The Federal Government will invest $6.1 million into medical research projects in the Hunter through the Centre for Innovation in Regional Health.

The Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, has announced that the Turnbull Government will invest more than $6 million into medical research projects in the Hunter and Northern NSW region, aimed at improving healthcare options for patients.

NSW Regional Health Partners, which aligns clinicians and researchers across the Hunter, Central Coast and Mid-North Coast districts, will receive $6.1 million over three years from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Mr Hunt says the Hunter has an excellent track record in medical research and the funding aims to translate medical research into real health outcomes for patients by research and healthcare strategies being integrated through clinicians and the local community.

“For example, new research will include investigating best practice models for telehealth and aged care and changing community behaviour through healthy weight strategies,” he said. “Often people living outside our capital cities and major regional centres do not have access to the same level of healthcare as their city counterparts.”

NSW Regional Health Partners is one of two Centres for Innovation in Regional Health working to transform the health and wellbeing of residents of regional, rural and remote NSW.

The Centre comprises eight partners including the the Hunter Medical Research Institute, Hunter New England, Mid North Coast and Central Coast Health Districts, the University of Newcastle and University of New England, Primary Health Network and Calvary Mater Newcastle.

An initial joint program currently underway is focused on a healthy weight strategy for local communities.

“It is through the MRFF and Centres for Innovation in Regional Health that frontline workers and the community can be empowered to research solutions to break down access barriers to healthcare,” Mr Hunt added. “I congratulate NSW Regional Health Partners on their leadership to deliver best practice care to local communities.”

The Chair of NSW Regional Health Partners, Michael DiRienzo, said the new funding would enable the Centre to deliver innovative programs that address key community and clinical needs across regional and remote health services. 

“We thank Minister Hunt for recognising our capability to deliver innovative research that addresses the unique challenges that face health service providers and researchers in regional, rural and remote Australia,” Mr DiRienzo said.

“Across our multidisciplinary, healthcare focussed partnership, we are integrating biomedical and clinical research, population health prevention strategies and integrated healthcare provision across the community spectrum. This investment will  allow us to make an even bigger impact on the health of regional communities across NSW.”

For more information visit nswregionalhealthpartners.org.au.