Our impact
evidence that changes lives
The Sax Institute is driving real-world health improvements by connecting evidence with policy and practice.
For more than 20 years, we’ve powered the evidence that informs the most important health decisions of our time – tackling rising mental health challenges, preventable chronic disease, and widening inequities to create a fairer, healthier, more resilient Australia.
Through collaboration, innovation and community leadership, the Sax Institute brings evidence to life — shaping the systems that determine Australia’s health for generations to come.
Real world impact
Aboriginal child health, changed for the better
Aboriginal children experience high rates of ear disease and hearing loss. Through SEARCH – the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health – Sax revealed the scale of the problem, prompting NSW Health to fund specialist care. Over 8,000 therapy sessions and 300 surgeries have since been delivered statewide.
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Understanding health across a lifetime
Australia needed long-term, large-scale data to understand how lifestyle, environment and health intersect. The 45 and Up Study – today involving more than 260,000 participants – has powered research into cancer, chronic disease and ageing, directly shaping national prevention and screening programs.
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Preventing chronic disease at scale
Chronic disease remains Australia’s leading cause of death, yet efforts to prevent it are fragmented and under-resourced. The Sax Institute’s Australian Prevention Partnership Centre unites researchers, policymakers and practitioners, building the evidence and tools to ‘bend the curve’ of preventable disease.
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Unlocking the power of data
Without secure systems, valuable health data remains out of reach. Sax’s Secure Unified Research Environment (SURE) platform provides the trusted infrastructure for institutional partners to upload, manage and share information safely – making data accessible to authorised researchers and transforming static records into insights that improve health.
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Turning evidence into rapid action
When COVID-19 hit, policymakers needed timely data on community experiences and risks. Sax’s COVID Insights surveys delivered real-time evidence on vaccination, mental health and aged care, directly informing national pandemic responses and future preparedness efforts.
read the case study 
Saving lives through earlier detection
Lung cancer is Australia’s leading cause of cancer death, yet it is often diagnosed too late. Research using 45 and Up Study data demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted screening, helping inform the federal government’s decision to fund a National Lung Cancer Screening Program.
read the case study 
Evidence that drives reform
Too often, governments must respond to urgent health and social challenges without robust data. Sax’s Evidence Check and evaluation services provide clear, independent insights – such as those from our domestic-violence pilot review – which turned evidence into $36.8 million in national reform.
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Modelling better decisions
Health systems are interconnected – but decisions are often made in isolation. Sax’s Decision Analytics team helps decision makers see the full picture through dynamic modelling. The approach, used with the Heart Foundation, pinpointed how small changes across prevention, care and lifestyle can have outsized impacts on heart health.
read the news story Two decades of evidence in action
Numbers that make a difference
Every project, partnership and data point helps build a fairer, healthier future — creating measurable impact that reaches millions of Australians.
930+
researchers across 120+ organisations have worked on over 220 projects using 45 and Up data
900+
researchers and policymakers connected through the Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
$200 million+
in collaborative research funding supported
1,500+
researchers using the SURE program across 341 workspaces
150+
Evidence Checks commissioned by governments and health agencies
2,000+
Aboriginal children received care informed by SEARCH data
“We are dedicated to driving transformative change in health and wellbeing. We strive to accelerate progress through sustainable partnerships and delivering measurable impact, ensuring a healthier and more equitable future for all Australians.”
Dr Martin McNamara, CEO, Sax Institute
Help us build the evidence for better health
The health challenges Australia faces are complex — but with evidence, we can find the right solutions.
Support the Sax Institute’s work today and help create healthier futures for generations to come.
Our impact, year by year
Explore how our work continues to shape better decisions in health — from prevention and policy innovation to research that improves lives across generations.
