Health Pulse
Help shape a healthy future for the Hunter New England region.
We want to understand the biggest health challenges in our region.
What if the next big medical breakthrough in our region was inspired by your story?
Health Pulse is your platform to speak up, be heard, and help shape the future of health and medical research across the Hunter New England region.
As Australia’s largest regional medical research institute, our purpose is to transform the health and wellbeing of our communities. Our region is home to more than one million diverse people, and we want your thoughts and experiences to help guide our research priorities here at HMRI.
Why your voice matters
At HMRI, we believe the best medical research is shaped by our community.
Our Hunter New England region is home to almost a million people – all with different backgrounds, life experiences, jobs, and health needs. Our diversity is our strength and we want to hear what is important to you.
Telling us about what matters to you, your family and your community will help guide what research we focus on.
Real world health solutions driven by community
HMRI has more than 1700 researchers, staff and students working to tackle major health challenges across all life stages including mental health, stroke, cancer, dementia, asthma, diabetes, and reproductive health.
We want to know what’s most important to our community so we can develop and deliver real world health solutions that matter to you.
Help us turn insights into action.
How you can get involved
Take the survey
Our Health Pulse survey takes just 5 minutes to help shape a healthy future for our region.
Attend a local event
Visit us across the Hunter New England region and speak directly with our team and researchers.
Spread the word
The more voices we hear, the more health solutions we can discover.
Win an Apple Watch Series 10
If you complete the Health Pulse survey you can choose to go into the draw to win an Apple Watch Series 10.
Terms and Conditions Apply
Interested in participating and want more information? View our Participant Information Statement
Chat to us at an event near you
The HMRI team will be attending the following events across the Hunter New England region over the coming months.
We’d love to chat and learn more about the health issues that matter the most to you.
Tamworth Motor Show
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May
Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, Tamworth
Hunter Multicultural Services Expo
Wednesday 28th May
Wallsend Diggers, Wallsend
Newcastle Knights Home Game
Thursday 5th June
McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmedow
Newcastle Farmers Markets
Sunday 15th June
Newcastle Showground, Broadmedow
Aberdeen Highland Games
Saturday 5th July
Jefferson Park, Aberdeen
FAQs
What is the research study about?
This research will help HMRI identify what the biggest health issues facing our region are. This information will help guide our research priorities and turn these community concerns into real world health solutions.
Who is conducting the research?
Researchers from HMRI are conducting this study, led by HMRI Institute Director Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin and Research Project Manager Associate Professor Melissa Harris.
Who can participate in the research?
People who are from the Hunter New England region and are aged 16 years and over are eligible to participate in this study. With permission from a parent or guardian, children aged 13-15 years are also eligible to participate. If you have already completed a Health Pulse/Research Agenda survey for HMRI through another avenue, you are not eligible to complete this community survey.
What do I need to do?
You will be asked to complete a short 5-minute anonymous survey about the health issues that matter to you, your family and community. If you are aged 16 years and over, you can complete the survey online or on paper. If you are aged 13–15 years, as you need your parent or guardian’s permission, you are only able to complete the paper version of the survey.
Do you have to take part in this research study?
No. Your participation in this study is voluntary. If you do not want to take part in this study, you do not have to. If you choose to take part and then change your mind, you are free to withdraw for any reason. As this survey is anonymous, if you choose to cease participation partway through the online version of the survey your answers up until that point will be retained. Once you have submitted either the online or paper version of the survey, you will not be able to withdraw your answers.
What is the benefit of participating in this research?
You may not receive direct benefits from this research, but your input will help shape HMRI’s health and medical research priorities. If you choose to complete the Health Pulse survey and provide your contact details, you will go into the draw to win an Apple Watch Series 10. More information about the prize draw can be found here.
Are there any risks associated with your participation in this research?
There are no anticipated risks associated with this research project.
How will your information be used?
Your responses are anonymous. Only people who want to enter the prize draw or are interested in future project stages of the project need to provide contact details. If you provide your details, only the research team will access them (unless required by law). They will be stored securely and separately from your survey answers on HMRI’s SharePoint.
How will information collected by the research team be used?
The research results may be published in articles, journals, presentations, and reports, but your name will not be disclosed unless required by law.
Need more information or want to provide feedback?
For more information or to provide feedback, please contact the Research Project Manager, Associate Professor Melissa Harris on (02) 40420621 or [email protected]
What if I have complaints about this research?
This project has been approved by the University of Newcastle’s Human Research Ethics Committee, Approval No. H-2025-0108. If you have concerns about the project and would prefer to contact someone independent of the research project, you can forward your concerns to:
Human Research Ethics Officer
Research and Innovation Services
University of Newcastle
University Drive
Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
Phone: (02) 4921 6333
Email: [email protected]
