What are knowledge hubs? contributing to health systems strengthening in the Asia-Pacific region

In 2008, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) funded Strategic Partnerships with selected Australian academic and research institutions, to ‘develop knowledge Hubs around key thematic priorities in health to improve the quality of AusAID’s engagement in health policy and programming in the region, and to enhance the effectiveness of these investments’.

 These Knowledge Hubs will support the delivery of high quality effective development assistance in strengthening health services at the country, regional and global level. The increased expertise, analysis and knowledge generated by the Knowledge Hubs will inform the Australian aid program and health policy dialogue across the region. The broadening and deepening of Australian expertise in health development will support increased participation by Australian experts in global health development fora. Each Hub will use their convening power to work with others to develop a critical mass of expertise and knowledge in Australia in their respective field(s).  Hubs will link people working in the respective areas, strengthen and expand networks, and identify opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration.  They will draw on their own extensive professional and institutional networks with international counterparts and in partner countries. Their collaboration and products will help to influence thinking by country governments and a broad range of development partners.

 The School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales was chosen as the Knowledge Hub for Human Resources for Health (HRH). The other three Health Knowledge Hubs are located at the Nossal Institute for Global Health (University of Melbourne) focusing on health policy and health financing; the School of Public Health, University of Queensland on health information systems and burden of disease and a partnership of the Burnet Institute, Centre for International Child Health (University of Melbourne) and Menzies School of Health Research, to focus on women's and children's health issues.