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Accelerating the translation of Research findings into Action to ensure scientific evidence can positively Impact the health of South Australians.
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At the end of June, Health Translation SA (HTSA) hosted the launch of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network “My PreHab” program that aims to get people healthy before surgery to reduce complications. HTSA was a key partner in the development and piloting of this initiative, and the potential impact of this project is exciting. Keep an eye out for a feature story on this very soon!
Another launch that has happened recently is for the Health Journey Mapping tools and resources developed over a number of years by University of Adelaide’s Associate Professor Janet Kelly (and her team), in collaboration with the Lowitija Institute. Details on how to access these fabulous tools and resources can be found in this months feature story and I encourage you to check them out!
July kick starts 'event season' for HTSA, with several exciting opportunities coming up for you to get involved in over the next few months.
- Implementation Science Network Launch – 28 Jul
Registrations have now closed for this event, however, if you would like to be involved in future events please contact Agustina Gancia via email: Agustina.Gancia@healthtranslationsa.org.au
- HTSA’s Stakeholder Forum – 10 Aug
- SA’s Women’s Health Research Translation Network Launch – 31 Aug
Further details on all these events, including how to register, are noted in this month’s edition of the Newsletter.
Another important event that we are gearing up for is the NHMRC Research Translation Symposium which will be held from Thursday 17 to Tuesday 22 November 2022. This year’s event will take on a slightly different format with a combination of keynote/plenary, abstract and panel sessions to be held online, combined with face-to-face networking opportunities intended to be held in each state and territory.
HTSA will host a face to face event on November 22. More details about this event will be coming soon! In the meantime, if you would like to submit an abstract, please see all the details on how to do this below.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the newest member of the HTSA’s team, Donella Piper. Donella is taking on the role of Data Fellow and will work closely with Digital Health SA and the Commission on Excellence and Innovation on several strategic data projects across the state.
Wendy Keech
Health Translation SA CEO
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About the Health Journey Mapping Tools
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Launch of the Health Journey Mapping Tools and Resources
The Health Journey Mapping project has recently delivered a brand-new set of tools and resources that aim to improve the quality and cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ healthcare journeys.
This HTSA-affiliated project is led by the University of Adelaide’s Associate Professor Janet Kelly, and funded and supported by the Lowitja Institute.
True to its name, “health journey mapping” records the experiences of and interactions between patients, families and healthcare teams along the health care continuum.
Health journey maps can be used to identify individuals’ priorities, health status and background when first interacting with health services, and then record all interactions with different services throughout their journey.
This allows patients, healthcare practitioners and researchers to identify strengths and gaps in care. For example, they can identify whether systems are adequately meeting a patient’s needs, and pinpoint communication gaps that make it difficult for a patient to stay engaged with their care.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, healthcare journeys can often be culturally and personally unsafe and include many communication and coordination gaps that need urgent attention.
The Health Journey Mapping tools and resources were co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, families, and communities, and a collective of end-users from healthcare, research, and education backgrounds.
The team led by Associate Professor Kelly interviewed users of the previous “Managing Two Worlds Together” mapping tools, and carefully analysed their experiences of using these tools to inform and guide development of this new resource. Together they discussed how the existing tools could be improved to better reflect the experiences of patients and their family members, and the challenges experienced by healthcare professionals.
Input from community members and end-users has ensured that this resource is highly relevant for use. Importantly, healthcare professionals will be able to identify and acknowledge patients’ priorities and strengths and include them in care planning right from the beginning of their healthcare journey, rather than retrospectively when issues arise.
The resulting resource includes three mapping tools (the tools) that have been carefully tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; a handy user guide, some worked examples, and introductory videos. Concepts of quality improvement, cultural safety and equity are embedded within the tools.
The tools can be found on the Lowitja Institute website here.
HTSA has proudly supported this important work from the beginning, by encouraging early discussions about the possibility of advancing health journey mapping concepts and tools at several workshops. This has allowed the researchers to advance through the crucial early planning stages, and strategically apply for funding and support.
Uptake of the tools and health journey mapping concepts in clinical settings has been swift, with staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing Hub increasingly using the tools to map journeys of concern and make specific recommendations for improvement. The Aboriginal renal team are also using the tools to complete detailed care plans and collaboratively devise Return to Country journeys for Aboriginal dialysis patients from remote areas.
But the work is far from over. An essential and built-in component of these tools is that they will be consistently revisited, revised, and further adapted to support the people who need them most. To this end, the team is establishing a Community of Interest, and will host critical conversations about further advancing the Health Journey Mapping tools and resources.
Please contact Associate Professor Janet Kelly for more information about this initiative: janet.kelly@adelaide.edu.au.
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And that's a wrap on our latest Spotlight Series!
Thank you to everyone who engaged with us during our latest Spotlight Series on the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)!
Throughout the month of June, we held 4 webinars and shared many resources through our social media outlets. We touched on:
- Different ways to access MRFF funding;
- Heard from researchers who have been successful with the MRFF; and
- Received great advice from grant reviewers and members of research support offices.
Stay tuned for details on our next Spotlight Series on Consumer Engagement in Research in October 2022!
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Call for abstracts for the 10th NHMRC Research Translation Symposium now open
Abstracts are invited on any topic relevant to research translation and the theme of Embracing Diversity. Authors submitting an abstract should nominate one of the following sub-themes when they submit their abstract:
- Knowledge mobilisation: making information usable and accessible
- Knowledge know-how: the skills and expertise needed to translate knowledge effectively
- Impact evaluation: assessing the change that could be attributed to a particular intervention, project, program or policy
- Implementation science: the methods used to promote the uptake of research findings.
To submit an abstract, go to the Call for Abstracts webpage and follow the instructions.
Key dates:
- Abstract submissions open: Monday 18th July 2022
- Abstract submissions close: Monday 29th August 2022 17:00 (AEST)
- Notification of abstract acceptance: Friday 7th October 2022
- Deadline for presenters to upload their presentation Monday: 7th November 2022
Find out more about the NHMRC Research Translation Symposium on the NHMRC website.
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2022 finalists announced!
The time has come! Award nominations from some of South Australia’s best and brightest innovators and STEMM professionals have been reviewed by expert panellists, and the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science is now pleased to introduce the finalists for this year’s SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards.
Among this years Scientist of the Year finalists is Professor Maria Makrides (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute) who leads HTSA's First 1000 Days Flagship Program. We wish Maria, and all of the finalists, the very best and look forward to hearing the outcome in the coming months.
To view all of the finalists, click here.
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Register now for HTSA's next Stakeholder Forum!
Come and join us for our next Stakeholder Forum where you will hear insights into how HTSA, and our partner organisations, are enabling consumers to drive the research translation agenda within South Australia.
You will also have the opportunity to explore approaches currently being undertaken and consider innovative ways to mobilise consumer priorities at scale in an interactive workshop.
Date: Wednesday 10 August
Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: SAHMRI Auditorium (or online if you are not able to attend in person)
To register for the event and view the full program, click here.
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SAVE THE DATE: South Australia set to launch it's Women's Health Research Translation Network (WHRTN)
Inline with the national WHRTN collaborative objectives, HTSA is launching the South Australian arm of the WHRTN (the Network). Join us at the end of August to help build the capacity, create new opportunities and make connections within the women’s health research community in South Australia.
Date: Wednesday 31 August
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: SAHMRI Auditorium (or online via Zoom)
The Network will also provide the opportunity for early and mid-career researchers to informally connect with experienced researchers for guidance and input and share insights relating to the challenges, barriers and successes relating to women health research and translation.
To view the program summary and register, click here.
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Clinical trials quality matters
You are invited to join the Clinical Trials Platform for a monthly webinar where special guests share knowledge and innovation in the clinical trials space.
With the pending arrival of further updates to ICH-GCP, a new TGA inspection program and a Clinical Trials Hospital Accreditation Standard being rolled out, the need for evidence of a clinical trials Quality Management System looms large.
In this discussion, the Platform will draw on the expertise of a group of panelists from across our national clinical trials sector who will share their stories of progress towards creating these complex but necessary systems within their organisations.
Date: Thursday, 28 July
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am ACST
Format: Streamed via Zoom
To register for this event, click here.
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Other upcoming events & training
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New grant opportunities regularly available throughout the year!
National Health and Medical Research Institute (NHMRC)
Within Australia, the NHMRC is the major funding body for health and medical research. There are a range of funding schemes that have different focuses and purposes. To see all of the funding schemes available, click here.
MRFF
The MRFF provides grants of financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. The NHMRC works with the Department of Health to implement disbursements from the MRFF. To see what MRFF grant opportunities are currently open and their status, click here.
Many of our partner organisations have a dedicated person that can assist you in applying for MRFF grant opportunities. For a list of South Australian based MRFF Support Leads, click here.
Follow us on Linked In and Twitter to learn about other funding opportunities that become available throughout the year.
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Do you have an event or story you would like to share in our Newsletter?
We would love to hear from you!
Come and chat to the Health Translation SA team on Level 8 in the SAHMRI Building (left of the central staircase) or contact Alex Harris, our Strategic Communications Officer, via email: communications@healthtranslationsa.org.au.
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Connect with us in the links below
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