Health Sciences

In Australia, where improved healthcare offers longer lives for babies born with a disability at one end of the lifespan, and with an increasingly ageing population at the other, we have a corresponding need to better manage chronic disability.

We need quality research(ers) to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of available therapy for specific client groups (ensuring that all proffered assistance has a sound evidence base), and to develop new models of intervention.

People with health-related difficulties (physical, cognitive, communication and/or social) need to fulfill their potential enabling them to ‘live well’ with a disability.

To achieve this, we need to develop and promote clinical research across Allied Health (AH) professions. Presently, there is nowhere for these clinicians to be trained in research, unless they formally enrol for post-graduate study – which many are not in a position to do. AH clinicians need access to research expertise and to mentorship; a place where ideas can be developed, providing a quality training in research.

A Centre for Allied Health Research would bridge clinical and academic research, breaking down barriers by sharing, developing and publicising research ideas; promoting a spirit of inter-disciplinary co-operation and collaboration, rather than competition.

The Centre could act as a research conduit, matching AH researchers and clinicians who wish to study a particular topic. By doing this, the Centre would capacity-build AH research in Australia, establishing strong multi-disciplinary teams, as well as eliminating duplication of research effort.

To explore the need for such an Allied Health Research Centre, The Menzies Foundation (http://www.menziesfoundation.org.au) is generously supporting a feasibility study, over 12 months, from July 2008.

A multidisciplinary project group has been formed to progress this concept and the group includes:

• Professor Alison Perry, School of Human Communication Sciences, La Trobe University
• Professor Meg Morris, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne
• Dr Carol McKinstry, School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University
• Ms Jenelle Loeliger, Senior Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
• Professor Susan Paxton, School of Psychology, La Trobe University

We are committed to inclusion and collaboration across all Allied Health disciplines in the development of the proposed model for the Research Centre.

We are canvassing views about: the need for such a Research Centre; what services it could provide; where it should be sited; how it should be operated and be funded, and the likely arrangements for its governance / ongoing management.

To gain broad feedback from the Allied Health community, a series of focus groups is being held over the coming months and the information gained will be used to analyse the need, and produce a 'preferred model', which is anticipated to be an integrated advisory, teaching and practice Centre for Allied Health Research.

Views are being sought from:

• Practising Allied Health clinicians,
• Researchers and academics,
• The University sectors,
• Menzies Allied Health scholars,
• Professional representatives / alliances/ organisations,
• Philanthropic trusts,
• Department of Human Services, Victoria,
• Commonwealth Government, and
• Other interested individuals and groups.

At the completion of the feasibility study, we will present a business plan for discussion at an open seminar, to be held at the Menzies Foundation (Clarendon Terrace, East Melbourne). At that time, stakeholders will have a further opportunity to consider and refine the proposal.

For further information about this project please contact:

• Carol Chenco, Research Associate, Menzies Foundation Study, email: c.chenco@latrobe.edu.au, phone: (03) 9479 1820 or
• Professor Alison Perry, Chair, School of Human Communication Sciences email: A.Perry@latrobe.edu.au, phone: (03) 9479 1937.

To give input or your views, please send written comments to:
Ms Carol Chenco, Research Associate, Menzies Foundation Study, email: c.chenco@latrobe.edu.au, phone: (03) 9479 1820

Although we are happy to receive any unsolicited views, we would request you state your professional background, so that we can audit feedback from each profession.