Become a Member
The Sax Institute welcomes applications for membership from organisations that share the Institute’s values and our mission to improve public health through better use of evidence.
Becoming a Member of the Institute is free of charge. Membership brings several benefits and gives your organisation access to a unique network of leaders in public health and health services research.
Benefits of membership
Organisations that join the Sax Institute, including all of the staff of the Member organisation, have the opportunity to:
- Be part of the Sax Forum, which connects Members with each other and the Institute to collaborate on initiatives of shared interest
- Apply for our annual Research Action Awards that recognise researchers whose work has positively impacted policy or practice
- Influence the initiatives developed through the Sax Forum and other activities of the Institute
- Access advice and tools for working with policy agencies
- Use the Sax Institute office located in Glebe, adjacent to Sydney’s CBD when visiting Sydney.
Become a Member
To discuss becoming a Member, please contact us for more information at communications@saxinstitute.org.au
Eligibility and representation
Universities and research institutes with a significant public health or health service research program, as well as public health or health service research groups, can apply for membership.
Membership applications are subject to review and approval by the Sax Institute Board.
To be considered eligible for membership, organisations with a significant public health or health research program should meet at least one of the following Research Criteria:
- Received at least $1 million in research funds for public health and/or health services research from any source over the past three years
OR
- Published 20 or more papers in peer-reviewed journals about public health and/or health services research over the past four years. Authored reports published by governments and books and book chapters will be considered as publications and the Board will assess their contribution to knowledge, policy and practice in determining whether they equate to one or more peer-reviewed journal papers
OR
- Demonstrated a substantial contribution to the development of policy or practice. The entity will be asked to make a case for impact to be considered by the Board. This case might include the number of reports published by governments or examples of work translating into policy and practice in the previous four years.
While all Members have the same rights and obligations, our approach to incorporated and unincorporated organisations differs slightly due to legal requirements.
Types of organisations
If the organisation is a legal entity, the organisation itself can apply to be the formal Member.
Eligibility
An incorporated organisation can apply to become a Member of the Institute if it can demonstrate an established research program in public health or health services research. For many incorporated organisations, an established research program will be one that meets the Research Criteria. For large organisations (such as a university), the Board may look for evidence of a larger program in public health or health service research that demonstrates a strong commitment in these disciplines.
Representative of the Member
The organisation will be asked to nominate an individual to represent them (the Representative). The Representative must be a senior academic.
If the organisation is not a legal entity, it cannot itself be a Member. Unincorporated organisations must therefore nominate an individual to be the formal Member.
Eligibility
An unincorporated organisation can apply for its nominated individual to become a Member if the organisation can demonstrate an established research program in public health or health services research that meets the Research Criteria.
Individual nominated as the Member
The individual nominated as the formal Member must have standing in public health and health services research demonstrated by publications, grants or other evidence and as agreed by the Board of the Sax Institute. Please note that an individual cannot simultaneously be the formal Member for more than one unincorporated organisation.
Rights and responsibilities
The rights and responsibilities of Members are the same regardless of the organisation’s incorporation status. Our Constitution outlines the terms of membership:
- Members have the right to receive notices of meetings of members, and to attend, be heard and vote at these meetings
- Members are required to inform the Sax Institute of changes to their details, including any change to the identity of the nominated representative or nominated Member.
Please note that in the unlikely event of winding up of the Sax Institute, Members have no right or recourse to any surplus assets. The financial obligation of each Member in this situation is limited to $10 per Member