MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO DRAFT NATIONAL RESEARCH STRATEGY National workforce plan welcomed, though concern remains on the indirect costs of research
With
Dr Saraid Billiards,
Chief Executive Officer
Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI)
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | October 2025
On 27 August 2025, the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing announced the release of the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy (the National Strategy).
The aims of the National Strategy are to build on Australia’s strengths in health and medical research and leverage Australia’s world leading research capability.
The developed strategy aims to attract researchers and investors, strengthen coordination and impact and improve health outcomes in communities.
Involved in the initial consultation phase, was the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for medical research institutes across Australia. Member institutes work on a broad spectrum of human health issues such as preventive health, chronic disease, mental health, immunology and Indigenous health. Their research ranges from fundamental biomedical discovery through to clinical research and the translation of research findings.
AAMRI CEO Dr Saraid Billiards has been working Health, Ageing and Disability Minister, The Hon Mark Butler MP, his office and subsequently with Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO, who in November 2024 was appointed to develop the National Health and Medical Research Strategy.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Billiards about the advocacy work of AAMRI, the reviews, reports, announcements and Phase 1 consultation period leading to the draft release. Consultation on the draft Strategy is open until 8 October 2025.
Source: Adapted from AAMRI release, NHMRC news story and Department of Health, Disability & Aged Care website.
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Pathology technology at a crossroads
The CEO of Pathology Technology Australia, Dean Whiting spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
– Pathology Technology Australia’s key priorities in the coming years
– Current local capability in pathology technology compared to other countries
– How the health system supports change and adoption of pathology technology
– How pathology is perceived by the public and in government as well as how developments in pathology technology are followed and understood
– Observations in the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce ReportIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Warning signs of substance abuse and addiction
Tara Hurster, is the CEO of The TARA Clinic and a psychologist who started working within the area of addiction in 2010. The TARA clinic, short for Therapeutic Addiction Recovery Assistance, recently started offering online programs to overcome and recover from addiction.
Tara spoke with Australian Health Journal about the early warning signs of anxiety and stress in health staff and executives, including irritability, changes in sleep patterns and diet leading to more serious mental health decline. These behaviours and symptoms increase the risk of substance abuse that could take the form of excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use, porn, sex and gambling.
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Paediatric mental help for children of defence personnel, veterans and first responders
Dr Marg Rogers is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at University of New England (UNE) in Armidale, New South Wales. She is a prominent figure in early childhood education New South Wales, and is also a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Manna Institute, a mental health research organisation within the regional university network across Australia, that is building place based research capacity to improve the mental health of regional, rural and remote Australia.
