The Albanese Labor Government is ensuring better health outcomes by giving all Australians the opportunity to be involved in safe health and medical research.
Public consultation is now open on the draft Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research.
Health and medical research projects provide critical data to improve our understanding of health gaps and solutions. Research that is inclusive of the diversity of our society leads to safer and more appropriate healthcare and improved outcomes for all.
The Statement is reflective of the Albanese Labor Government's commitment to consulting communities on the issues that affect them. We know that the best way to design research and achieve better health outcomes for groups with unmet needs is to engage with these groups and work in partnership to understand priorities.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Health and Aged Care, responsible for the implementation of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), have released the draft statement after extensive consultation.
The Government encourages all stakeholders, including researchers, industry, consumers, people with lived experience, health services and philanthropy to provide comment.
Public consultation opened on November 6 for six weeks. The draft statement is available at https://consultations.health.gov.au/health-economics-and-research-division/nhmrc-mrff-draft-statement/
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care,
Ged Kearney:
"We all have the right to be included in safe, high-quality health and medical research. This Statement is reflective of Labor's commitment to women's and LGBTIQA+ health.
"I know from experience that better partnerships between consumers, researchers, clinicians, and other research stakeholders leads to better health outcomes for more people.
"For too long women and LGBTIQA+ Australians have been underrepresented in health and medical research and have all too often had their experiences ignored. Our Government is committed to a stronger, more inclusive health and medical research industry".
Quote attributable to Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman:
"Perth welcomes Assistant Minister Kearney's Pridefest 2023 launch of the public consultation on the draft Statement. By ensuring our research practices are inclusive, we can deliver better health outcomes for all Australians".
Quote attributable to Barry Cosker, Chairperson, Living Proud:
"We know that there are significant health disparities between the LGBTIQA+ community and the general population. We need more research and accurate data that will help us understand and better respond to these issues in the LGBTIQA+ community. We welcome this statement from the Assistant Minister today and encourage members of the community to provide comment".
