nature and scope of this review and its potential impact on NHMRC funding, input from researchers and consumers into the process is important and the Committee looks forward to their comments.

Presentation

For your information, a copy of the presentation prepared by the Public Health Research Advisory Committee and NHMRC used during the consultations is attached here.

Membership of the Public Health Research Advisory Committee (PHRAC)

Chair

Professor Don Nutbeam
Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Sydney

Members

Associate Professor Toni Ashton
Director, Centre for Health Services Research and Policy, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, NZ

Associate Professor Emily Banks
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University

Associate Professor Alan Cass
Director, Renal Division, The George Institute of International Health, University of Sydney

Professor Mike Daube
Professor of Health Policy, Curtin University of Technology
President, Public Health Association of Australia

Dr Steve Farish, School of Medicine, University of Melbourne

Professor Rob Sanson-Fisher
Medical School, University of Newcastle

Professor Judith Lumley
Director, Mother and Child Health Research Centre, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Terms of reference for the Public Health Research Advisory Committee (PHRAC)

Within the context of the national public health research effort, and informed by stakeholder submissions and the recommendations of the International Review of the NHMRC, the Public Health Research Advisory Committee (PHRAC) will advise the NHMRC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the ways in which the NHMRC can most effectively contribute to public health research in Australia. 

To ensure that the NHMRC’s contribution to public health research maximises health outcomes, the PHRAC will advise the CEO on:

  1. the effectiveness of NHMRC mechanisms for supporting public health research, these mechanisms to include: the Project Grants, Program Grants, Training Scholarships and Fellowships, Career Development Awards, Research Fellowships, Practitioner Fellowships and Capacity Building Grants in Population Health Research funding schemes;
  1. whether current selection criteria and assessment processes should be modified to better support public health research;
  2. the nature of modifications to criteria and processes;
  1. whether there is a need for NHMRC to develop other means for funding public health research; and
  1. based on the above, draw conclusions on how the NHMRC can contribute to the wider Australian public health research infrastructure.

Consultations

The following meetings have been organised by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA). If you are interested in attending and/or obtaining further information about the meetings, contact the PHAA ACT office on (02) 6285 2373 or email phaa@phaa.net.au.  The meetings are expected to be no longer than two hours.

Updated details on the dates, times and venues will be advised once they are confirmed.  Please check this website for details or contact the PHAA office. 

Schedule of Consultations

Last updated: 16 May 2008

State/City

Day/Date/Time

Venue

Advisory Committee Member attending

Brisbane

Monday 26 May
12:00pm-2:00pm

Auditorium 1
Cancer Council Queensland
553 Gregory Terrace
Fortitude Valley. 

Prof Rob Sanson- Fisher

Sydney

Tuesday 3 June
5:00pm-7:00pm

John Niland Scientia Building,
Tyree Room
University of New South Wales
Anzac Parade, Kensington Campus

Prof Don Nutbeam

Melbourne

Wednesday 4 June
3:00pm-5:00pm 

Basement Lecture Theatre, School of Population Health
The University of Melbourne,
207 Bouverie St, Carlton

Dr Steve Farish

Perth

Wednesday 11 June
4:00pm-6:00pm

Telethon Child Health Research Institute
100 Roberts Road
Subiaco

Prof Mike Daube

Alice Springs

Mid-June

TBA

A/Prof Alan Cass

Hobart

Monday 16 June
5:30pm-7:30pm

The Salamanca Inn
10 Gladstone Street,
Hobart

Dr Steve Farish

Adelaide

Wednesday 18 June 
3:00pm-5:00pm

Function Room 2,
The Art Gallery of South Australia,     North Terrace, Adelaide.

Prof Don Nutbeam

Canberra

Wednesday 18 June
5:30pm-7:30pm

National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health
Building 62,
Cnr of Eggleston and Mills Roads
The Australian National University, Acton

A/Prof Emily Banks

How to make a submission

Direct written submissions can be made to the NHMRC secretariat by email or mail.

Due:
All submissions are due by 30 June 2008.

Email:
nutbeam.review@nhmrc.gov.au

Mail:
Dr Barbara Henderson-Smith
Research Program Office
National Health and Medical Research Council
GPO Box 1421
Canberra ACT 2601

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