New research grants will see the ACI partner with the University of Sydney and the National Centre for Farmer Health to improve intensive care efficiency and outcomes, continue an important rural health program and implement a shared decision making model for Aboriginal health.
These new projects represent key objectives of the newly published NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025-2030. They also align with our own Strategy, and will help to extend our impact within the system, achieve sustainable change and improve access to evidence-based healthcare.
“Research collaboration is crucial for fostering innovation by leveraging the strengths of different institutions and sectors. It allows for the more efficient use of resources, accelerates the translation of research into practical applications, and enables the development of solutions to complex challenges,” says Henry Ko, Research Manager.
Addressing low value care in intensive care
In collaboration with the University of Sydney’s School of Health Sciences and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, the ACI Intensive Care NSW team will assess ways of reducing potentially unwarranted diagnostic testing in intensive care units (ICUs), as part of a $2.7m Medical Research Future Fund Clinical Trials Activity grant.
Up to one in three blood tests and imaging requests in Australian ICUs are potentially unnecessary. These routine diagnostic tests, often ordered on a fixed schedule rather than in response to clinical need, can lead to patient harm, and increased costs and use of clinician time.
“Over the next three to four years, this initiative will focus on delivering sustainable change in the way we care for ICU patients, with an emphasis on reducing low-value practices, particularly blood tests and x-rays," explains Linda Williams, ACI Intensive Care NSW Network Manager. "Targeting common yet often overused interventions offers a meaningful opportunity to improve patient outcomes while preserving resources.”
Other partners in the project include NSW Health Pathology, eHealth NSW, NSW Health, NSW Department of Customer Service, Clinical Excellence Commission, and NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres Sydney Health Partners, Maridulu Budyari Gumal Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) and NSW Regional Health Partners.
We know that sometimes performing routine diagnostic tests rather than those matched to clinical needs can contribute to hospital acquired anaemia and unnecessary follow-up interventions or tests that do not alter clinical outcomes. We hope this research project contributes to improving patient safety, reducing health system waste and supporting sustainable health care delivery.
Expanding the AgriSafe program for people working in agriculture
The National Centre for Farmer Health has also been awarded a Medical Research Futures Fund Clinical Trials Activity grant to support the redevelopment and expansion of the AgriSafeTM program.
AgriSafe is a vital health, wellbeing and safety initiative tailored to the needs of people working in agriculture. The grant facilitates the clinical research needed to ensure it remains evidence-based, effective and future-ready.
The ACI Rural Health Network will partner with the centre to deliver the five-year project, alongside Western District Health Service, the Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health, Darling Downs Health Service, West Moreton Health Service, Deakin University and Central Queensland University.
“The Rural Health Network welcomes the opportunity to support the scalability assessment of AgriSafe in NSW as part of this collaborative research. Supporting the health and wellbeing of our rural communities is a priority, and AgriSafe offers a valuable, evidence-based tool to help address the unique pressures faced by people working on the land,” says Shellie Burgess, ACI Rural Health Network Manager.
Research activities will include co-design with farmers, clinical data collection and ongoing impact evaluation across diverse agricultural settings, while delivery partners will bring the revitalised program to new regions, ensuring it is accessible, sustainable and community-driven.
Shared decision making in Aboriginal health
In another partnership with the University of Sydney, the ACI has secured a $345,000 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant to implement Finding Your Way – one of the first shared decision-making models designed with and for Aboriginal people. The funding is a major step forward in embedding culturally safe shared decision-making in healthcare.
It will help us drive sustained, system-wide sustained implementation of the model; strengthen community partnerships; explore how implementation science frameworks can be culturally adapted with Aboriginal communities.
"The project addresses priorities in the NSW Aboriginal Health Plan 2024–2034 and will enhance culturally safe healthcare for Aboriginal people. We’re focused on testing and strengthening the model's cultural safety and co-designing an implementation framework with community,” explains David Follent, Senior Project Officer in the ACI Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing team, and a key member of the cross-organisational team behind Finding Your Way alongside Tara Dimopoulos-Bick, Lead Design, Capability and Experiential Evidence, and Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Network Manager Melissa Cawley.