Development of a joint National Health and Medical Research Council/Medical Research Future Fund Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research – Public Consultation

Overview

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) (responsible for implementation of the Medical Research Future Fund, MRFF) are developing a Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research (the Statement), reflecting a joint commitment to health equity, and acknowledging that every person in Australia has the right to be included in safe, high quality research that informs our health care.

The proposed objective of the Statement is to improve health outcomes by:

• improving knowledge of research gaps related to historical underrepresentation of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation in various research fields and topics,

• improving consideration of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation throughout the design, conduct, analysis, reporting, translation and implementation of all research,

• promoting increased inclusion of cisgender and trans women and men, non-binary people, people with innate variations of sex characteristics and people with diverse sexual orientations in research particularly where they have been historically underrepresented or excluded,

• promoting effective, sensitive and safe involvement of people with lived experience in all stages of research projects,

• encouraging more effective partnerships between consumers, researchers, clinicians, and other research stakeholders.

These practices aim to ensure that health and medical research produces an evidence-base that is relevant to all people in Australia.

The Statement addresses all stages of research, including prioritisation and research question setting, conduct, data collection, analysis, reporting, translation and implementation.

NHMRC and the Department will work with the sector in the implementation of this Statement.

A draft of the Statement is now available and through the below online survey, we are seeking community and stakeholder feedback.

Why your views matter

The purpose of this consultation is to seek community and stakeholder feedback on the draft Statement. We are interested in hearing from all stakeholders, including those from research, industry, consumers, health services and philanthropy. The diverse perspectives, experiences and knowledge of cisgender and trans women and men, non-binary people, people with innate variations of sex characteristics and people with diverse sexual orientations are valued, respected, and will contribute to the final Statement.

What consultation has already taken place?

In March 2023, a workshop was held to better understand the issues the Statement should address. The workshop included voices from a range of researchers, consumers, community representatives and stakeholders with experience and expertise in sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation in health and medical research.

Since then, advice has been sought through targeted consultation with key advocacy groups, and NHMRC and MRFF advisory committees. 

The draft Statement reflects the feedback from consultation processes to date.

What Happens Next?

Your feedback received through the below online survey will help shape the final Statement.  The final Statement is expected to be released in 2024.