National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy - FIRST
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
FIRST National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021–2025
Copyright © 2021 Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Health
This work is copyright. You may copy, print, download, display and reproduce the whole or part of this work in unaltered form
for your own personal use or, if you are part of an organisation, for internal use within your organisation, but only if you or
your organisation:
(a) do not use the copy or reproduction for any commercial purpose; and
(b) retain this copyright notice and all disclaimer notices as part of that copy or reproduction.
Apart from rights as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) or allowed by this copyright notice, all other rights are reserved,
including (but not limited to) all commercial rights.
Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and other rights to use are to be sent to the Communication Branch,
Department of Health, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, or via e-mail to copyright@health.gov.au.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 iiForeword
The First National Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) The National Strategies recognise the
and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) considerable work already being progressed
Research Strategy 2021-2025 will ensure that collaboratively by governments, community-
future funded research activities best align based organisations, researchers, health
with the priorities of the BBV and STI professionals and communities. The success
research agenda, and support measurable of the National Strategies relies on continuing
progress towards the goals and targets of the to build a strong evidence base to better
five National BBV and STI Strategies. inform our responses, evaluating our
Importantly, BBV and STI research will help approaches to identify what is most effective,
to focus actions that improve the quality of life and further strengthening our workforce,
for people living with BBV and/or STI, and partnerships and connections to priority
address barriers to services and supports that populations. There is a critical need to
affect health seeking behaviours. improve knowledge and awareness of BBV
and STI to identify emerging issues and
The First National BBV and STI Research challenges. Maintaining our momentum is
Strategy will capitalise on the significant essential – we now have the potential to
progress that has been made in recent years considerably advance our response across
in our responses to BBV and STI. This some critical areas and inform future
includes the listing of pre-exposure health policy.
prophylaxis for HIV prevention, additional HIV
treatments, and ensuring the broadest The development of the First National BBV
possible access to direct acting antiviral and STI Research Strategy has highlighted
treatments for hepatitis C on the the significant collegiality and commitment of
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Despite all stakeholders to strengthen our BBV and
this progress, BBV and STI remain significant STI response. With this foundation, Australia
public health issues. can continue to strive to achieve great things,
and build on our reputation as a world-leader
in both research and practice.
The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health and Aged CareContents
1. Introduction .................................................................................. 3
2. The Strategy ................................................................................. 6
3. Guiding Principles ........................................................................ 7
4. Opportunities and Benefits ....................................................... 13
5. Key Areas for Action .................................................................. 14
6. Governance and Implementation .............................................. 15
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 21. Introduction
The five National Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) evaluation, innovation, and use of data to
and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) develop and implement integrated,
Strategies1 set the direction for Australia’s evidence-based health policies.
continuing response, and represent the
Responses to BBV and STI have been
commitment of Australian governments,
underpinned and strengthened by a
researchers and health and community
partnership approach between the Australian
organisations to address the impact of BBV
and state and territory governments,
and STI on the Australian community.
community organisations, researchers, health
The First Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually professionals, people at risk of, living with
Transmissible Infections Research Strategy and/or affected by BBV and STI. Supported
2021 –-2025 (the Strategy) aims to support by continued investment from governments,
nationally relevant research and innovation, high quality and rigorous research conducted
and capacity building in reducing the by the national centres of research excellence
incidence and impact of BBV and STI in and other organisations is critical to
Australia. The Strategy builds on the Australia’s robust response to BBV and STI.
considerable work already being progressed
collaboratively by governments, community- The ambitious targets and goals outlined in
based organisations, researchers, health the five National Strategies (the National
professionals and communities to improve Strategies) will continue to guide Australia’s
health outcomes for people at risk of, and efforts to significantly reduce the transmission
living with, BBV and STI. of BBV and STI, increase rates of diagnosis,
and improve access to prevention, harm
Australia supports the World Health reduction, treatment and care services. The
Organization’s (WHO) Global Health Sector National Strategies also include guiding
Strategies on Sexually Transmissible principles to support a high quality, evidence-
Infections, HIV and Viral Hepatitis 2016–21, based and equitable response to BBV and
which have an overarching goal of eliminating STI. They are drawn from Australia’s efforts
BBV and STI as a public health concern by over time to respond to the challenges,
2030. Meeting and exceeding the international threats and impacts of hepatitis B, hepatitis C,
obligations and targets is a critical part of HIV, and STI. Importantly, they also focus on
Australia’s response. improving the quality of life for people living
The Australian Government supports health with BBV and STI, addressing the barriers to
and medical research through increased services and supports that affect health
investment and work to strengthen safety and seeking behaviours and overall access.
quality across the health system to reduce
risks to patients and generate efficiencies.
This aims to ensure Australia’s health system
is better equipped to meet current and future
health needs by applying research,
1 Third National Hepatitis B Strategy 2018-2022 Fifth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Fourth National STI Strategy 2018-2022 BBV and STI Strategy 2018-2022
Fifth National Hepatitis C Strategy 2018-2022 Eighth National HIV Strategy 2018-2022This includes stigma and discrimination support a comprehensive understanding of
experienced by marginalised and priority BBV and STI in Australia. This includes
populations including: understanding the social drivers that influence
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander the rates of and responses to BBV and STI,
people evaluating surveillance data to monitor the
culturally and linguistically diverse impact of prevention interventions and harm
populations reduction approaches, and identifying trends
people who inject drugs and/or living of concern and gaps in the current response.
with HIV, hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C Conducting independent research to inform,
sex workers improve and monitor government policy is a
gay men and other men who have sex challenge for both policy makers and
with men researchers alike. The use of research in
trans and gender diverse populations policy development can be encouraged by
people in custodial settings or history enabling timely access to relevant data and
of incarceration. research findings, encouraging interaction
between policy makers, healthcare providers,
Significance of BBV and researchers, affected communities and
STI Research consumers, and increasing individual and
organisational capacity to use research.
Australia has continued to make significant
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
progress in the prevention and management
provides the framework for effective actions
of BBV and STI. However, diseases like
under this Strategy. It facilitates the active
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis,
participation of affected communities and
gonorrhoea, human papilloma virus (HPV)
individuals to increase their influence over the
and other sexually transmissible infections
determinants of their health, and the
remain significant public health issues.
formulation and application of laws and public
Persistent and emerging issues, such as anti-
policies to support and encourage healthy
microbial resistance among key STI and
behaviours and respect for human rights.
human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
The Australian and international community
(HTLV-1) also require an ongoing and
expects research to be conducted
concerted effort.
responsibly, ethically and with integrity.
Social, behavioural, epidemiological and The Australian Code for the Responsible
clinical research is important in developing Conduct of Research articulates the broad
a strong evidence base for managing and principles that characterise an honest, ethical
preventing BBV and STI in the community. and conscientious research culture. It
Research is an essential part of the health establishes a framework for responsible
system, spanning a pipeline from concept to research conduct that provides a foundation
laboratory through to translational and for high-quality research, credibility and
implementation research, clinical and social community trust in the research endeavour.
application, and community benefit.
Policy relevant research needs to be
responsive to changing evidence and
emerging issues and be aligned to support
the delivery of government’s strategic goals.
Continuous improvement of data collection
and systems is also important to better
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 4Close collaborations between research
agencies and funders, such as government
and knowledge users2, have been shown to
be effective in generating policy-relevant
research, particularly where funders are
involved in decisions that drive the strategic
directions of the program to deliver on priority
outcomes. Partnerships between researchers,
health professionals, and community and
peer-led organisations are essential and
valuable. Such organisations are often the
first to identify cultural influences, social
interactions, demographics of priority
populations, and changes in behaviours
due to their direct contact with affected
communities and are therefore critical to
a research-driven targeted response.
The Australian Medical Research and
Innovation Strategy 2016–2022 identifies and
articulates a number of challenges facing the
health and medical research sector in
Australia, including the BBV and STI
landscape. These challenges need to be
addressed, through applied and social
research, to reduce the morbidity, mortality
and impact of disease, and in turn lift and
accelerate the social, health and economic
gains to be made from research at individual
and population levels.
2
knowledge user is defined as an individual who is likely trainee, health practitioner, policy maker, educator,
to use knowledge generated from research to make decision maker, health care administrator, national peak
informed decisions about health research, health organisation, community organisation, person living with
policies, programs and/or practices. A knowledge user or at risk of BBV and STI and affected community,
can be, but is not limited to, a researcher, research private sector organisation, or media outlet.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 52. The Strategy
The Strategy sets out the aims and Objectives
objectives of the multi-disciplinary
research activities undertaken within Embed and foster research and
Australia and supports the innovative program design that directly
addresses and implements goals and
implementation of the five National
targets in the five National BBV and STI
BBV and STI Strategies by identifying Strategies.
challenges, barriers and
Generate a holistic evidence base,
opportunities to achieve the agreed informed by multi-disciplinary research,
goals and targets. The Strategy also to guide policy development and co-
identifies a series of Guiding designed health promotion, prevention
Principles that have the potential to strategies, and health services and
advance the BBV and STI policy programs.
landscape and increase the Address gaps in data and knowledge to
community use of research, creating identify emerging issues and
greater impacts on prevention and challenges, and inform future priorities,
meet new challenges and develop
diagnosis of infections, treatment and
effective health policy.
care of people living with infection. It
Drive collaboration and linkage across
will also address social barriers i.e.
research programs, and encourage
stigma and discrimination, thereby future adoption of research outcomes in
improving health outcomes both now policy and practice.
and into the future. Support a continuum of service delivery
The Strategy builds on the substantial (i.e. Community and peer-led prevention
advances that have been made in BBV and interventions, diagnosis, treatment, care
STI research programs over the last 20-30 and social support services) to
years, through sustained investments made maximise impact and improve
by Australian governments, in research population health outcomes.
conducted by National Centres of Research Improve the impact of BBV and STI
Excellence and other organisations. research to inform effective social and
health policies and programs.
Aim
To guide BBV and STI research and
innovation to effectively inform the
implementation of priority actions outlined in
the five National BBV and STI Strategies,
focused on reducing morbidity, mortality,
stigma and discrimination, increasing access
to new biomedical interventions and improving
quality of life and health outcomes for people
living with, or at risk of, BBV and STI.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 63. Guiding Principles
The four guiding principles provide a There have been a number of advances in the
framework for identifying BBV and prevention and treatment of BBV and STI in
STI research priorities: recent years. Some of note are:
1. Translation: focus on translation and the advent of and unrestricted access to
implementation of research and new direct acting antivirals (DAA) for
innovation in the BBV and STI landscape curative treatment of hepatitis C and
to reform services and systems. methods for monitoring antiviral
resistance
2. Data and infrastructure: build on the
strong evidence-base to identify and the widespread availability of
address gaps in knowledge and integrate antiretroviral drugs to reduce the risk of
BBV and STI translational, transmission and prevent acquisition of
epidemiological, behavioural, clinical and HIV
social research to inform future health access to and successful rollout of a
policies and programs, and ensure highly efficacious vaccine for managing
linkage and alignment with priority areas the prevalence and prevention of
of action. hepatitis B, particularly improving uptake
3. Health services and systems: to among Aboriginal and Torres Strait
discover, trial and evaluate innovative Islander people
and sustainable models of healthcare to point-of-care tests for HIV, hepatitis C
support the continuum of prevention and STI, which have been instrumental
interventions and care services for people in providing same-day testing and
at risk of or living with BBV and STI. treatment for vulnerable and
4. Capacity and collaboration: encourage marginalised populations
collaboration between researchers, dried blood spot testing for HIV and
research centres, health providers, hepatitis C, allowing self-testing among
community partners and peer-led target populations
organisations, and the introduction of Gardisal®9, which
key stakeholders focusing on policy and protects against nine types of human
practice solutions. papilloma virus
the use of pathogen genomics and
Translation molecular epidemiology to enhance the
The elimination of BBV and STI as a public public health response.
health concern requires new technologies and
High-quality research from a broad range of
innovative approaches informed by up-to-date
perspectives (clinical, epidemiological, social,
research and evaluation. It also requires
and behavioural), has guided the
effective engagement with affected persons
development and implementation of these
and their communities to address
advances. However, there is scope for further
longstanding disparities and issues such as
research and innovation in practice to support
stigma and discrimination, the current lack of
the optimal adoption and scale-up by
treatment and prevention activities in custodial
identifying novel ways to engage the BBV and
settings, and challenges in connecting with
STI affected communities and remove barriers
marginalised and priority populations.
to diagnosis, testing and treatment uptake.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-2025 7Ongoing research and innovation is required and STI control and prevention is the lack of
along the entire continuum of BBV and STI reliable, low-cost, point-of-care tests,
prevention, education, health promotion, particularly in rural and remote communities,
diagnosis, and treatment, cure and care and access to safe and effective self-tests.
services. This includes research that supports
Research is measured as having impact when
targeting, simplifying and adapting services
research findings are translated and
and programs with community needs,
implemented to inform, drive and evaluate
removing barriers to accessing care, and
effective social policies and health programs.
supporting entry into care and retention.
Most health systems are faced with high
Innovation is not only required to develop new demand but have a limited budget with which
technologies, interventions, improved models to provide the necessary services. A cost-
of care and other approaches, but is also a effectiveness analysis can help determine the
key to nationwide scale-up of existing best use of limited funds available to promote
interventions proven to be effective and to use health, optimise prevention interventions and
existing tools more efficiently; adapting them care to maximise value for money.
for different populations, settings and Transforming and communicating the purpose
purposes. Research that delivers new and role of BBV and STI research and
methods to avoid wasteful interventions, effectively marketing its products and services
adopts best practice and fosters information to target marginalised and priority populations,
exchange will allow community organisations including through knowledge translation will
and clinicians to benchmark with peers and lead to positive clinical behavioural and
lead to continuous quality improvement. This societal changes.
includes the importance of data analyses,
mathematical modelling and health economics Data and Infrastructure
research and assessment of the efficiency of
The National BBV and STI Strategies are
interventions at delivering outcomes.
critical in guiding Australia’s ongoing health
Innovation in new diagnostics, prevention sector and community response, significantly
interventions, vaccines and curative reducing the transmission of BBV and STI,
treatments for BBV and STI will enhance improving clinical management, and reducing
impact and lead to improved health outcomes the impact of infection, stigma and
for people living with at risk of, or living with discrimination. The costs of these
BBV and STI. Despite the major advances in interventions are assumed to be shared
the safety, potency and acceptability of across different parts of the health sector.
medicines and regimens, a number of areas However, the total costs of implementation to
remain where improvements are required and achieve the goals and targets set out in the
possible. For example, the current approach five National Strategies are unknown.
to treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection is
Costing data, drawn from research across
complex, reflecting a risk-benefit approach
demographic and population estimates,
driven by the lack of an effective curative
including the costs of stigma, discrimination,
regimen. Also, while the advent of direct-
human rights and legal issues, must be
acting anti-virals that cure hepatitis C
reviewed and an evaluation of future costs
infections has been highly successful, there
provided to Government. This will help inform
remains an urgent need for a prophylactic
and build on the existing evidence-base, and
vaccine for the prevention of HIV and hepatitis
translate research and costing data into future
C, to help reach elimination targets set by the
investments from different levels of
WHO in Australia and globally. Additionally,
government in the BBV and STI landscape.
one of the major barriers to advancing BBV
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 8Continuous improvement of data collections disaggregated to the regional,
and systems is important to support a community and facility levels by age,
comprehensive understanding of BBV and sex, population and location to better
STI in Australia. Cost-effective and systematic understand subnational epidemics,
solutions, including the better use of existing assess performance along the
data linkage resources, are required to continuum of BBV and STI services
facilitate continued improvement in the and guide more focused investments
completeness of reporting and accuracy of and services
estimates for notifiable BBV and STI in improve reporting of Aboriginal and
Australia. This will build on the strong Torres Strait Islander status in clinical
evidence-base, and the ongoing surveillance and pathological settings i.e. all relevant
and monitoring frameworks that are used to data and administrative collections
integrate BBV and STI data to support including pathology request forms,
healthcare delivery, service improvement laboratory results and disease
and best practice. notifications.
Accurate data that are easily accessible in a An integrated national data framework, linking
timely fashion are critical to responsive and providing access to clinician and
research. This Strategy will support community captured data and surveillance
development and application of new information, will improve the effectiveness,
methodologies and opportunities for the efficiency, and quality and safety of clinical
research and analysis of factors that lead to service delivery to people living with BBV and
the transmission of BBV and STI as well as STI and yield benefits for consumers, the
the testing and evaluation of policies and community and the broader health system. It
interventions to improve health outcomes. will also allow a more accurate assessment of
Specialised research methods capable of the cascades of care, and evaluation of the
collecting meaningful data about population quality of monitoring and care provided to
groups that are often too small to be visible in people living with BBV and STI.
population datasets are needed to understand
This research will not only address gaps in
community and cultural drivers of BBV and
existing data but will also identify, examine
STI transmission and opportunities for
and evaluate key changes in the epidemiology
prevention and enhanced intervention
of BBV and STI within priority populations,
engagement at the local level.
emerging issues and concerns and influences
This includes research to:
on people’s decisions with respect to risk
identify gaps in policy and practice, and taking and seeking testing, treatment
deliver tools to inform, monitor and and care.
evaluate population health responses to
BBV and STI. There is a need to Any data and infrastructure improvements,
improve the timeliness and consistency however, will need to adhere to the National
Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human
of data and knowledge at the national
and state and territory levels to better Research (2007) and best practice
support completeness and comparability governance along with the jurisdictional
guidelines on cultural security and
improve the level of detail and competency.
granularity of collected data to better
identify trends and issues of concern in
relation to specific priority and sub-
populations. Data, where ethically
permissible, should be appropriately
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 9Social research plays a significant role in The inclusion of primary care and affected
investigating the experiences and needs of communities in this research is of utmost
priority populations, and supports the importance to encourage well-designed,
targeting and outreach of services and culturally appropriate and impactful health
programs. Responding to the BBV and STI and social outcomes.
epidemics requires an in-depth understanding
Research is also not complete until the results
of where, when, how and among whom new
and findings are reported back to community
infections are occurring. This includes
groups and key stakeholders involved in the
identifying the social, cultural and structural
research. Ideally a partnership approach
factors that facilitate transmission of BBV and
should be taken from the conceptualisation
STI, and individual and community needs and
stage of research, with meaningful
preferences in terms of access to and use of
consultation and collaboration prioritised
relevant services. Prevention interventions,
throughout the research timeline. Participants
treatment and care programs can then be
should also have access to the data collected
prioritised and focused accordingly.
and be empowered to apply the research
A robust strategic and research led findings and recommendations. Strengthening
information system that analyses and research translation to guide interventions at
translates up-to-date research data on BBV the local and national level will better support
and STI into usable information can leverage the primary care and community sector
much needed political commitment. It will also workforce and ensure equitable and
create awareness and advocate for action appropriate access to care and services.
and resources, to set national targets, plan A cascade analyses of different populations
for a focused response, and implement and settings for BBV and STI to determine the
programs most efficiently in order to quality of services, service utilisation and
achieve greatest impact. acceptability will identify gaps and
weaknesses in care services, inform possible
Health services and systems remedial actions and help assess the effect of
The National BBV and STI Strategies include interventions, care and management. More
priority areas for action designed to support broadly, research into the social context of the
the achievement of goals and targets. lives of service users and those not engaged
Achievement of the WHO 2030 global health in care, investigating the specific experiences
targets requires a robust and flexible health and needs of marginalised and vulnerable
system with accessible and effective service populations will provide insight into effective
delivery models, and timely access to models of engagement. For example,
accurate health information. People living with research indicates that greater integration and
BBV and STI must receive the full range of linkage of BBV and STI primary care services
relevant health services they need along with with other relevant health services (broader
the prevention initiatives, both within the sexual and reproductive health, harm
community and in correctional facilities. reduction and alcohol and other drug use
disorders, blood safety, cancer prevention and
Research must be focused on discovering management, and non-communicable
innovative and sustainable community- diseases including mental health services)
centred models of service delivery, and can speed up progress towards key
identifying opportunities to improve patient milestones and targets and increase
management systems with a view to efficiency, access, acceptability
encounter future challenges, as well as and savings.
future costs and benefits.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 10Identifying the best methods and approaches Research can sometimes be perceived as an
for delivering the continuum of BBV and STI imposition on communities and resources
services to different populations and in rather than as a means to reduce risk,
different locations, will help achieve equity, increase access and service delivery, and
ensure access to quality, and culturally improve health outcomes. It is important to
appropriate services, remove barriers to develop and foster a research culture in BBV
service access and maximise impact. and STI across Australia that embeds
A dynamic and informed community research outputs as core business in strategic
engagement mechanism in BBV and STI planning, policy, capacity building and
research, particularly with priority populations, workforce development strategies. Research
will also address stigma and discrimination activities must be valued and recognised as
and minimise the impact on the health of high quality and serving community needs.
people at risk of or living with BBV and STI. This will strengthen and enhance research
literacy to enable and support national and
Overall health impact is boosted when service
international collaborations, which will in turn
delivery approaches fit the realities and needs
facilitate research translation to benefit
of consumers (especially marginalised and
research participants.
priority populations) and end users, explore
opportunity costs and minimise inefficiencies, The success of BBV and STI research
use simplified and standard protocols, and depends largely on workforce capacity and
fully engage communities. There are talent. Building research and workforce
opportunities for further research and capacity includes enhancing the abilities of
innovation in all those respects. individuals, organisations and systems to
undertake and disseminate high quality
Capacity and Collaboration research efficiently and effectively, and the
capacity of other sectors and stakeholders to
The Australian Government encourages
engage with research and utilise knowledge
research whereby researchers, community
derived from this process. In Australia,
organisations, affected communities and
workforce capacity in BBV and STI research
policy makers are meaningfully involved in all
has been built through long-term investments
stages of research priority setting and co-
by governments in research centres so that
design – from development to application,
skills, knowledge and mentorship occurs, and
building an understanding of the way
relationships are built across communities
evidence is generated to allow for greater
and research centres rather than just
integration between research and the use of
individual researchers. This has been core to
evidence. Collaborative BBV and STI
successful community-engaged research in
research can guide and respond to future
BBV and STI prevention, treatment and care
health policy and programs. A strong and
over many decades.
concerted approach increases the likelihood
that research will be timely, co-produced, BBV and STI responses in recent years, in
policy aligned and applied in practice to Australia and globally, have utilised research
improve lives and outcomes. This breakthroughs in basic science and
collaboration can occur at inter- and intra- technologies, and demonstrated that it is
government levels, within primary care feasible to scale-up clinical and public health
settings, health services, community programs in challenging settings.
organisations and research centres, and
incorporate meaningful community
partnerships and consultation.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 11It is vital that research be undertaken in
partnership with community-based
organisations and service providers, and that
a partnership approach is always taken in
identifying and pursuing research priorities.
Research collaboration with affected
communities must continue,
with the intent to stimulate innovation and
effectiveness, as this is crucial to achieve
targets and improved health and well-being
outcomes. This includes social, behavioural,
clinical and structural drivers for and barriers
to achieving optimal health outcomes across
areas of social impact such as sexual and
reproductive health, harm reduction, drug and
alcohol use disorders, sex work, mobility and
migration, stigma and discrimination,
particularly for marginalised and vulnerable
population groups.
Research training and skills development
should also be integral to the education of all
health service providers. Infectious disease
modelling, discovery, development, and
commercialisation of research cannot occur
without appropriate workforce capacity,
effective implementation and a means to
evaluate the impact this work has on quality
of life for people living with or at risk of BBV
and STI and the wider community.
The Government is willing to maximise
ongoing and effective partnerships and
shared goals amongst levels of government,
national peak organisations, the clinical
workforce, researchers, affected communities
and all funding bodies. Through collaboration,
researchers can be encouraged to adopt
entrepreneurial approaches, test the
implementation of science applications, and
look for opportunities to deliver tools to inform,
monitor and evaluate the population health
responses in Australia.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 124. Opportunities and Benefits
Research is vital in both supporting The Australian Medical Research and
the health system and community- Innovation Strategy 2016–2021 notes that an
based organisations towards a improvement in health and well-being
provides additional benefits to the economy
tailored BBV and STI response. While
and to society. It:
research is sometimes invisible to the enhances productivity gains by
larger community on the frontline of avoidance of premature mortality
care, these activities are often and morbidity
operating behind the scenes to make reduces care, carer and aids costs
a difference in the type, quality and reduces loss associated with
effectiveness of health services, and government transfers such as taxation
the care delivered. revenue forgone and welfare and
The National BBV and STI Strategies have disability payments.
capitalised on the significant headway in Targeted BBV and STI research will enable
technological advances, testing, care and researchers to answer questions about the
treatment approaches that have been made in causes, prevention, treatment, management
recent years in response to BBV and STI. The and minimisation of impact of disease. In
National Strategies for many years have also doing so, it will also provide comprehensive
prioritised high quality and innovative advice to governments, both at the
translational, epidemiologic and social Commonwealth and state and territory levels,
research that has enabled us to understand to provide certainty for research funding and
cultural and behavioural drivers of BBV and longer-term investment in this sector to
STI transmission, testing and treatment ensure improved outcomes. Long-term
uptake and engagement in care. Despite investment in BBV and STI research also has
efforts, the National Strategies identify trends the potential to benefit the quality of research
of concern and gaps in the response. It is by retaining research expertise and engaging
critically important to continue to build on the communities in a sustained manner.
strong evidence base for effectively
Collaborative efforts between communities,
responding to existing and emerging BBV
organisations, researchers and health
and STI issues and challenges.
professionals offer opportunities to combine
Maintaining a strong multi-disciplinary the strengths of all partners to identify
research agenda to inform and support the research priorities of most value to
implementation of the National BBV and STI communities, policy and practice.
Strategies is essential.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-2025 135. Key Areas for Action
This Strategy provides direction for understand and address the barriers to
researchers to define, innovate and services and support that affect health
accelerate the existing BBV and STI seeking behaviours and overall access,
e.g. stigma and discrimination
research agenda, requiring the
experienced by marginalised and
research community to break new priority populations
ground to:
promote dynamic and informed
support research that directly addresses community engagement in BBV and
the National Strategies targets and STI research, particularly that of
uses process and impact evaluation priority populations
for validation
encourage pioneering methods of
address knowledge gaps to build the evaluation, and research that validate
evidence base to inform future priorities improved clinical testing and treatment
for health policies and programs, and efficacy, leading to improved mortality
ensure linkage and alignment with rates, and quality of life outcomes
priority areas of action
address gaps in research literacy
evaluate processes and impacts to
among the BBV and STI sector
validate proactive and new approaches
workforce and support research
to BBV and STI prevention, treatment,
translation.
care, education and health promotion.
-------------------
--------------------
ensure equitable and effective treatment
deliver new methodologies and curative
in all health service contexts,
treatments, use existing tools more
recognising the dignity of all, and the
efficiently, and to adapt them for
right and responsibility of individuals to
different populations, settings
own and participate in the achievement
and purposes
of their own health goals and outcomes
encourage translational research aimed
at preventing and eradicating BBV understand the social contexts that
and STI shape or influence health related
practice and healthcare engagement
evaluate the efficiency and affordability
of interventions including cost- --------------------
effectiveness analysis, return on strengthen ongoing effective
investment and budget impact partnerships and shared goals amongst
assessment through health governments, community sectors, peak
economics research. organisations, researchers, the
---------------------- workforce, communities and all
funding bodies.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-2025 146. Governance and Implementation
The research and evaluation Research entities make a valuable
underpinning the BBV and STI contribution to the promulgation of evidence-
service environment over many years based policy. This Strategy defines the
process for validating the benefit of funded
has ensured substantial progress in
research towards the implementation of the
clinical, personal and social National BBV and STI Strategies and ensures
responses to key issues. This has that research funded by the Commonwealth
resulted in greater clinical testing and supports the aims, objectives and targets of
treatment efficacy, population-level the current National Strategies, and beyond.
effectiveness, more socially informed
Grants are widely used to achieve
discourse towards addressing issues government policy outcomes that support
such as stigma and discrimination, Australia’s jobs, growth and innovation. The
and increased personal Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines
empowerment. (CGRGs) establish the whole-of-Government
grants policy framework, under which non-
The research pathway must follow a targeted
corporate Commonwealth entities undertake
approach to improve the availability,
grants administration. The CGRGs contain
appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency,
key legislative and policy requirements, and
quality and safety of service delivery to yield
explain the better practice principles of
substantial benefits for consumers, the
grants administration.
community and the health system – one from
which future generations will benefit. The seven key principles for grants
The Australian Government is committed to administration that apply to the grants lifecycle
providing strong leadership by working across and all grant opportunities are:
portfolios, jurisdictions and key stakeholders robust planning and design
including community-based organisations to collaboration and partnership
achieve the goals of the National Strategies.
proportionality
The Australian Government Department of
Health will ensure that the BBV and STI an outcomes orientation
research agenda remains responsive and achieving value with relevant money
transparent and promote translation of governance and accountability
research outputs into evidence-based policy
probity and transparency
and practice.
Ensuring that the requirements of the CGRGs
The Strategy also recognises the are understood and effectively incorporated
considerable work already being progressed will ensure that potential grantees best suited
and encourages flexibility on how research to undertake grant activities apply for and
funds are distributed by Government. This can receive a grant. This will facilitate the
occur via an approach to market to undertake achievement of outcomes that align with the
a limited or open tender process, by an targets and priority areas for action in the
independent expert selection process, or by National BBV and STI Strategies.
direct funding to any eligible organisation.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-2025 15The success of this Strategy is contingent
on productive partnerships between
Commonwealth, state and territory
governments, community-based
organisations, health professionals
and researchers.
Evaluation of effective research programs and
policies will also provide a more definitive
evidence base and inform the development of
subsequent National BBV and STI Strategies.
It also aims to enhance the conduct and use
of research to advance the BBV and STI
policy landscape, thus creating greater
impacts on BBV and STI outcomes, both now,
and into the future. This will further reduce the
rates of morbidity and mortality that impact
affected communities and the health system.
The Strategy will be reviewed in 2025, to align
with the National BBV and STI Strategies,
and ensure alignment with identified goals
and targets.
With this foundation, Australia can continue to
achieve great things, building on its reputation
as a world-leading model of best practice,
particularly in BBV and STI research
and innovation.
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-25 16For more information go to health.gov.au
First National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-2025 17You can also read
