Director's Report 2007

CHERE is a research centre, but a research centre that is engaged in health policy and practice, which values high quality education and professional development, and aims to contribute to the development of health economics and

Research: our research income has continued to rise, and our external research income for 2007 was $2.6m. We commenced a major new NHMRC funded program of research, in collaboration with the University of NSW and the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service, exploring how economic evidence can be brought to bear on clinical decision making. We were awarded an ARC Discovery Grant, again in collaboration with the University of NSW, to investigate how educational, work and personal experiences influence nurses’ job choices and career plans. We are increasing our peer reviewed publications, and have introduced a Working Paper Series to ensure wider and earlier dissemination of research results. We remain a highly collaborative group, with active research collaborations with the University of NSW, Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, and the Australian Technology Universities Network, and an active involvement in the ARC funded Economic Design Network. We also have a range of collaborations with Universities overseas.

2007 saw increasing activity in readiness for the Research Quality Framework. That approach will not be implemented by new Labor Government. Nonetheless, these preparations ensured we reviewed our focus on research quality and impact. As a result we have identified four areas which represent the focus of our research: financing and the use of health care services; economic evaluation and health outcomes measurement; preferences and decision making in health care; and the health workforce. You will find our various research projects reported here in relation to these themes.

Health policy and practice engagement: this is represented in our research, through the NHMRC program on economic evidence and clinical decision making, the Costing for Health and Economic Evaluation Program which brings together the Sax Institute, NSW Health and the NSW Cancer Institute, the many and varied projects commissioned by policy agencies, and the number of projects in which we collaborate with clinicians. It is also signified by our contribution to policy making committees and forums, and more public commentary on health policy issues. In addition to Rosalie Viney’s involvement with PBAC, as highlighted in the Chair’s introduction, Elizabeth Savage is a member of the NSW Health Resource Allocation Working Party, Marion Haas a member of the Board of Family Planning NSW, and I am a member of the Medical Services Advisory Committee. In addition, CHERE is involved in the two major international collaborations on health policy. Marion Haas is the Australian representative for the International Network in Health Policy and Reform, auspiced by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Germany. This network brings together health policy experts from 20 countries and publishes a range of reports on policy issues. I continue as the Australian representative of the Harkness Fellowship Program in Health Policy and Practice, and as a regular contributor to the International Health Policy Symposium held annually in Washington, DC; both are convened and supported by the US Commonwealth Fund.

Education: CHERE has continued to teach in a range of subjects in both the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health. More importantly, new arrangements took effect in 2007 to allow CHERE staff to supervise post-graduate research students. The focus of our educational efforts will increasingly be around doctoral studies. Our first PhD student enrolled in 2007.

CHERE’s capacity in research and policy engagement is strengthened by the opportunity to meet and learn from others. We encourage visiting scholars to spend time working in our Centre. In 2007 we were pleased to welcome Amir Shmueli, Professor of Health Economics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who chose to spend a sabbatical period at CHERE learning and researching the Australian health care system.

I would like to thank Richard Madden as Chair of the Advisory Board whose involvement is characterised by support and wise advice with very little cajoling! The other members of the Advisory Board have also been unstinting in their support and to them go our thanks also. The Board welcomed two new members this year, in Rick Sondalini, from NSW Treasury, and Andrew Milat, from NSW Health. Their involvement signifies our growing partnerships with NSW Health and NSW Treasury. Sadly, Glenn Withers resigned as he took up the position of Chief Executive of Universities Australia. His insight into research and universities will be much missed.

My final but by no means least thanks go to all the staff at CHERE. They continue to share a commitment to high quality research, a readiness to take on increasing workloads, and the generosity and good humour that ensures CHERE is a good place to work.