Event Description

A Department of Health Economics Wellbeing and Society (DHEWS) Policy Seminar presented by Dr Katharine Bassett from the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

Abstract

While Australia’s health system is one of the best in the world, it lags when it comes to prevention of chronic disease, access to timely care, and uptake of new technologies. Additionally, Australia’s health system is currently facing major health workforce shortages, increased demand, rising costs, and the aftermath of COVID-19. In the face of these challenges, academic research can serve as a compass to guide reform efforts toward achieving better health outcomes. The challenge, however, is communicating academic research in a way that decision-makers can easily understand and leverage to make informed decisions. This is where advocacy plays a role – the catalyst that builds public support and political traction to create a platform for reform. This seminar will focus on how academic research can shape Australian health policy, and how advocacy can be used as a driving mechanism. 

Speaker Biography

Dr Katharine Bassett is a respected expert and leader committed to sparking positive change and reforming Australia’s health system. In her role at the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Katharine develops evidence-based and implementable solutions to Australia's biggest health and social policy challenges and uses advocacy to create a platform for system reform. Beyond her role at the AMA, Katharine is undertaking research on the effectiveness of Australia’s health system funding mechanisms, governance, and policy, and is an executive director on several boards. Prior to her role at the AMA, Katharine was a management consultant at KPMG and worked with Commonwealth and state and territory governments across a range of health strategy and policy initiatives, and has a background in clinical immunology.