International Clinical Trials Day 2026, a year in review: Access to Trials
CLINICAL TRIALS IN REGIONAL, RURAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA
With
Amanda Koegelenberg,
CEO, Novatrials
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL TRIALS DAY SERIES SEGMENT
Filmed in Newcastle, NSW | May 2026
To mark International Clinical Trials Day 2026, Australian Health Journal commences a 4 part special series leading up to 20th May with interviews captured across Australia. Through conversations with leading researchers, clinicians and trial organisations, the series highlights achievements in the year that was for clinical trials. The first segment is an example of how in-person clinical trial access has improved for regional, rural and remote communities.
Novatrials is helping transform access to clinical trials for people living in regional, rural and remote communities across the Hunter New England region and beyond. Based in Newcastle, New South Wales, the organisation was founded with a vision to bring innovative medical treatments closer to communities that have traditionally faced significant travel barriers to access state-of-the-art healthcare.
With the first purpose-built Phase 1 clinical trial facility outside of an Australian capital city, Novatrials is expanding opportunities for participants across Newcastle, the wider Hunter region and regional New South Wales to take part in world-class research closer to home. By conducting Phase 1 through to Phase 4 studies across a range of therapeutic areas, the organisation is helping bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world patient care.
According to CEO Amanda Koegelenberg, the investment in the facility illustrates Novatrials’ commitment to ensuring people in regional and remote areas no longer need to travel vast distances to participate in clinical trials, while also bringing more research investment, innovation and healthcare opportunities into the Hunter New England region.
The segment highlights how Novatrials is working collaboratively with partners including the University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute and Hunter New England Local Health District to strengthen the region’s research ecosystem and improve access to emerging treatments for local communities.
Source: Adapted from transcript using AI
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Medical research institutes association responds to draft national research strategy
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).
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.
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Sonia Marshall – South Western Sydney Local Health District
South Western Sydney Local Health District serves nearly 1 million people in a rapidly growing area of Sydney. Currently 250-300 families a week are moving into the region and with a growing population, the health district requires well executed strategy and delivery of healthcare to the population. Executive Director Sonia Marshall spoke with Australian Health Journal reporter Anne Dao at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week in Sydney, on supporting staff and the community. Sonia highlights the mission of delivering Safe Quality Healthcare at all times. In-time patient feedback is important and the SWSLHD has implemented a system called “My Experience Matters” to give near immediate response from patients on their level of care, whilst they are still on site at the hospital. The aim of the initiative is to quickly identify bad experiences that could be rectified.
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Allied Health Building Leadership Experience in Tasmania
A notable program run by Hospitals South is the ABLE program, or Allied Health Building Leadership Experience. This program was created to address the challenge of allied health professionals being seen as a single entity, rather than as individual disciplines, when it comes to leadership and management opportunities. The program is delivered entirely internally, with seminars presented by senior staff and mentorship opportunities for participants to become more effective representatives of allied health in meetings and working groups.
