Australia’s healthcare system is facing increasing pressure to deliver better outcomes, improve efficiency and ensure equitable access to care.
While investment in research, education and innovation continues to grow, the translation of evidence into everyday practice often remains slow and inconsistent.
‘Missing the opportunity to deliver system change’
“We know what works. Care that is evidence-informed, patient-centred, and delivered by a skilled, connected workforce,” says Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association Limited (AHHA) CEO, Tony Farley.
“Value-based healthcare provides the framework to achieve this by focusing on outcomes that matter to patients and ensuring resources are used efficiently.
“But without the right infrastructure to bring research, education and clinical practice together, we’re missing the opportunity to deliver real system change.”
A new Perspectives Brief from AHHA’s Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research, co-authored by 2025 Deeble Scholar, Simon Radmore, and AHHA’s Executive Director for Knowledge Exchange, Adj A/Prof Rebecca Haddock, explores how ‘health, research and education precincts’ or HREPs could help overcome this gap.
What are HREPs?
HREPs are collaborative, co-located environments where clinicians, researchers, educators and policymakers work together to accelerate innovation, embed learning into care delivery, and improve health outcomes.
According to AHHA, co-location is critical, allowing faster translation of research into practice and the development of integrated, place-based models of care.
“By aligning health, research and education under a shared vision, HREPs can drive a transformative shift in workplace culture,” says Mr Farley.
“They foster environments where staff are empowered to ask questions and innovate with purpose.
“In these environments, ideas flow freely, and innovation is not only encouraged but expected.
“The result is a more skilled, connected and future-ready workforce delivering safer, more efficient value-based care.”
A ‘coordinated approach’ needed
Mr Farley says that a “coordinated approach” is needed to making HREPs a success, as according to the Perspectives Brief, some of the key barriers to HREP development include:
- the absence of a nationally consistent definition,
- fragmented investment, and
- competing governance frameworks.
“Australia has world-class research and clinical expertise, but without a coordinated approach, we risk missing the opportunity to embed value-based health care at scale,” says Mr Farley.
“This Brief provides a clear roadmap for policymakers to support integrated, high-performing health precincts that deliver better care for all Australians.”
