02 June 2026
Health Translation Queensland (HTQ), together with its peak body the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA), has welcomed the launch of Australia’s first National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening research translation and improving health outcomes nationwide.
The Strategy sets a national framework to enhance Australia’s health and medical research capability while accelerating the translation of evidence and innovation into better care for patients and communities.
AHRA particularly welcomes the Strategy’s recognition of the critical role of Research Translation Centres (RTCs) in strengthening Australia’s health and medical research ecosystem. As Australia’s national alliance of NHMRC-accredited RTCs, AHRA recognises their role in connecting national priorities with locally driven health and medical research needs.
The Strategy identifies RTCs as a vital interface between national priorities and local health systems and commits to evaluating, supporting and expanding the model, including increased investment across jurisdictions.
“AHRA strongly welcomes the Strategy’s recognition of the role Research Translation Centres play in connecting research with healthcare delivery,” said AHRA Chair, Professor Carol Hodgson.
“RTCs bridge national priorities and local health needs, helping turn research into better care and improved outcomes for patients.”
AHRA also welcomes the Strategy’s strong focus on collaboration across governments, health services, universities, medical research institutes, industry, clinicians, consumers and communities to accelerate the implementation of evidence into practice.
“The launch of Australia’s first National Health and Medical Research Strategy is a significant milestone for the sector,” Professor Hodgson said.
“This Strategy recognises that research has the greatest impact when it is translated into real-world care – ensuring discoveries reach patients faster and more equitably.”
HTQ welcomes, in particular, the Strategy’s commitments to embed research and innovation as core functions of the health system by creating a Learning Health System that delivers high-value care by translating research findings into policy and practice.
“As a NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centre, HTQ is working with partners to position research as a core driver of a connected and responsive Learning Health System – one where research, clinical practice, data and innovation continuously inform and improve one another to deliver better health outcomes,” said Tammy Sovenyhazi, HTQ’s Interim Executive Director.
“Priority 3 of HTQ’s Action Plan 2025–2027 works exactly towards that – to capture and measure research capability and value in a Learning Health System to ultimately strengthen research and innovation capability across HTQ’s partnership in line with health service priorities,” she said.
HTQ is pleased to see the Strategy’s commitment to strengthen clinician researcher career pathways and the embedding of research within clinician training and health service delivery.
“In close alignment with the national Strategy, HTQ has recently announced its inaugural 2026 Mentorship and Training Program cohort.”
“The program was co-designed with HTQ’s health service partners and clinician-researchers to strengthen research capability through targeted training, cross-disciplinary networking, personalised mentoring and tailored coaching support,” she said.
HTQ also welcomes the Strategy’s recognition of the need to properly resource consumer and community involvement (CCI), including through national guidance on remuneration and reimbursement.
“Leading the way, HTQ has built a significant CCI program over the years, including a Microgrants Program, resources such as the co-designed Framework for CCI in Health Research, and the CCI in Research Alliance bringing together CCI leads from across HTQ’s partnership and beyond to advance consumer engagement,” she said.
HTQ and AHRA look forward to working with the Australian Government and partners to support delivery of the Strategy and ensure it leads to measurable improvements in care, access and outcomes for all Australians.
Read AHRA's full media statement.
Read the National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036.
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Health Translation Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which we live, work, and play. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their Descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society.
