EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015
Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021 Determination 2016
Authority
Section 32D of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 (the Act) provides that the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (Advisory Board) must determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy.
Purpose
The purpose of the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021 (the Strategy) is to ensure that a coherent and consistent approach is adopted in providing financial assistance under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). It sets out the vision, aims and objectives for the MRFF.
Background
The MRFF was established under the Act to provide financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians.
First disbursements from the MRFF will be made in the 2016-17 financial year by the Australian Government following consideration of the Strategy and the accompanying Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2016-2018.
The Advisory Board was announced on 4 April 2016 and comprises of:
- Professor Ian Frazer AC (Chair)
- Mr Yasser El-Ansary
- Professor Peter Høj
- Dr Deborah Rathjen
- Professor Karen Reynolds
- Ms Jennifer Williams
- Professor Anne Kelso AO
In developing the Strategy, the Advisory Board has taken into consideration other health and medical research strategies including the work of the Commonwealth Science Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council and the National Innovation and Science Agenda to ensure a coordinated narrative.
The Act determines that the Strategy is in force for five years. A subsequent Strategy must be determined and in force as soon as this Strategy ceases.
Details
In addition to outline the vision, aim and objectives of the MRFF, the Strategy proposes a number of strategic research platforms that have potential for funding impact and aim to better prepare the Australian health system for the future.
These platforms recognise the opportunities and benefits within the health and medical research sector and the challenges and cultural issues that once addressed will position Australia as an innovator in healthcare.
These platforms serve as a reference point for the two-yearly identification of the Priorities, the first of which accompany this Strategy.
The Strategy also proposes an impact measurement framework to assess the return on investment from the MRFF.
Consultation
Section 32EA of the Act requires the Advisory Board to consult with organisations with expertise in medical research and innovation, organisations that represent consumers who benefit from health and medical research and innovation, and any other person or organisation.
The Strategy has been developed following extensive national consultation with consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, organisations and individuals. The consultation process included a call for written submissions, public forums, invited roundtables, meetings with jurisdictional health departments and a national webinar.
The call for written submissions opened on 6 May and closed on 6 June 2016. 167 submissions were received in relation to the Strategy. Public forums were held during July and August 2016 in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. A total of approximately 700 individuals were in attendance. The national webinar was held on 31 August 2016 and the recording has been made available online.
The submissions and feedback received through the consultation process were considered in the development of the Strategy.
The Strategy commences the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
This Strategy is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.
Overview
The Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 was enacted to establish the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) with the primary objective of providing financial assistance for health and medical research and innovation to ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of Australians. The Act mandates the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board to determine the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy, which serves as a blueprint for the coherent and consistent approach in providing financial assistance under the MRFF. The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021, developed under Section 32D of the Act, outlines the vision, aims and objectives for the MRFF, ensuring alignment with other national health and medical research strategies. This Strategy was developed through extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including consumers, healthcare providers, and researchers, and is designed to position Australia as an innovator in healthcare by addressing challenges and cultural issues within the sector. The Strategy includes strategic research platforms and an impact measurement framework to assess the return on investment from the MRFF.
Scope and Application
The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021 Determination 2016, established under Section 32D of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, applies to the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, which is mandated to determine the strategy. The Act, in turn, applies to the broader entities involved in health and medical research and innovation in Australia, as it aims to provide a coherent and consistent approach for financial assistance under the Medical Research Future Fund. This fund is designed to support health and medical research and innovation with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. The Strategy is formulated to ensure alignment with other relevant national strategies and agendas, such as those of the Commonwealth Science Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, and the National Innovation and Science Agenda. The geographic reach of the Act and its subordinate instruments, including the Strategy, is nationwide, impacting all sectors engaged in medical research and innovation within Australia.
The Act mandates that the Strategy be in force for five years, with a subsequent strategy to be determined and implemented thereafter. The Strategy outlines specific platforms for strategic research, which aim to address future challenges and cultural issues in the health and medical research sector, positioning Australia as a leader in healthcare innovation. The development of the Strategy involved extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, and other relevant organisations. The consultation process included a call for written submissions, public forums, roundtables, and meetings with jurisdictional health departments. The Strategy, upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislation, becomes a legislative instrument under the Legislation Act 2003.
Key Provisions
The Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-2021, determined under section 32D of the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015, sets out the overarching vision, aims, and objectives for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) (section 32D(1)). The Strategy, which is in force for five years, proposes strategic research platforms that have the potential for significant funding impact and aim to enhance the Australian health system's readiness for future challenges. Additionally, it includes an impact measurement framework to evaluate the return on investment from the MRFF.
The obligations imposed by the Act on the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, as per section 32EA, include the requirement to consult with various stakeholders, such as organisations with expertise in medical research and innovation, consumer representatives, and other relevant parties. This extensive consultation process involved a call for written submissions, public forums, roundtables, meetings with jurisdictional health departments, and a national webinar to gather input from a broad range of participants.
Failure to adhere to the provisions of the Act or the Strategy may result in legal consequences. However, the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches. The primary focus of the Strategy is to provide a coherent and consistent approach for the allocation of funds from the MRFF to support health and medical research and innovation, with the overarching goal of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. The Strategy and accompanying priorities are designed to guide the initial disbursements from the MRFF, beginning in the 2016-17 financial year.