Knowledge brokerage and research utilisation: a discussion document prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Abstract

In mid 2009 the Australian Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) funded the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) to undertake a project on Knowledge Brokerage (KB). The aim of the project was to develop a model through which APHCRI, DoHA and other key stakeholders could work together over the next iteration of APHCRI’s contract for translating research evidence into Australian primary health care systems and services. The KB model would support the Commonwealth’s health reform agenda through facilitating the dissemination of research findings to policy makers and enabling policy makers to pose research questions addressing their need for evidence to support policy development. The KB project undertaken by APHCRI has three components;  A comprehensive literature review  A workshop of key stakeholders to identify different models of KB, work towards identifying the key components of successful models and to devise a framework to support effective knowledge translation  A review of the processes used by APHCRI to fund research and the effectiveness of the synthesis and transfer of knowledge generated by APHCRI-funded research to date. This document reports on the outcomes of these three components and offers recommendations for future action.