Community preferences for organ donation and allocation in Australia. This work will provide vital information on the Australian public's attitudes and preferences towards organ donation and allocation strategies, and inform the development of a national organ donation strategy that considers the public's preferences for different policies to increase organ donor rates. This project will directly address the National Research Priority of 'promoting and maintaining good health'; increasing the a ....Community preferences for organ donation and allocation in Australia. This work will provide vital information on the Australian public's attitudes and preferences towards organ donation and allocation strategies, and inform the development of a national organ donation strategy that considers the public's preferences for different policies to increase organ donor rates. This project will directly address the National Research Priority of 'promoting and maintaining good health'; increasing the availability of donor organs, and improving the equity and transparency of organ allocation in Australia will lead to improved health outcomes for patients on transplant waiting lists around Australia, and improved health outcomes for patients not previously eligible for transplant (e.g. some dialysis patients)Read moreRead less
The burden of epilepsy study: Impact on well-being, service use and economic outcomes. This research into the humanitarian needs of people with epilepsy is a necessary extension to the current bulk of knowledge about epilepsy which is diagnostic, clinical and pharmacological. Its focus is on well-being, service use and economic burden this study is expected to give a good return on investment. To ensure an uptake of its findings, the study was developed with the national Epilepsy Action, Epilep ....The burden of epilepsy study: Impact on well-being, service use and economic outcomes. This research into the humanitarian needs of people with epilepsy is a necessary extension to the current bulk of knowledge about epilepsy which is diagnostic, clinical and pharmacological. Its focus is on well-being, service use and economic burden this study is expected to give a good return on investment. To ensure an uptake of its findings, the study was developed with the national Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Society of Australia as well as addressing questions deemed important by the World Health Organization, the International League against Epilepsy, and the International Bureau of Epilepsy. Findings will inform epilepsy guidelines, policy recommendations and programs to reduce the burden of illness.Read moreRead less
Impact of Mosquito Control Strategies: Cost Benefit Analysis. Arbovirus diseases are increasing in Queensland (and in Australia). In Queensland, Local Government is responsible for mosquito control. Even though mosquito control programs have existed in Queensland for several decades, no one has assessed their impact on the incidence of disease or on mosquitoes nor have the benefits and costs of control been measured. We propose to investigate this via a PhD scholarship which will survey local go ....Impact of Mosquito Control Strategies: Cost Benefit Analysis. Arbovirus diseases are increasing in Queensland (and in Australia). In Queensland, Local Government is responsible for mosquito control. Even though mosquito control programs have existed in Queensland for several decades, no one has assessed their impact on the incidence of disease or on mosquitoes nor have the benefits and costs of control been measured. We propose to investigate this via a PhD scholarship which will survey local government in Queensland, assess the costs and benefits of mosquito control and analyse differences in their distribution in time and space, with a view to explaining the differences and ultimately informing management.Read moreRead less
Incentives and performance in the health care system. Changes in financial incentives for health care providers will have direct effects on their behaviour, which in turn influences patients' health outcomes, quality of care, and access to health care for the population. The research will provide a richer understanding of the effects of incentives, and will influence policy on the design of incentives for health care providers in Australia. Changes in incentives will ensure patients receive mo ....Incentives and performance in the health care system. Changes in financial incentives for health care providers will have direct effects on their behaviour, which in turn influences patients' health outcomes, quality of care, and access to health care for the population. The research will provide a richer understanding of the effects of incentives, and will influence policy on the design of incentives for health care providers in Australia. Changes in incentives will ensure patients receive more appropriate, higher quality, and less costly health care, in the most appropriate settings, and delivered by the most appropriate health care providers. This will have direct effects on population health and well-being and the capacity of individuals to lead healthy and productive lives.Read moreRead less
Modelling the Quality of Hospital Care in Australia. It is estimated that substandard quality of hospital care causes around 4,500 deaths and 12,500 cases of permanent disability per year. Results from the study will support the implementation of quality control programs to help prevent unnecessary harm to patients, improve the quality of hospital care, and more generally, promote the objectives of the Australian health care system. The envisaged outcomes advance national research priorities by ....Modelling the Quality of Hospital Care in Australia. It is estimated that substandard quality of hospital care causes around 4,500 deaths and 12,500 cases of permanent disability per year. Results from the study will support the implementation of quality control programs to help prevent unnecessary harm to patients, improve the quality of hospital care, and more generally, promote the objectives of the Australian health care system. The envisaged outcomes advance national research priorities by improving health care provided to children and the elderly. The Fellowship will help alleviate the shortage of health economists in Australia by improving my own skills and supporting me to train junior staff.Read moreRead less
Community-Led Sanitation Interventions :The Role of Social Capital. The economic and social wellbeing of its neighbours is important for Australia. This interest is often expressed through financial aid and the sharing of expertise. This research aims to enhance the effectiveness of financial aid by investigating the extent to which social capital is important in determining the success of a community-led development project. Thus, this research contributes to a body of knowledge that informs d ....Community-Led Sanitation Interventions :The Role of Social Capital. The economic and social wellbeing of its neighbours is important for Australia. This interest is often expressed through financial aid and the sharing of expertise. This research aims to enhance the effectiveness of financial aid by investigating the extent to which social capital is important in determining the success of a community-led development project. Thus, this research contributes to a body of knowledge that informs development policy, leading to more effective use of aid funds and to a more prosperous and safe region.
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Valuing Life and Time in the Knowledge Economy. This project will help increase the international profile of Australia scholarship in a burgeoning research area of increasing importance: valuation of life, time and health with particular emphasis on the effects of aging and the accumulation of knowledge. It will generate new insights and important welfare and policy implications, which are especially of interest to a knowledge economy like Australia, in which the demographic profile is experienc ....Valuing Life and Time in the Knowledge Economy. This project will help increase the international profile of Australia scholarship in a burgeoning research area of increasing importance: valuation of life, time and health with particular emphasis on the effects of aging and the accumulation of knowledge. It will generate new insights and important welfare and policy implications, which are especially of interest to a knowledge economy like Australia, in which the demographic profile is experiencing a fundamental shift toward unprecedentedly high percentage of the aged population. Read moreRead less
Living Standards, HIV/AIDS and its Impact on the Next Generation. The spread of HIV /AIDS is a major international challenge, particularly for developing countries. Its direct impact is mostly among working-age adults, leading to significant loss of labour income and capacity to care for children. Australia has made a sizeable aid commitment in this area and to addressing poverty and nutritional deprivation more generally. Through improved understanding of the interrelationships between wealt ....Living Standards, HIV/AIDS and its Impact on the Next Generation. The spread of HIV /AIDS is a major international challenge, particularly for developing countries. Its direct impact is mostly among working-age adults, leading to significant loss of labour income and capacity to care for children. Australia has made a sizeable aid commitment in this area and to addressing poverty and nutritional deprivation more generally. Through improved understanding of the interrelationships between wealth, HIV / AIDS and its impact on children, the project will provide valuable insight to guide Australia's aid efforts, as well as contributing to global efforts to understand the epidemic and its potential effects on the next generation.Read moreRead less
Effects of Private Health Insurance on Health Care Usage and Health Outcomes in Australia. Australians spend more than $7 billion each year on private health insurance (PHI), of which government subsidies amount to more than $2 billion. There is, however, little understanding of how PHI affects health care usage and health outcomes. Having PHI is likely to result in better health for the insured, but more health resources are also likely to be used. Moreover, the health of the uninsured could b ....Effects of Private Health Insurance on Health Care Usage and Health Outcomes in Australia. Australians spend more than $7 billion each year on private health insurance (PHI), of which government subsidies amount to more than $2 billion. There is, however, little understanding of how PHI affects health care usage and health outcomes. Having PHI is likely to result in better health for the insured, but more health resources are also likely to be used. Moreover, the health of the uninsured could be adversely affected if health resources available to the public hospital sector are reduced. This research will inform health policymaking on the effects of subsidising PHI on health care usage and health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Behavioural Econ & Field Experiments to Improve Plasma & Bone Marrow Supply. Plasma and bone marrow save and improve the quality of many lives. Yet Australia's domestic volunteer supply fails to meet Australia's needs even when supplemented by costly imports. This project involves a series of field experiments, based on behavioural economic theories, designed to understand charitable behaviour and how to motivate and increase plasma and bone marrow supply. The project aims to test the value of m ....Behavioural Econ & Field Experiments to Improve Plasma & Bone Marrow Supply. Plasma and bone marrow save and improve the quality of many lives. Yet Australia's domestic volunteer supply fails to meet Australia's needs even when supplemented by costly imports. This project involves a series of field experiments, based on behavioural economic theories, designed to understand charitable behaviour and how to motivate and increase plasma and bone marrow supply. The project aims to test the value of motivational factors, including commitment devices, reciprocity and altruism, to increasing donations. The project aims to advance scientific knowledge of people's motivation to perform substantial altruistic actions (in terms of both time and pain), to provide effective methods to increase donations that save lives and to improve national health.Read moreRead less