The Western Australian Health Translation Network (WAHTN), as a proud member of the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA), welcomes the Australian Government’s 2026–27 Federal Budget measures to strengthen the national health and medical research pipeline, accelerate research translation, and expand investment through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
AHRA Chair, Professor Carol Hodgson, said the Budget recognises the importance of sustained investment across the full research continuum — from discovery and clinical trials through to implementation in healthcare settings and improved outcomes for communities.
“The increased investment in the Medical Research Future Fund is an important and welcome commitment to Australia’s health and medical research future,” Professor Hodgson said.
The Government’s planned increase in MRFF disbursements to $1 billion annually from 2030–31 provides long‑term confidence for the sector and reinforces the national priority placed on health and medical research.
AHRA also welcomed the Government’s commitment of $508.5 million over four years to boost MRFF disbursements, noting that finalising the National Health and Medical Research Strategy will be essential to unlocking the full impact of this investment.
“Strong and sustained investment is essential to ensure Australia maintains a robust research pipeline — one that supports discovery, builds workforce capability, enables clinical trials and translates evidence into real‑world health impact,” Professor Hodgson said.
As part of AHRA’s national network of research translation centres, WAHTN sees firsthand how collaborative, translation‑focused research improves health outcomes, strengthens health systems, and delivers value to patients, communities and the economy.
AHRA emphasised the importance of ensuring that new investment is distributed equitably to maximise impact across all communities.
“AHRA will continue to advocate strongly for place‑based approaches to rural, regional and remote research, and Community‑led Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, reflecting their unique needs, challenges and opportunities,” Professor Hodgson said.
AHRA also welcomed Budget measures supporting research translation and implementation, including continued investment in the National One Stop Shop for clinical trial approvals, support for the National Health and Medical Research Council to sustain high-quality research and build capacity, and broader reforms to improve research coordination and innovation.
“These investments matter because they help bridge the gap between research and practice,” Professor Hodgson said. “Supporting translation means ensuring evidence reaches patients faster, health services can implement innovation more effectively, and Australians benefit sooner from advances in healthcare,” Professor Hodgson said.
AHRA also acknowledged Budget measures to strengthen Australia’s broader research and innovation ecosystem, including implementation of recommendations from the Ambitious Australia review and investment in research coordination, science capability and digital health.
“Health and medical research is a national asset. Continued investment in research, translation and implementation will be critical to building a healthier, more resilient Australia and ensuring our health system is equipped to meet future challenges.”
AHRA, and WAHTN, looks forward to working with Government, partners and the wider health and medical research sector to support implementation of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy and to maximise the impact of this investment for Western Australians and all Australians.
Enquiries can be made to Amanda Boshier, National Communications Lead of AHRA.