In September 2026, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) leaders visited the Kimberley Hub to see our service delivery and research up close.
On Monday 7 September, Lions Outback Vision hosted Prue Torrance, Acting Chief Executive Officer, NHMRC, and Dr Maria Trainer, Executive Director, Research Quality and Advice, NHMRC, along with representatives from the WA Country Health Service, Curtin Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes and Department of Health. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the healthcare service delivery provided at the Kimberley Hub and the key research projects underway at Lions Outback Vision.
| Following the visit, key Kimberley stakeholders came together for a presentation on NHMRC opportunities for regional, rural and remote place-based medical research, translation and health innovation, in line with the recently released 2026 – 2036 National Health and Medical Research Strategy, and a roundtable discussion on the challenges associated with place-based regional, rural and remote research in Western Australia. |
 Professor Angus Turner, McCusker Director of Lions Outback Vision, leading a tour of the clinic facilities |
Key challenges highlighted during the discussion included
- Ongoing funding for place-based research infrastructure, such as the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Research Alliance (KAHRA).
- Funding opportunities for place-based digital infrastructure needed to store and manage data locally.
- The challenges of conducting meaningful community consultation in remote areas, including the gap in current grant funding models and the extra time and funding needed in a remote context.
Broome roundtable participants
Strengths of the Kimberley region were also highlighted, including the achievements of KAHRA, which is a leader among Western Australian regions in supporting and facilitating research, despite the lack of government funding, and the positive relationships between Kimberley-based organisations which facilitate collaborative research.
We look forward to seeing how these conversations influence NHMRC implementation of their strategic direction.
Learn more about our ongoing research projects.
