The Melbourne Institute - ARC and NHMRC-funded Research Projects

Administering Institution: The University of Melbourne

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Grants

ARC Future Fellowship

ARC Discovery Projects

ARC Linkage Projects

Assessing and explaining hospital performance

NHMRC Partnerships Project 567217 (2009 for funding commencing 2010)
The performance of hospitals is an important issue for Australia. Increasingly, hospital performance is being managed using a number of policies, including casemix funding, pay for performance, and performance management frameworks linked to funding and other incentives. The aim of this research partnership is to improve the generation and use of knowledge to measure, understand and improve hospital performance in Australia.

Prof A Scott

Collaborating organisation: Department of Human Services, Victoria

2010: $150,000
2011: $150,000
2012: $150,000
2013: $150,000
2014: $150,000
Primary RFCD: 321268 - Health Economics

Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL). The Australian Longitudinal Survey of Doctors

NHMRC Health Services Research Program FT0991296 (2006 for funding commencing 2007)
The aim of this research is to understand the dynamics of the medical labour market in Australia through the conduct of a national longitudinal survey of the medical workforce. The objectives are:

i) To understand the determinants of changes and trends in key measures of labour supply of doctors and their distribution.

ii) To understand the impact of changes in labour supply on the clinical and non-clinical activities performed by doctors.

iii) To use a microsimulation model to evaluate and predict the effect of policy and demographic change on doctors’ labour supply.

iv) To build long-term health services research capacity around the longitudinal survey.

v) To directly inform policy and practice in the health workforce area.

Prof A Scott

RFCD: 321202 - Epidemiology (PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES)

Project website: https://mabel.org.au/

2007: $145,261
2008: $503,726
2009: $492,750
2010: $495.847
2011: $495,846

Approved Incentives and performance in the health care system

ARC Future Fellowship FT0991296 (2008 for funding commencing 2009)
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.

Prof A Scott

2009 : $90,078
2010 : $180,157
2011 : $180,157
2012 : $178,507
2013 : $88,428
Primary RFCD: 3402 -APPLIED ECONOMICS

Assessing and Enhancing the Quality of Longitudinal Survey Data

ARC Discovery Project DP1095497 (2009 for funding commencing 2010)   

Australia has begun investing heavily in the collection of population‑wide longitudinal survey data. Most of that effort has focused first on collection and dissemination and second on analysis, with scant attention paid to the quality of data collected. This is unfortunate given that longitudinal surveys exhibit many problems (e.g., attrition, panel conditioning, and seam effects) that are not relevant in more ubiquitous cross‑section of surveys. Without adequate resources devoted to these methodological issues, the quality of substantive research will be questioned and interest from potential users decline. Maximizing the investment being made in longitudinal data thus requires a complementary investment in methodological research.

Prof MP Wooden; Prof P Lynn; Dr JR Frick
2010: $115,000
2011: $115,000
2012: $115,000

Primary RFCD: 3705 - DEMOGRAPHY

Effects on Labour Supply, Savings and Welfare of the July 2007 Policy Changes to Superannuation and the Age Pension

ARC Discovery Project DP0986345 (2008 for funding commencing 2009)

This proposal's central question falls within the priority goal of 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric'. Understanding the effects of alternative superannuation tax arrangements is crucial in view of concerns regarding aggregate private savings and labour force participation in an ageing economy. Low savings or participation could have implications for sustained economic growth. This project's outcomes will provide an indication of the potential effects of policies on labour supply and savings. After further modifications, the model developed in this project can also address other questions in the context of life‑cycle decisions under uncertainty, such as labour supply, fertility or health.

A/Prof GR Kalb; Prof J Creedy; Dr L Cai; Dr J van de Ven
2009: $90,000
2010: $40,000
Primary RFCD: 3402 - APPLIED ECONOMICS

International Comparisons of Retirement Decisions and Well‑being of Mature Age Populations: Applied Micro-economic Analyses

ARC Discovery Project DP0987972 (2008 for funding commencing 2009)

Australia needs a pension reform to promote longer working lives of mature people in a health‑ and productivity-enhancing way, that is also financially sustainable. This study uses cutting‑edge methodology and data to analyse decisions surrounding how mature people disengage from employment towards their eventual permanent retirement, and how these decisions relate to their health and well‑being. It compares and contrasts Australia with the UK, Germany and the US to derive lessons for developing evidence-based pension reform. International comparative research enables the identification of important policy, institutional and/or cultural differences and lessons that may well be missed by single country studies.

Prof K Mavromaras; Prof JW Freebairn; A/Prof BW Headey; Dr Y Tseng; A/Prof K Bender; Prof I Theodossiou
2009: $100,000
2010: $100,000
2011: $100,000
2012: $90,000
Primary RFCD: 3402 - APPLIED ECONOMICS

Effects of Private Health Insurance on Health Care Usage and Health Outcomes in Australia

ARC Discovery Project DP0880429 (2007 for funding commencing in 2008)

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.  

Dr J Yong; Dr A Palangkaraya; Prof JW Freebairn
2008: $33,750
2009: $28,695
2010: $45,384
Primary RFCD Code: 3402 – Applied Economics

The Effects of the Tax and Social Security System on Labour Supply and Social Welfare

ARC Discovery Project DP0770567 (2006 for funding commencing in 2007)

This research will provide independent assessment of the work‑incentive effects of government policies in the area of income tax, social security and childcare costs. Capacity constraints may threaten sustained economic growth in Australia. Understanding and supporting the drivers of work force participation is stated in the National Research Priorities as being vital. In addition to the empirical results, the project provides a set of tools that can be used to evaluate new policies with respect to the effects on labour supply, income distribution and social welfare. This will provide timely and independent evidence on which to evaluate new policies and therefore increase the quality of the debate on tax and social security policy.

A/Prof GR Kalb; Prof J Creedy
2007: $110,000
2008: $115,000
2009: $120,000
Primary RFCD Code: 3402 – Applied Economics

Blended Payment Systems for Doctors: Evaluation of an Experiment

ARC Discovery Project DP0771005 (2006 for funding commencing in 2007)

The results of the study will provide new evidence for health care policy makers in Australia (and internationally) on the effects of changing the remuneration system for GPs on the costs and quality of health care provided. The study will examine effects in the national priority and national health priority areas of preventive health care and chronic disease. The results will be relevant to other countries, such as the US and UK, where blended payments schemes exist for GPs but have not been evaluated.

Prof A Scott; A/Prof H Britt; Dr PH Jensen
2007: $80,000
2008: $85,000
Primary RFCD Code: 3402 – Applied Economics

DISCOVERY GRANT AWARDED TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS WITH FACULTY CO-INVESTIGATORS

Understanding the Saving Behaviour of Australian Households: Private Retirement Provision and the Policy of Forced Saving

ARC Discovery Project DP0772731 (2006 for funding commencing in 2007)

The outcomes from the research on Australian retirement saving behaviour will generate a range of national benefits. First, the collaboration of researchers across institutions, and internationally, will enhance and promote Australian research skills. Second, Australian research will be will be placed at the forefront of an important, international field. Third, the research will make fundamental contributions to the evidence base for the design of public policies to ensure Australians have access to adequate resources in retirement. This is an urgent public policy concern due to the rapid ageing of the Australian population: the fraction aged over 65 years is forecast to double from 10% to 20% over the next 40 years.

A/Prof GF Barrett; Dr TF Crossley; Dr Y Tseng
2007: $100,000
2008: $100,000
2009: $100,000
Primary RFCD Code: 3402 – Applied Economics
Administering Organisation: The University of New South Wales

The Market for Technology in Australia

ARC Linkage Project LP0989343 (2008 Round 1 for funding commencing in 2009)

Over the last 5 years, formalised markets for technology have accelerated in the US. However, there is no recognised formal market in Australia. Results from our primary data collection and analysis will highlight whether deficiencies in the market for technology are creating obstacles for the commercialisation of Australian technology. This is a particularly important issue for Australia given our relative isolation arising from geographical distance and lack of attachment to a major trading bloc such as the EU or NAFTA.

A/Prof EM Webster; Dr PH Jensen; Mr SD Applegate; Dr R Gilmore; Ms KJ Sinclair
2009: $168,000
2010: $188,000
2011: $95,000
Primary RFCD: 3402 - APPLIED ECONOMICS
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s):
IP Australia
Australian Institute for Commercialisation
Watermark

 

Job Retention and Advancement of Disadvantaged Job Seekers

ARC Linkage Project LP0776894 (2006 Round 2 for funding commencing in July 2007)

This project will use empirical methods to help determine what is necessary for job retainment and career

advancement of disadvantaged jobseekers. Job retainment and advancement are essential to prolonged workforce participation and the development of human capital of disadvantaged jobseekers re‑entering the workforce. Understanding and supporting the drivers of workforce participation is identified as a National Research Priority. Therefore, the project findings will be of considerable importance to employment policy development in Australia to help ensure that future policy developments improve the human capital of disadvantaged entrants to the labour market and alleviate longer‑term poverty and social exclusion.

Dr R Scutella; Dr RK Wilkins; Prof K Mavromaras; Prof P Gregg; Dr J Wadsworth; Mr DJ Perkins
2007: $28,765
2008: $53,765
2009: $50,500
2010: $44,644
2011: $19,144
Primary RFCD Code: 3402 – Applied Economics
Partner Organisation(s): Brotherhood of St Laurence

LINKAGE GRANT AWARDED TO OTHER UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE DEPARTMENTS WITH FACULTY CO-INVESTIGATORS

Social and Health Inequalities Related to Changes in Drinking Water in Rural Victoria

ARC Linkage Project LP0989576 (2008 Round 1 for funding commencing in 2009)

This project will add significantly to knowledge about the role of water in health. Dental caries (decay) experience over an individual's life time is influenced by dental health in early childhood. Obesity and overweight in early childhood is also a predictor of later life obesity. Both these conditions reduce life chances and wellbeing for Australians and are costly for communities. Understanding why and how choices about drinks for children are made by parents using a longitudinal design will help to develop interventions and policies that support the use of water in preference to sweetened and acidic beverages.

Dr AM Sanigorski; Prof EB Waters; Prof A Scott; Mr MG Gussy; Ms LC Gold; A/Prof H Calache
2009: $129,000
2010: $125,000
2011: $134,000
2012: $134,000
2013: $140,000
Primary RFCD: 3212 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s):
Dental Health Services Victoria
Awarded to the School of Population Health

Improving Employment Outcomes in Early Psychosis: Social and Economic Benefits of Early Intervention

ARC Linkage Project LP0883237 (2007 Round 2 for funding commencing in 2008)

Over 74% of people with psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, despite wanting to work, are unemployed, more than any other disability group. This project examines an evidence-based method in which young people with psychosis can be effectively supported to return to the competitive labour market. In Australia, unemployment of people with schizophrenia costs $927 million, over half the total illness costs of schizophrenia. For people with psychosis, unemployment exacerbates social and economic marginalisation. This project aims to reduce the economic cost of unemployment among the mentally ill as well as using employment to reduce social marginalisation of people with mental illness.

Dr E Killackey; Prof HJ Jackson; Dr R Scutella; Dr Y Tseng; Prof JI Borland
2008: $80,400
2009: $152,959
2010: $109,743
2011: $37,184
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): ORYGEN Research Centre
Awarded to the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences – (School of Behavioural Science)