Significant new funding for a new era at HTSA

Health Translation SA’s new Executive Director Tom Symonds has been welcomed to the role with the announcement of a $1m grant through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Supporting Research Translation Centres fund.

Tom takes over from Wendy Keech, whose seven-year leadership positioned the organisation as vital part of the state’s health and medical research translation landscape with increasing capabilities and successes across a range of critical projects and training activities.

Wendy remains within the SAHMRI community, taking on a part-time role with the institute’s Aboriginal Health Equity Theme.

Tom brings a wealth of valuable work experience, networks and skills to his new role. He is currently the Chair and Board Director of the Adelaide Primary Health Network and national charity, the Cure4CF Health Foundation. He is also a Board Director and Council Member of the Australian Medical Council.

He has experience in leadership roles at Southern Adelaide Health Services (now SALHN), Flinders University and in the SA Government’s Department of the Premier and Cabinet at the Lot Fourteen Innovation District. Additionally, he has successfully led multi-partner initiatives that align closely with the work and mission of HTSA. Tom is known as a natural collaborator with a proven ability to bring people together, build trust, and foster impactful partnerships.

The $1m NHMRC funding will amplify HTSA’s critical role in strengthening collaborations to address pressing health challenges across the state, enabling even greater impact.

Following consultation with senior health system leaders across South Australia, mental health was identified as a key priority area for our community. This grant will enable HTSA to accelerate research translation efforts in this area by supporting a demonstration project, led by SA Health, that will integrate mental health peer support workers alongside clinicians within at least one SA Health clinical service.

In parallel, HTSA will develop a scalable and enduring statewide model to guide this, and future research translation initiatives, ensuring that evidence-informed improvements in care are implemented effectively across SA.

SAHMRI is a major partner in HTSA, which is based within the research institute’s iconic ‘Cheesegrater’ headquarters at the heart of Adelaide’s biomed precinct. There are 10 other partners in the translation centre, which brings together researchers, clinicians, consumers and policymakers to tackle important health issues across our state. HTSA simplifies processes to maximise the impact of critical research while empowering individuals to grow their skills to create meaningful change in healthcare and patient outcomes.