Through the Health Services Research Grants scheme, the HCF Research Foundation aims to support projects with significant potential to deliver better health outcomes and affordable access to high-quality health care when and where it’s needed.

Head of the HCF Research Foundation, Dr Christopher Pettigrew, said the HCF Research Foundation has invested more than $31 million in research across 59 universities, research institutes and hospitals over the past 24 years, making a significant contribution to enhancing healthcare delivery for HCF members and all Australians.

“We’re very proud of the support we’ve provided researchers, helping to make healthcare more responsive, affordable, and of high quality, and look forward to the innovative ideas the research community will contribute this year,” Chris said.

Expressions of interest are invited for projects that specifically address the following topics:

• Enhancing healthcare delivery: Proposals focusing on developing and evaluating innovative care models that optimise the capabilities of existing healthcare staff to improve patient outcomes and experiences.
• Tackling bias in healthcare: Projects aimed at identifying and rectifying biases in healthcare provision, whether based on race, culture, gender or other factors, with a view to ensuring fair and equitable patient care.
• Exploring alternatives to hospital care: Initiatives centred around the development and sustainability of viable alternatives to traditional hospital-based care that complement existing healthcare systems.

“We’re looking for projects that not only demonstrate innovation but also practicality and scalability, with the ability to translate research findings into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery,” said Chris.

The HCF Research Foundation’s Health Services Research Grants 2024 program will commence funding successful research projects from 1 January 2025.

Expressions of interest close at 5pm on Monday 6 May 2024 (AEST).

Media enquiries to:

Joni Thomes 0475 576 738 or jthomes@hcf.com.au

ABOUT THE HCF RESEARCH FOUNDATION

The HCF Research Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for HCF members and all Australians by providing funding and support to encourage health services research for the benefit of all. Now in its 24^th year, the HCF Research Foundation (the Foundation) is uniquely focused on supporting health services research, an area of research that does not receive significant fundings from other sources. The Foundation’s program aims to address issues of scale and significance in healthcare and to make a tangible impact in the delivery of health services for our members and all Australians. To learn more about the Foundation go to hcf.com.au/about-us/hcf-foundation

ABOUT HCF

HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund protecting Australians since 1932, covers almost 2 million members with health and life insurance, and travel and pet insurance. HCF has been awarded Outstanding Value Health Insurance by Canstar eight years in a row from 2016-2023. 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