OUR ROLE

We work as connectors

CAAHSN enables and supports collaborative research that addresses the most pressing health and social priorities in the region. We connect organisations, support partnerships and create the conditions for research to translate into real-world change.

By bringing together Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, health services, researchers and partners, we help ensure that knowledge is shared, capability is strengthened and evidence informs decision-making across Central Australia and the Barkly.

How we contribute

Our work spans translational research, strengthening research capability within Aboriginal health services, supporting researcher development and leadership, building collaborative networks and translating evidence into policy and practice.

This work is supported by strong governance, accreditation, grants management and the infrastructure needed to support high-quality research across the region.

CREATING IMPACT

CAAHSN supports research priorities identified by communities and members, with a strong focus on increasing Aboriginal leadership in research. We build capability within organisations, support partnerships across the system and generate evidence that informs investment, policy and service delivery.

2017

Recognition

The Central Australia Academic Health Science Centre was recognised as a Centre for Innovation in Regional Health (CIRH) by Australia’s peak funding body for medical research, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

At the same time, the Centre was awarded $222,000 in seed funding from the Medical Research Future Fund’s Rapid Applied Research Translation program. This funding contributed to funding the establishment of CA AHSN as well as small projects led by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.

2017

2018

Becoming CAAHSN

The Centre formally changed its name to Researcherenye Wappayalawangka-Central Australia Academic Health Science Network (CA AHSN), a name which reflects our place in central Australia and better describes our operational structure as a network.

Also in 2018 the Turnbull government announced that the network would receive $6 million funding over three years (2018-2021) from the Medical Research Future Fund under the Rapid Acceleration Research Translation (RART) scheme, to support research and translation activities to promote better treatment and diagnosis of health challenges experienced by Indigenous Australians.

In May, following planning and application processes, the Governing Council of CAAHSN accepted 11 project proposals to be funded through MRFF funds. In late 2018 the first tranche of funding ($2M) was approved by the MRFF to part-fund these projects.

2018

2019

Growing the Network

In early 2019, three new members were welcomed into the Network: Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, Tangentyere Council and Western Desert Dialysis (Purple House).

A second round of 9 funding proposals, led by community partners and committing a further $4M of funding, was accepted by the Network’s Governing Council in April 2019.

2019

2024

Charitible Registration

In 2024, CAAHSN became a registered Health Promotion Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).