The Researching Important Clinical Questions to Improve Health Outcomes (RICH) Program was an initiative developed by the Hunter New England Central Coast Mid North Coast Research Hub (the forerunner of NSW Regional Health Partners) to help increase the involvement of clinicians in institutional research.

Approximately 429 clinicians from the three Local Health Districts (Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid North Coast) attended a skills-based workshop to refine a proposed clinical question and develop a small research project. Thirteen workshops were held between 2015 and 2018, each facilitated by an experienced health service research manager or health services-researcher: 32 projects were subsequently presented, 19 of which received grants ranging from $2,000 to $25,000. 

Subsequently HMRI was commissioned by NSWRHP to undertake a formal evaluation of the RICH Program with the specific purpose of determining:

• • The value of the RICH Program to partner organisations;
  • The effectiveness of the projects completed through the RICH Program;
  • The extent to which the RICH Program has led to improved research skills; and
  • A sustainable model of delivery for RICH Workshops.

The findings from the evaluation are available to download below.