Taking hold of the opportunities derived from research excellence and innovation will help us to build a resilient, efficient, and informed health system that supports the future health and wellbeing of all South Australians.

Research excellence and innovation will also play a vital role in our ability to proactively respond to emerging global challenges including climate change and natural disasters, increasing burden of disease, involuntary migration, cybercrime and security breaches, employment and skills shortages, our ageing population and much more.

Rapid advancements in science and technology, informed by research and data, will see monumental changes to the ways in which we deliver health care, a phenomenon we are already witnessing and harnessing here in South Australia through our university sector and innovation districts.

South Australia has a proud history of delivering life-changing health and medical research. Although we are a small state, we have a vibrant research and innovation sector. Our ecosystem is comprised of many passionate and talented researchers, institutes and organisations dedicated to supporting research and innovation excellence.

South Australia’s size and the organisation of our public health system, research and innovation districts and academic institutions, provides us with the ability to be a leader in contemporary patient centred service delivery that focusses on:

• Health prevention and promotion, early intervention, education, and research to maintain healthy lifestyles and an improved quality of life
• Providing care that supports the community to be active participants in determining how their health care is delivered, including more opportunities for care in the community and at home
• Culturally appropriate care and service design to meet the needs of our socially and demographically diverse and geographically dispersed population
• Research excellence and translation to support high quality, appropriate and timely care that meets the changing needs and expectations of our community
• A continuously learning and curious workforce with pathways for innovation to be embedded into everyday practice to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience
• Integrated systems and services that promote equity and equality in access and sustainability

We are building upon our solid foundations to cultivate an innovative learning culture and leveraging our existing strengths, such as our state-wide data assets, to drive improvements in care and system efficiencies. By doing this we will continue to improve the effectiveness, quality and safety of our care and treatment, and the overall agility of our health system to deliver the best care for South Australians now, and into the future.