The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has announced a $9.6 million investment into research aimed at improving the patient journey and strengthening the country’s capacity to meet rising healthcare demand. High rates of healthcare service use in Australia are strongly linked to an ageing population, complex medical needs, and challenges in accessing timely, appropriate care.
The funding, provided through NHMRC’s Targeted Call for Research: Addressing the Needs of People with High Healthcare Service Utilisation, will support four major projects focused on rethinking service delivery, identifying gaps, and developing new care models that can be implemented effectively across the system.
At the University of New South Wales, Dr Chontel Gibson will collaborate with Aboriginal Elders, community groups, and government partners to create culturally safe and trauma-informed models of care that strengthen emotional and social wellbeing. Older Aboriginal people often face high service use due to complex health and ageing needs, yet many service providers lack the tools and training required to deliver appropriate support. This project will co-design resources grounded in Indigenous human rights to improve care quality.
Other funded initiatives include the development of a frailty response framework led by Professor Ruth Hubbard at the University of Queensland, designed to deliver continuous, community-based support for older Australians living with frailty; a University of Melbourne study led by Professor Jane Pirkis evaluating a specialised care model for frequent callers to Lifeline Australia; and research led by Professor Suzanne Nielsen at Monash University to improve national responses to opioid dependence through innovative care models and data-driven solutions.
The TCR programme is a one-time funding call created to address urgent health needs where clear research gaps exist. Full information on grant recipients and project details is available via NHMRC’s outcomes of funding rounds page.
