DEVELOPING STRATEGY FOR BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES FROM A PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) CEO Outlines Priorities
With
Professor Steve Wesselingh,
Chief Executive Officer,
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Canberra | June 2025
Professor Steve Wesselingh serves as the CEO of NHMRC, having initially trained as an infectious diseases doctor. His career includes prominent roles such as Head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Alfred Hospital, Director of the Burnett, Dean of Medicine at Monash University, and the inaugural Director of SAHMRI. Under his leadership, NHMRC plays a critical role in funding health and medical research, allocating approximately a billion dollars annually to investigator-led projects, clinical trials, and various strategic initiatives. NHMRC also collaborates internationally with organisations such as the MRC and the EU, and manages grant allocation for the MRFF, which distributes $650 million each year.
An important aspect of NHMRC’s mission is to ensure the integrity of research conducted in Australia, which is essential for maintaining public trust. The organisation oversees the accreditation of human research ethics committees nationwide and is involved in developing and endorsing clinical guidelines. Professor Wesselingh emphasises the urgency of promoting the benefits of health and medical research in the face of recent skepticism toward science and institutions.
Prof Wesselingh advocates for the integration of research into clinical care, arguing that such an approach enhances patient outcomes and promotes equity in access to innovative treatments across urban and rural areas. Each year, NHMRC hosts an awards event to recognise the achievements of Australia’s top researchers, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to advancing high-quality science and its impact on healthcare.
Currently NHMRC is developing a National Health and Medical Research Strategy that aims provide national direction, build on Australia’s strengths in the health and medical research sector, fill gaps, and continue to attract researchers and investors to Australia. Professor talks about Australia needing a national health and research strategy, echoed by groups such as Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) in recent years. The formation of the strategy is underway under Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM, as Chair of the National Strategy with the draft scheduled to be released by early July 2025.
Source: Written by AUDIENCED
-
The 2019 John Deeble Lecture and Panel Discussion
The John Deeble Lecture and Panel Discussion was established by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association to commemorate the life and achievements as distinguished scholar, health economist and health policy leader, Prof John Deeble AO.
-
Global GP Conference comes to Australia
Over 3000 delegates from around the World will gather at the 50th celebration of WONCA to reconnect and revive General Practice, sharing knowledge and learnings on access, equity, funding, and multidisciplinary care teams. This includes networking with Australian and overseas GPs and in particular learning about primary care practices in other countries.
Australian Health Journal met with Dr Nicole Higgins, President of RACGP in transit at Brisbane Airport recently and she spoke about the $6 Billion allocated in the Federal Budget in May as a significant achievement for General Practice investment. She also emphasised this announcement reinforced GPs should be at the centre of multidisciplinary care teams to ensure continuity of care and better health outcomes.
-
Report: Youth pathways to health services
The 2020 Youth Health Forum (YHF) was created to make young people’s ideas and experiences part of our national discussions about services for young Australians.
Healthcare professionals across Australia have long recognised the problem of young people falling through the gaps of a health system that wasn’t designed for them.
