South Australian Health and Medical Research Strategy

On behalf of the South Australian government, the Department for Health and Wellbeing is leading the development of the state’s first whole-of-system Health and Medical Research Strategy.

The Strategy is being developed to address the challenges impacting growth and productivity of health and medical research and innovation in South Australia.

This Strategy responds to the South Australian Productivity Commission’s 2021 Inquiry into the effectiveness and competitiveness of South Australia’s health and medical research landscape.

The Strategy will:

  • Outline an agreed future direction for the sector including a vision, mission, and strategic directions, to lift productivity and grow our research sector.
  • Encourage strengthened research collaboration and partnership between sector stakeholders.
  • Ensure research and innovation activity undertaken in South Australia is organised and determined by greatest capacity for impact.

The Strategy will be co-designed with research partners across government, non-government, and the private sector to establish collective ownership for the successful implementation over the next five years.

The Strategy is the first step towards repositioning South Australia as an employer and destination of choice to undertake and invest in research and innovation.

A sophisticated approach to research and innovation in South Australia will mean:

  • improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the community
  • greater sustainability of health care delivery
  • improved global positioning and attraction of outside investment to the state
  • enhanced exports, job creation and sovereign capability.

Consultation

From August to October 2023 feedback was sought on the Green Paper: Delivering the South Australian Health and Medical Research Strategy (PDF 966KB) from a range of stakeholders. The consultation focused on ways to strengthen the use of innovative research to support improved community health, wellbeing, and social and economic outcomes.

A total of 38 written submissions were received in response to the Green Paper.

Next steps

The South Australian Health and Medical Research Strategy is in the final stages of development. Ongoing collaborations with government agencies, universities and research institutes are supporting the co-design process.

The final Strategy is expected to be released later this year on the SA Health website.

Further information

For more information or if you have any questions, please email Health.StrategyAndIntergovernmentRelations@sa.gov.au.