$9.6million for research centre to improve injured people health outcomes

SIRA and icare today granted $9.6 million over five years to the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research (JWCRR) to help improve the lives of people living with injury related disability.

For 20 years the NSW compensation agencies have partnered with the JWCRR and the renewed agreement will fund core senior academic positions within the centre to undertake their widely recognised work in rehabilitation research, knowledge translation and evaluation.

Adam Dent, SIRA Chief Executive, said the grants will build on SIRA’s ongoing investment into research to support the health and recovery outcomes for injured people in NSW.

“The outcomes of this research directly benefit injured people in both SIRA’s personal injury schemes by providing evidence-based advice, informing policy and legislative changes.

“We are delighted to continue this successful partnership to make personal injury schemes in NSW sustainable and improve the outcomes of people who make claims.”

Previous grants to the JWCRR have delivered significant impacts across the NSW personal injury including legislation change (particularly CTP reform), guideline development and revision, improved support for claimants, and development of tools to support cost recovery and reductions in premiums.

Professor Ian Cameron, Head of the JWCRR, said he is looking forward to working with SIRA and icare over the coming years to build on the success that has already been achieved.

“This partnership centres on a shared desire to facilitate evidence-informed treatment and recovery and the funds from SIRA and icare ensures my team can continue to build on our successful body of work to support stakeholders across the NSW personal injury sector,” Mr Cameron said.

icare CEO and Managing Director, Richard Harding, said the research was invaluable in supporting people with injuries with the Centre building a knowledge repository that is now used in over 140 countries.

“Getting the right care and support for injured people is paramount and this investment will continue to ensure NSW stays at the forefront on treatments and recovery pathways for severely injured people,” Mr Harding said.

About the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research

The JWCRR is a named Centre of the University of Sydney and a research group within the Northern Sydney Local Health District Kolling Institute. It is an interdisciplinary centre with a strategic intent to:

• Generate new knowledge to improve health outcomes of people with injury related disability
• Promote links with the research community, partner organisations, patient advocacy groups and non-governmental organisations to ensure effective transfer of research outcomes into health policy
• Improve clinical care for people with injury-related disability and translate research outcomes into clinical practice

The centre is named after new icare board member and Chair of the Dust Diseases Board, John Walsh. Note beyond this tribute, he has no pecuniary or other interest in the Centre.