Welcome to Spring! I love the warmer weather, the longer days and all the promise of spring, but it also means holiday time for me. With both Karen and I taking leave in September and October, things will be a little quieter at NSW Regional Health Partners (NSWRHP) for a couple of months, but lots of exciting new programs to come back to.
I’m excited to advise that we have appointed Dr Ian Skinner as our Research Director, seconded from Charles Sturt University. Ian is a physiotherapist with a strong research background. He is the Assistant Dean (Research Training) and a member of CSU’s University Research Committee. He will be working the equivalent of one day a week supporting our research translation initiatives and strengthening our representation in state and national fora.
We also had some very strong candidates for the Consumer Engagement Officer position we recently advertised. The recruitment process has not been finalised, but we hope to have someone in the role by the end of October.
The NSW Governing Board has elected Professor Megan Smith, Executive Dean Faculty of Science and Health at Charles Sturt University as its Chair, and Jill Wong, Chief Executive of Mid North Coast Local Health District as its Deputy Chair. Other members of the Governing Board are Chris Levi (Hunter New England Local Health District), Mark Arnold (Western NSW Local Health District, Mike Edwards (Rural Doctors Network) and Kim Usher (University of New England).
The activities associated with our grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council grant are progressing and we hope to launch several new programs by the end of the year. This will include the appointment of Regional Innovation and Research Coordinators in Mid North Coast, Hunter New England and Western NSW LHDs. The Coordinators will be embedded in regional health facilities to directly support healthcare workers to undertake and manage research translation projects to address local health problems.
Other projects to support consumer and community involvement and strengthen collaborative research translation across the partnership will be rolled out in the coming months.
Until next time.
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa McFayden
General Manager | NSW Regional Health Partners
NSW Regional Health Partners launches new health economics resources
We’re very pleased to share two new resources to help researchers incorporate health economic evaluations in their research. These two resources, Introduction to Health Economics and Introduction and Costing for Health Economic Evaluation, have been written by Olivia Wynne and the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Health Economics team, in partnership with NSWRHP. They will step you through the different types of economic evaluations and the principles and processes of costing.
These resources are designed to help researchers understand how and when to incorporate health economics in their research.
Meet Roberta Power – physiotherapist, researcher and stargazer
Tell me about your work at Mid North Coast Local Health District
Well, I’ve got three jobs. The primary one is as senior physio for the Coffs Harbour chronic pain service, and I’ve just got a job as a clinical research physiotherapist for a clinical trial. The study’s looking at the impact of healthy lifestyles as a way of managing pain in regional areas. I also work in the knee and hip osteoarthritis programme in Nambucca heads one day a fortnight. I think I like the variety. I’ve always liked different jobs. I get a bit bored in just doing one job. And I think working regionally you get a good mix of people that you see – farmers and coastal people and everything and everyone in between.
Calling all regional and rural researchers and healthcare professionals!
We know good research leads to better outcomes and health services. To make sure this research addresses the needs of those living and working in regional and rural communities, it is important that you can have a say.
Here’s how you can help and get involved:
• Participate in developing research projects and grant applications: This will help ensure the real health needs of our communities are addressed. Support is available to help develop your ideas. For help or advice, please get in touch. To find an MRFF grant to support your work, go to the MRFF grant opportunities calendar.
• Nominate yourself to be a member of grant review panels: This will make sure the research that gets funded makes a significant impact on improving healthcare services and health outcomes in regional and rural locations. You can nominate here.
• Subscribe to the MRFF newsletter: This will keep you informed about new and upcoming grant opportunities. Subscribe here.
• Share your thoughts and ideas: By communicating your insights, we can better understand the support and investment required to address the needs of your regional and rural community.
If you would like more information or to discuss any of the above, please get in touch.
hnelhd-nswregionalhealthpartners@health.nsw.gov.au | nswregionalhealthpartners.org.au
James Fletcher Hospital, Wisteria Lodge, 72 Watt Street, Newcastle, NSW, 2300
We respectfully acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of the land and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We support action on climate change and advocate for research on how to protect and support the health of communities most vulnerable to climate change – those in regional and rural Australia.
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