NHMRC backs research to strengthen the foundations of prevention

Australia has ambitious strategies to prevent chronic disease. A new national research collaboration will examine the data systems, workforce capability and partnerships needed to put evidence into practice, and model how targeted investment could improve population health.

Led by the University of Newcastle and The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, a centre of the Sax Institute, the collaboration has been awarded funding through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects scheme. Together with cash and in-kind partner contributions, it represents a $2.1 million investment in strengthening Australia’s prevention system.

The three-year project, Building a future-state of system evidence infrastructure for effective chronic disease prevention, will deliver Australia’s first comprehensive national assessment of the evidence infrastructure supporting prevention. It will identify strengths and gaps in the data systems, workforce capabilities and partnerships that help governments and prevention agencies translate evidence into effective prevention action.

Using the National Obesity Strategy 2022–2032 as a policy example, the research will use simulation modelling to explore where and how investment in this infrastructure could improve the implementation of prevention policies and programs, and their impact on population health over time.

Head of The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Adjunct Associate Professor Nadia Mastersson, says the project addresses one of the least visible but most important foundations of effective prevention.

“Australia has ambitious goals to prevent chronic disease but achieving them depends on more than good policy. It depends on having the systems, workforce and partnerships that enable evidence to be generated, shared and applied to enhance decision-making,” Associate Professor Mastersson says.

“For the first time, we’ll have a national picture of that infrastructure; what exists, where the gaps are, and what targeted investment could mean for population health. That will give governments and prevention agencies a clear, evidence-based basis for deciding where to put their money and effort.”

Chief Investigator Professor Luke Wolfenden from the University of Newcastle says the project builds on more than a decade of collaboration between researchers, policy makers and practitioners.

“In New South Wales, large increases in the uptake of the healthy eating and physical activity policies and programs have been achieved when infrastructure to support partnerships, data informed decision making, and to support learning are in place,” Professor Wolfenden says.

“This new project will provide the evidence and practical roadmap needed to strengthen the foundations for evidence-informed prevention across Australia.”

The project is led by the University of Newcastle and The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, and is supported through cash and in-kind contributions from partner organisations across Australia, including the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing; ACT Government; Cancer Council Australia; Health and Wellbeing Queensland; NSW Health; Preventive Health SA; the Tasmanian Department of Health; and VicHealth.

This story was first published by The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.