About us
Introduction from HSR Theme Lead – Prof Sallie-Anne Pearson
In 2022, the UNSW Faculty of Medicine & Health launched the Health Systems Research Theme, harnessing that expertise to facilitate large-scale, multidisciplinary research responding to significant health system challenges, improving health system performance, and ensuring equitable access and outcomes for all.
The HSR Theme brings together the critical mass of internationally recognised and emerging health systems research leaders at UNSW, engaged in interventional and observational research improving health system performance and health outcomes. The members are healthcare professionals and scientists bringing expertise from disciplines including health services leadership and management, big data analytics, epidemiology, digital health, implementation science and health economics.
Our Theme is governed by the HSR Executive Committee which is Co-chaired by Ms Ainslie Cahill AM (Consumer Member) and me. This structure is an example of ensuring the patient is at the centre of all our decisions.
We encourage you to join our diverse and inclusive community. Please contact the HSR Research Development Manager Anna Byrne, with any questions or to be added to our mailing list.
Thank you,
Professor Sallie Pearson
HSR Theme Lead
Objective
We're committed to identifying, developing, and evaluating innovative solutions addressing significant challenges in health systems and healthcare delivery.
Through rigorous research and evaluation, we seek to continuously improve the value and quality of health systems and services, while ensuring they are accessible and equitable for all people and communities.
Solution
To achieve this, the HSR Theme brings together the critical mass of internationally recognised and emerging health systems researchers at UNSW. Our researchers are engaged in interventional and observational research improving health system performance and health outcomes. Our members are healthcare professionals and scientists bringing expertise from disciplines including health services leadership and management, big data analytics, epidemiology, digital health, implementation science and health economics.
We partner with the community, policymakers and clinicians to identify and co-design innovative responses to the most pressing and contemporary health systems challenges and critically analyse and evaluate these responses. Our research spans all healthcare sectors (from primary to tertiary care), public health and multi-sectorial approaches outside of health.
Matching the expertise of the UNSW HSR community with key issues facing policymakers, funders, and healthcare providers, we have identified and prioritised three flagship research programs:
- Community and primary care: people’s first contact with care, including health promotion, preventive care and management of acute and chronic conditions.
- Integrated care: connecting community - with hospital-based care (vertical integration) and care organised around healthcare needs across different organisations and sectors (horizontal care).
- Evidence development for policy and practice: knowledge generation about the use, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety of health care delivery and technologies.
Impact
We have a long-standing record of excellence and impact in health systems research. Our researchers have delivered and are currently engaged in many projects focusing on the quality, value and safety of health systems and care delivery.
The Health Systems Research Theme has been featured in an edition of Research Australia's INSPIRE Publication (Issue 27, 2023)
This issue of INSPIRE focuses on the role of medical innovation in the healthcare system. Our article, "Transforming health systems through high-quality, person-centred research," can be found on pages 84-86 of the publication.
To read the full article and publication, please visit the Research Australia's website.