Deakin Institute for Health Transformation joins the Sax Institute member network

The Sax Institute is pleased to welcome the Deakin Institute for Health Transformation (IHT) at Deakin University as the newest member of its national network of leading health and medical research organisations.

Based within Deakin University’s Faculty of Health, IHT is one of Australia’s leading health research institutes, bringing together more than 350 researchers working across public health, policy and health systems; clinical and acute care research; equity, disability and inclusion; preventive health, food systems and chronic conditions; research translation, evaluation, sustainability, co-design and lived experience engagement. Its work is united by a common goal: improving health, equity and wellbeing by transforming the systems that shape health and creating solutions to complex health challenges.

The Institute combines expertise across prevention and population health, health systems and services, health economics, and data intelligence and digital health. Its research centres include the Deakin Centre for Global Preventive Health and Nutrition – a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, the Deakin Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research and the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes and research domains Deakin Health Economics, Deakin Advancing Health and Social Justice, and Health Voices Victoria.

Beyond its research excellence, IHT has a strong focus on translating evidence into policy and practice. The institute works closely with governments, health services, community organisations and international agencies including the World Health Organization and UNICEF to ensure research informs real-world decision-making. Since 2018, the Institute has secured more than $115 million in research funding and produced more than 2100 peer-reviewed publications.

As the Sax Institute’s 79th Member, IHT joins a growing network of organisations committed to strengthening the use of evidence in health policy, programs and services. Its expertise in prevention, health systems, implementation science and policy translation will further strengthen collaboration across the network.

Dr Martin McNamara, CEO of the Sax Institute, said the Deakin Institute for Health Transformation’s commitment to improving health through evidence and collaboration made it a natural fit for the member network.

“The Deakin Institute for Health Transformation has built an outstanding reputation for producing research that helps shape healthier systems and better outcomes for communities.

“We’re delighted to welcome IHT to our member network and look forward to working together to strengthen the use of evidence in policy, programs and services.”

Co-Directors of the Deakin Institute for Health Transformation, Professor Kathryn Backholer, Professor of Public Health Policy and Professor Suzanne Robinson, Chair and Director of Deakin Health Economics, said joining the Sax Institute reflected IHT’s commitment to working with partners to maximise the impact of research.“We’re delighted to join the Sax Institute, whose commitment to using evidence to improve policy, programs and services strongly aligns with IHT’s focus on collaborative research that creates real-world impact. This partnership reflects our shared belief that meaningful change happens when researchers, decision-makers and communities work together to improve health, equity and wellbeing for everyone.”

Benefits of membership

Sax Institute membership offers organisations a unique network of leaders in public health and health services research. Member benefits include:

  • Opportunities to engage with policymakers and decision-makers to help ensure evidence has a greater impact on health outcomes
  • Being part of a national community committed to strengthening the role of research in policy and practice
  • Being able to apply for our annual Research Action Awards, which recognise researchers whose work has positively impacted policy or practice
  • Discounted fee on submissions to Public Health Research & Practice, the Sax Institute’s peer-reviewed journal.

Becoming a Member of the Sax Institute is free of charge. Find out more about our application process here.