• HCF’s Research Foundation announces $1.72 million in funding to recipients of six Translational Research Grants (TRGs) for 2023.
• 2023 TRGs aim to introduce innovative models of care for the elderly in the community. The supported projects aim to improve healthcare services quality and access for older Australians outside of a hospital setting.
• Projects include: frailty screening in primary care settings; a fall prevention program delivered by trained support workers; healthy lifestyle program reducing disability and chronic disease risks in older people; digital platform to support fall prevention in home care settings; provision of home-based palliative care; improving the health and wellbeing of rural older Australian’s living at home.

THURSDAY 6 July, 2023: The HCF Research Foundation, Australia’s leading non-Government funder of health services research, has announced the recipients of its 2023 Translational Research Grants.

Six innovative research projects will address crucial health and wellbeing issues in our growing ageing population by translating research findings into practical solutions alongside healthcare providers.

“Our TRG scheme focuses on responding to key issues within healthcare communities, and enabling providers to implement innovative research into their settings. The scheme takes research findings and puts them into practice - having a direct impact on health outcomes,” said HCF Head of Research Foundation, Dr Chris Pettigrew.

“By taking traditional research into real-world scenarios, our Grants initiative aims to make a significant impact on the quality of healthcare treatments and services in Australia. We’re committed to helping researchers deliver better patient outcomes, improved experiences, and deliver more cost-effective health services for both patients and providers.'

The Foundation has invested more than $28.5 million in research over 22 years, driving improvements in health services delivery for Australians.

The 2023 recipients of the HCF Research Foundation Translational Grants are:

• Dr Caroline Nicholson, Mater Research Institute / University of Queensland: Identification and provision of management support for people at risk of frailty in general practice to reduce potentially preventable hospitalisations.
• Dr Jacqueline Francis-Coad, University of Western Australia: Enabling functional independence at home – training support workers to deliver a fall prevention program to frail, older adults.
• Mr Simon Davidson, HNELHD / University of Newcastle: HeLP (a Healthy Lifestyle program for Pain) for older people with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbid chronic disease risks.
• Dr Kimberly Van Schooten, NeuRA/UNSW: StandingTall eHealth balance exercise to foster mobility and prevent falls in older people receiving home care.
• Prof Josephine Chow, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research: Implementing and evaluating an integrative palliative care model for older people in the community who wish to die at home.
• Dr Kristy Robson, Charles Sturt University: Age Well@Home program for rural Australian’s focusing on simultaneously improving the physical, cognitive, and social wellbeing of older people who are motivated to remain living at home.

"At the HCF Research Foundation, our mission goes beyond supporting and funding vital health and medical research. We also strive to ensure innovative and evidence-based research is effectively implemented in healthcare settings,” said Dr Chris Pettigrew.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure all Australians have access to and receive better, more affordable healthcare where and when its needed."

Details: https://www.hcf.com.au/about-us/hcf-foundation

For more information on any of the projects or for any further media enquiries please contact:

Media contact: Lindsay Carter 0457101176  lcarter@hcf.com.au

ABOUT HCF

HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund protecting Australians since 1932, covers more than 1.9 million members with health and life insurance, and travel and pet insurance. HCF has been awarded Outstanding Value Health Insurance by Canstar seven years in a row from 2016-2022. On average over the last ten years, HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits than the industry average. To learn more about HCF go to hcf.com.au/about-us