Collaboration for policy-relevant knowledge synthesis, translation, and research

Dr Alexandra Chung delivered this six-minute presentation at the Public Health Association of Australia’s (PHAA’s) annual prevention conference from 11-13 May 2022. It details how she is working with the Prevention Centre to trial a new methodology for knowledge translation.

The Collaboration for Enhanced Research Impact (CERI) is a joint initiative between the Prevention Centre and seven NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence (CRE). CERI aims to enhance the impact of prevention research and identify new ways to mobilise policy-relevant research.

The aim is to engage research, policy and communications experts working across the First 2000 Days in a knowledge synthesis process to generate collective insights from current CRE and Prevention Centre projects, and consider the implications for research, policy and practice.

With the first 2000 days identified as a priority area, a working group was established with membership from CREs HiPPP (Health in Preconception and Pregnancy), EPOCH (Early Prevention of Childhood Obesity), NCOIS (National Centre of Implementation Science), and the Prevention Centre. Policy and practice partners were invited to the first of two knowledge brokerage meetings to identify policy priorities within the first 2000 days and policy-relevant questions to guide the knowledge synthesis. From this dialogue, the following research questions were developed:

1. What is the evidence to support the case for prevention and early intervention in the first 2000 days?
2. What prevention interventions are effective (and cost effective) to give children the best start in life?
   • For specific stages of the first 2000 days
   • For specific risk factors
   • For priority populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, and people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage.
3. How do we support scale up of effective interventions whilst also meeting the needs of priority population groups?