The Australian Rural Health Research Collaboration: building collaborative population health research in rural and remote NSW
David A. Perkins A H , Lesley Barclay B , Kim M. Browne C , Lou-Anne Blunden D , Lyn J. Fragar B , Brian J. Kelly E , Tony Lower B , David M. Lyle B , Vahid Saberi F , Helen J. Stain G and Jan R. Sidford AA Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney
B School of Public Health, The University of Sydney
C Population Health Planning and Performance, Hunter New England Area Health Service
D Population Health Planning and Performance, Greater Western Area Health Service
E Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle
F School of Health and Human Science, Southern Cross University
G Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, The University of Newcastle
H Corresponding author. Email: dperkins@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au
NSW Public Health Bulletin 22(2) 23-26 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB10067
Published: 19 April 2011
Abstract
The health problems faced by rural and remote communities are complex and not amenable to simple or short-term solutions. The Australian Rural Health Research Collaboration, which comprises rural research centres, area health services and policy makers in NSW, investigates these problems. Founded in 2002, it has grown to become the leading rural research collaboration in Australia. It aims to: conduct high quality research; build the capacity of researchers and clinicians; and encourage the translation of research evidence into practice for the benefit of rural and remote communities. The success of the Collaboration is illustrated by the increase in research outputs, funds generated, the strength of the relationships between partners and the ability to address complex research problems such as the mental health of rural and remote communities often deemed too difficult or expensive to include in metropolitan-based research. Keys to success have been the inclusive public health ethos, the participation of senior researchers and service managers, the critical mass of researchers achieved through collaboration and effective leadership and governance. This demonstrates the value of supporting cooperative research and capacity building in rural and remote areas where the size of research groups is small and where effective multi-disciplinary and co-operative research can pay dividends.
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