Invitation
On behalf of the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand, it is my pleasure to invite you to the 2009 Health Services and Policy Research Conference. This is the Conference of the Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ). The Association is working for better recognition of health services research and health systems research in both countries
This is our sixth Conference – the first was held in Sydney in 1999 and much has happened in the years between. The first Conference came about to provide a forum for researchers who wanted to meet as health services researchers and to promote the dialogue between research and policy. The Association was established following that first Conference, and the Conferences have been continued and are held every two years. But wait, there’s more! HSRAANZ is providing more activities to support its members – through early career workshops, special seminars, and its corporate member forums. The Executive is also working behind the scenes to promote health services research to research funding agencies and to policymakers. Now that HSRAANZ is sufficiently established, it has been able to employ a part-time Executive Officer and thus engage in a wider range of activities. As the focus on health services research and policy grows on both sides of the Tasman, there is no better time to join if you are not already a member. Join Now
The Theme
This Conference continues the spirit of past Conferences. It is where we come together to share, to discuss and to debate, and through such exchange to improve the quality of research, and increase its policy relevance and impact. This year’s theme is ‘Health Services Research – Reforming, Responding, Rewarding’. In Australia, the Health and Hospitals Reform Commission is considering options for restructuring the Australian Health System. And in New Zealand, while there is a sense of reform fatigue, many incremental changes and innovations in health services are continually being introduced. How can health service researchers respond to these current needs for health care and health system reform? Rewarding good performance necessitates performance measurement and monitoring. What is being done in Australia and New Zealand? And what can we learn from other countries?
We look forward to seeing you in Brisbane in November.
Jane Hall
Conference Convenor
