ABOUT US
Health ANSWERS (Health in ACT and NSW Education, Research and Service) is a collaborative partnership dedicated to transforming healthcare across Southern NSW and the ACT. Established in 2018 and headquartered in Bega, NSW, we unite healthcare providers, universities, government agencies, and consumer organisations to provide equitable, high-quality, and culturally appropriate care.
Serving a diverse population of 1.25 million people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, we aim to address systemic challenges in regional healthcare delivery while advancing national health priorities. Our work spans primary care, hospital services, ambulance networks, and community health initiatives. By embedding translational research into routine operations and fostering cross-border and cross-service collaborations, Health ANSWERS drives innovation in service delivery, workforce development, and health equity.
OUR STORY
Health ANSWERS was founded to tackle persistent health disparities in regional Australia. Since its inception in 2018, the partnership has matured to include 12 organisations across healthcare, academia, and community sectors. The devastating bushfires of 2019 – 2020 were a defining moment for our collaboration. We responded with urgency, conducting rapid needs assessments for affected communities and pioneering research on environmental impacts on mental health. This crisis highlighted the power of coordinated action and strengthened our resolve to innovate.
Over the years, Health ANSWERS has led transformative initiatives. Examples include the Mother and Child 2020 Cohort Study — a groundbreaking, longitudinal cohort study designed to investigate the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies in the aftermath of the 2019 — 2020 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. This world-first initiative, conducted across the Health ANSWERS region, involved over a thousand mother-and-baby pairs, focusing on women who were pregnant, gave birth, or conceived during these crises. The study was developed directly in response to community requests for research into the long-term impacts of these unprecedented events.
Today, we continue to lead efforts in healthcare innovation and research integration. Guided by principles of equity, collaboration, and sustainability, Health ANSWERS is dedicated to improving health outcomes for Southern NSW and the ACT while setting benchmarks for scalable solutions across Australia.
OUR REGION
The Health ANSWERS region spans Southern NSW and the ACT — a geographically diverse area home to over 1.25 million people across urban centres, rural towns, and remote communities. This population includes a higher-than-average proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (4.8%), as well as Australia's largest regional population of resettled refugees. The region faces unique health challenges: higher prevalence rates of chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and mental health issues compared to national averages.
Environmental crises such as the 2019–2020 bushfires have left lasting impacts on physical and mental health across communities. Social determinants, including economic disadvantage and limited access to healthcare, further exacerbate these disparities. Additionally, cross-border complexities between NSW and ACT create barriers to seamless care delivery. Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions tailored to local needs — solutions that Health ANSWERS is committed to delivering through collaborative research, service improvement initiatives, and community-driven approaches.