Once the National Strategy is finalised, the hard work begins to achieve its Vision – Australia: the healthiest nation – driven by research, delivering for all.

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This is a draft of the strategy. See the published National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026–2036.

How will we know that the National Strategy is successfully achieving our Goals?

Five key Goals have been defined and carefully considered throughout the development of the National Strategy: 

  1. Drive national prosperity and security.
  2. Lead the world in health outcomes.
  3. Deliver equity – no one left behind.
  4. Secure a resilient and sustainable health system.
  5. Strengthen regional and global partnerships. 

To measure success, a framework of metrics that are co-designed in collaboration with researchers, institutions, communities, and policymakers, is needed.

These metrics must span various categories: input metrics to track resources such as funding and workforce diversity; process metrics to assess collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and consistency; output metrics that may include publications, patents, and policy influence; and outcome metrics to evaluate health improvements, equity gains and economic benefits.

How will we know that the National Strategy is upholding our values?

Four core values define the fundamental principles of behaviour, decision making, and priorities for the National Strategy:

  • Impact & Sustainability
  • Quality & Integrity
  • Equity
  • Collaboration & Partnership.

Value based indicators must also be incorporated to ensure the principles and ideals that have underpinned the development of the National Strategy are serving to orient and guide actions, behaviours and decisions throughout implementation.

Action

Design a phased approach to monitoring and evaluation across the Strategy’s 10-year lifespan.

Progress towards the strategic Goals will vary across the different Focus Areas and Enabling Initiatives, which each present unique challenges and complexities. It is important that a phased evaluation process be appropriately designed and reflect these different challenges whilst also seizing opportunities to deliver meaningful results. 

A mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative tools and data analytics that are integrated and aligned with other activities such as the outcomes from SERD, together with qualitative methods such as case studies and community feedback, can ensure objectivity and credibility. Periodically undertaken, independent reviews may also generate findings that can inform ongoing improvements and strategic adjustments.

 

The National Strategy is expected to deliver short-, mid- and long-term outcomes

In the short term (years 1–3), the focus will broadly be on implementation fidelity and early outputs. The mid-term phase (years 4–7) will assess progress toward the strategic Goals and allow for course corrections, while the long-term phase (years 8–10) will evaluate overall outcomes, sustainability and lasting impact.