Medibank Better Health Research Hub Sets New Research Priorities for Healthy Ageing, Innovative Care and Mental Health
The Medibank Better Health Research Hub has announced three key research pillars that will guide its investment, collaborations and research partnerships over the next two years, placing a stronger focus on prevention, healthy ageing, innovative models of care and community-based mental health.
The updated research priorities are designed to respond to some of Australia’s most pressing health challenges, including the increasing prevalence of chronic disease, growing demand for health services, mental health pressures and workforce challenges across the healthcare system.
Under the new framework, the Better Health Research Hub expects to invest approximately $2 million in health research over the next two years. The investment will support research intended to generate practical evidence, encourage innovation and help translate research findings into improvements in healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
The three research pillars are Prevention Across Life Stages, Innovative Care Models, and Mental Health in the Community. Together, they establish a broad research agenda focused not only on treating illness, but also on preventing health problems, improving access to services and supporting people to receive appropriate care in settings that work for them.
Prevention Across Life Stages
The first pillar, Prevention Across Life Stages, will focus on improving prevention, early detection and healthy ageing.
The research agenda recognises that maintaining good health requires action across the entire life course rather than waiting until people develop significant health conditions. Research supported under this pillar is expected to explore how primary care, allied health services and community-based approaches can contribute to earlier intervention and better long-term health outcomes.
Prevention is increasingly important as Australia manages rising levels of chronic disease and an ageing population. Conditions that require ongoing management can place significant demands on individuals, families and healthcare services. Earlier identification of health risks and better support for healthy behaviours could help people remain healthier for longer while reducing avoidable pressure on the healthcare system.
Healthy ageing will therefore be an important component of the Hub’s research focus. This includes understanding how healthcare and community services can help people maintain independence, manage health conditions and participate actively in their communities as they age.
The emphasis on primary, allied and community care also reflects the importance of providing support outside traditional hospital settings. Research into prevention and early intervention could help identify opportunities to provide people with the right support earlier and closer to where they live.
Innovative Care Models
The second pillar, Innovative Care Models, will examine approaches that can provide people with greater access, choice and personalised healthcare.
Healthcare delivery is changing as patients increasingly seek convenient and flexible ways to access services. At the same time, healthcare organisations are exploring new models that can improve coordination, deliver care outside hospitals and better respond to individual needs.
The Hub’s focus on innovative care models will support research into how healthcare can be organised and delivered differently to achieve better outcomes.
One important area of interest is the delivery of more care in homes and communities. Moving appropriate services closer to patients can potentially make healthcare more convenient while reducing some of the pressures experienced by hospitals and other traditional healthcare settings.
Personalisation will also play a significant role. People have different health circumstances, preferences and support requirements, meaning a single approach to care may not always provide the best outcome. Research into personalised care models could help identify ways to give people greater control and choice while ensuring that services remain safe, effective and accessible.
Technology is another important element of this research pillar. Digital tools and other technologies can support communication between patients and healthcare professionals, improve access to information and enable some services to be delivered remotely.
However, innovation is not simply about introducing new technology. Effective healthcare innovation also requires evidence showing that new approaches improve outcomes and provide meaningful benefits for patients and healthcare professionals. The Hub’s research focus therefore provides an opportunity to investigate which models work, for whom and under what circumstances.
Mental Health in the Community
The third pillar, Mental Health in the Community, focuses on supporting mental health services and approaches that are tailored to different needs and available when people need them.
Mental health remains a major health challenge in Australia, affecting individuals, families, workplaces and communities. The Hub’s focus recognises that mental health support needs to extend beyond traditional clinical settings and be accessible within the communities where people live and work.
Research under this pillar will explore approaches that can provide mental health support according to different needs. This is particularly relevant because people’s experiences of mental health vary considerably, as do their preferred ways of accessing support.
Providing services at the right time is another important consideration. Earlier access to appropriate support may help people address concerns before they become more serious and may contribute to improved long-term wellbeing.
The research agenda will also consider mental health among the healthcare workforce. Healthcare professionals and other workers across the health system face demanding working environments, including workforce shortages, high workloads and the emotional demands associated with caring for patients.
Supporting the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce is important not only for individual employees but also for the broader health system. A healthy and supported workforce is better positioned to provide consistent, high-quality care to patients.
Research Shaped by Healthcare Stakeholders
The updated priorities have been developed following input from a range of stakeholders, including Medibank customers, researchers, policy experts and Medibank employees.
This consultation process has helped the Better Health Research Hub identify areas where research could have meaningful impact over the coming years.
By incorporating perspectives from people who use healthcare services as well as those who work in, study and develop the health system, the Hub aims to ensure its research investment reflects real-world challenges.
The approach also reinforces the importance of translating research into action. Producing evidence is an important first step, but the potential value of research is significantly greater when findings can inform healthcare policy, service delivery and practical approaches to improving patient outcomes.
The Hub’s updated focus is therefore intended to support research that can contribute to measurable improvements in the way healthcare is delivered and experienced.
Responding to Australia’s Changing Health Needs
Australia’s healthcare system is facing a combination of demographic, clinical and workforce pressures. Population ageing is increasing demand for services, while chronic diseases require long-term management and coordination across different parts of the health system.
At the same time, mental health needs remain significant, and healthcare organisations are looking for ways to provide services more efficiently without compromising quality or patient outcomes.
These challenges are interconnected. Prevention can help reduce the development or progression of disease. Early detection can enable intervention before conditions become more complex. Innovative care models can provide alternatives to traditional hospital-based services, while community-based mental health support can improve access to appropriate assistance.
The three research pillars are therefore designed to complement one another rather than operate as separate areas.
For example, prevention and healthy ageing may require new models of primary and community care. Innovative care models may rely on technology to enable services to be delivered closer to patients. Mental health initiatives may also benefit from community-based and personalised approaches.
Greater Focus on Health Equity
Health equity is another important element of the Better Health Research Hub’s updated research direction.
The Hub has strengthened its commitment to research that addresses differences in health outcomes and barriers to accessing care. Particular attention will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people living in regional and rural areas, and other groups that experience challenges in accessing healthcare.
Geography can play a major role in healthcare access. People living outside major metropolitan centres may face longer travel distances, limited availability of specialist services and workforce shortages.
Research into community-based care, innovative service delivery and technology-enabled healthcare could help identify approaches that make services more accessible for people in regional and rural communities.
Improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will also require research that recognises the importance of culturally appropriate and community-informed approaches.
The broader focus on health equity highlights that innovation and prevention should benefit a wide range of communities rather than only those who already have relatively easy access to healthcare.
Turning Evidence Into Action
Medibank Group Medical Director Dr Shona Sundaraj said the updated research focus builds on the Better Health Research Hub’s longstanding support for research aimed at improving health outcomes and strengthening Australia’s healthcare system.
“Australia faces significant health challenges, from rising rates of chronic disease and mental ill health to increasing pressure on our health workforce and services,” Dr Sundaraj said.
She said the Hub’s focus over the next two years would be directed toward areas where research could make a significant difference by helping people remain healthier for longer, improving access to care and supporting innovation that delivers better health outcomes.
Dr Sundaraj also highlighted the role of stakeholder input in shaping the new priorities. According to Medibank, the research areas were informed by the perspectives of customers, researchers and experts across the health system.
The aim is to sharpen the Hub’s research focus around issues that have the greatest relevance to Australians and where research can help turn evidence into practical action.
Building a More Sustainable Healthcare System
The Better Health Research Hub’s planned investment of approximately $2 million over the next two years comes at a time when healthcare systems are under increasing pressure to improve outcomes while managing growing demand.
A stronger focus on prevention could help shift healthcare toward earlier intervention and risk reduction. Innovative models could provide new ways to deliver services and improve patient choice. Community mental health research could contribute to more accessible support for people experiencing mental health challenges.
Together, these priorities reflect a broader movement toward healthcare that is more preventive, personalised, accessible and community-based.
The research agenda also recognises that improving Australia’s health system will require collaboration. Universities, researchers, healthcare organisations, policymakers, clinicians, communities and patients all have roles to play in developing and implementing new approaches.
Through its research investment and partnerships, the Better Health Research Hub intends to contribute evidence that can help inform these efforts.
Over the next two years, the three research pillars will provide the framework for the Hub’s investment and partnerships.
Prevention Across Life Stages will concentrate on prevention, early detection and healthy ageing through primary, allied and community care.
Innovative Care Models will investigate ways to increase access, choice and personalisation while exploring opportunities to deliver more care in homes and communities and make effective use of technology.
Mental Health in the Community will focus on approaches that respond to different mental health needs and improve access to support, including attention to the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce.
Across all three areas, health equity will remain an important consideration.
The Better Health Research Hub’s updated direction reflects an effort to address some of the most significant challenges facing Australia’s healthcare system while supporting research that can have practical value for patients, healthcare professionals and communities.
By combining a stronger emphasis on prevention and healthy ageing with research into innovative care and community mental health, the Hub is positioning its next phase of investment around a central objective: helping Australians achieve better health outcomes while supporting a healthcare system that is more accessible, sustainable and responsive to changing needs.
Source link: https://www.medibank.com.au/
