Education & Training Program
A cultural shift towards a new business as usual, where research acceleration is embedded in all research activities across the sector, is key in delivering impact to both the Australian and global health care sector, to our community, and to the Australian economy. To achieve this vision, an education, training and capacity building program is a critical pillar of the ASHRA sustainability plan.
We have developed a bespoke program that maximises intellectual exchange, sharing expertise and enhancing capacity across the entire network; leveraging the experience and expertise already in place in broader programs within each partner organisation.
We recognise that translation is multi-dimensional, spanning commercial, clinical, policy and public health. Our training program includes emphasis on elements that are common to all types of translation, including efficient project planning, stakeholder engagement, market validation, partnering, communication, cultural awareness and considering the needs of First Nations People, and an entrepreneurship mindset.
Program
The primary goal of the ASHRA Education and Training Program was to instil a sense of entrepreneurship and translation into research projects from the beginning. The program includes a series of workshops, particularly targeting early mid-career researchers (EMCRs), and a Seminar series with a real focus on the challenges of commercialization and translation.
Workshops
The ASHRA Translation and Commercialisation workshops are tailored to the needs of EMCRs from across the ASHRA network; focussed on building skillls in entrepreneurship and translation. Four workshops are held per annum, with one having a specific First Nations focus. Workshops are co-hosted with key parnters and to-date have involved collaborations with Genovate, Medtech Actuator, MDPP, AndHealth and AusHSI and covered a range of topics and applications for digital, device and therapeutic modalities. We are building a strong network of EMCRs with over 80 EMCRs having attended these Workshops.
Seminar Series
The ASHRA seminar series focuses on commercialisation and translation of research with presentations providing illustrative examples of how ASHRA can support these goals. Seminars are held monthly and have included presenters from ASHRA funded projects showcasing their researcher and industry stakeholders with expertise and experience in commercialisation and the processes required to bring a product to market with successful implementation. The audience for the seminars has a broad range of interests but is collectively interested in the seminar series because of links with ASHRA and interests in translation and commercialisation of research findings.