Promoting the generation and effective use of population health research in NSW: a Strategy for NSW Health 2011–2015 Public consultation on draft Strategy 26 October–22 November 2010

The Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health is developing a Strategy to support the generation and use of population health research within NSW Health.

The main purpose of the document is to describe how the Division will facilitate the conduct of high‐quality, relevant, population health research and the use of research evidence in policy and practice in NSW Health.

The Strategy (and its implementation) will support population health research that is undertaken, commissioned, supported or used by NSW Health (at the state and local level). The Population Health Division makes a significant investment in supporting population health research. The Strategy identifies ways that the Division can manage this investment more strategically and collaboratively.

The Population Health Division has prepared a draft Strategy in consultation with the Strategic Directions for Population Health Research Advisory Committee and informed by three separate investigations:

• a review of existing strategic documents that support decision‐making in population health and/or health research from other jurisdictions and countries

• interviews with stakeholders regarding current population health research practice, issues with current practice and the proposed content of the NSW Strategy

• a review of strategies to increase the use of evidence from research in population health policy and programs.

This public consultation aims to provide an open and transparent process allowing stakeholder input on the draft Strategy.

Key stakeholders across NSW are invited to provide input on the draft Strategy.

The draft Strategy is available on the NSW Health Research website: www.health.nsw.gov.au/research/index.asp

Please provide comments on the draft Strategy in relation to the following questions:

1. Do you have any comments on the framework (page 8), including the key strategies?

2. Are there any other ‘current actions’ that NSW Health (Department of Health or area health services) is involved in that should be included under each of the strategies in the document?

3. Are the proposed actions listed under ‘what we will do’ relevant, useful and comprehensive, given the resource‐neutral nature of the Strategy?

Comments must be provided by email to Beth Stickney (bstic@doh.health.nsw.gov.au) by 5pm on Monday 22 November 2010.