Linking to policy
Informing policy through the 45 and Up Study
The 45 and Up Study promotes use of the Study resource to produce timely
policy-relevant research results that can be readily used by policy-makers to inform and influence health policy decisions. The Study encourages:
- more research focused on the issues of concern to policy-makers
- improved access to research findings
- more exchange and discussion between policy-makers and researchers
Policy makers have been involved with the Study since its inception, both as founding collaborators and study partners. As data become available, a range of strategies have been developed to ensure that policy makers know about and use the resource including:
- presentations about the Study and its opportunities at NSW Health, the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, and many other policy agencies
- development of a model whereby policy agencies fund a dedicated analyst to undertake policy-relevant analyses of Study data on behalf of their agency
- establishment of the MBF Foundation Policy in Action Roundtable, to bring together policy makers interested in policy relevant research using the Study, and to generate ideas and opportunities for new policy-relevant research using the Study
- establishment of research partnerships that included policy makers in studies using the 45 and Up Study data