July Stakeholder Update: QEII Health and Biomedical Precinct

We are pleased provide stakeholders with an update on the development of the QEII Health and Biomedical Precinct. Your ongoing interest and feedback have been invaluable in shaping the direction of this important initiative.

Precinct Leadership Group

The Precinct Leadership Group (PLG) has met three times, commencing with an introductory meeting in late January, followed by further discissions in April and June centred on agreeing the Precinct strategic intent.

Following in-depth discussions and consideration of international and Australian examples and Precinct models, the PLG has workshopped, voted on and endorsed the following purpose, vision and guiding principles for the Precinct.

These are also endorsed by the Director General, Department of Health, and the Minister for Medical Research.

Purpose: Uniting health, research and industry to improve lives in Western Australia and beyond.

Vision: We bring the brightest minds together to accelerate discovery and health translation, shaping the future of healthcare for all Western Australians.

Guiding Principles:

• WA first – we put the health of Western Australians first and deliver global impact.
  
  
• Accountable for outcomes – we are accountable for delivering meaningful outcomes and engage collaboratively with stakeholders.
  
  
• Future focused – we are aspirational, adaptable and prepared for future challenges and opportunities.
  
  
• Collaborative environment – we actively build a precinct environment that attracts talent, ideas and investment to create outcomes.

Agreement on the strategic intent will inform next steps, including development of Precinct branding, and consideration of the Precinct governance and operating model beyond the current establishment phase.   

Collaborative projects will also be developed to demonstrate the power and potential of the Precinct.

Visit to the Melbourne Biomedical Precincts

The Independent Chair of the Precinct Leadership Group, Paula Rogers, visited the Melbourne/Parkville, Monash and Alfred Precincts in mid-March accompanied by the Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Professor Sharath Sriram and Director of Innovation, Adam James.

The visit included 18 meetings with more than 40 people across the Biomedical Precincts and provided valuable insights on challenges and opportunities to support development of a Precinct at the QEII Medical Centre.

Key insights included:

• Precinct competitiveness was supported by deep, practical collaboration and light-touch governance rather than prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approaches
  
  
• Infrastructure and technology were used to foster collaboration and shared services
  
  
• Ease of access to the Precincts was also important for creating opportunities to collaborate
  
  
• A clear, compelling narrative and brand identity communicating “what are we good at?” was important
  
  
• There was a focus on:
  
  
  • Commercialisation and intellectual property as strategic priorities
  • Attracting and retaining talent at all career stages
  • Activating Precincts via placemaking and community engagement
  • Having a risk appetite that provides guide rails for Precinct activities and connection
• A concierge/triage function coupled with communications activities and events was important to support Precinct navigation
  
• While there was no “perfect” Precinct structure, there was consistent focus on delivering impact and outcomes

Technical Advisory Groups

Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) have been established to support the Precinct Leadership Group and provide expert advice on the Precinct challenges, opportunities and priorities. 

The insights provided and time committed by TAG members is much appreciated by the PLG.

There have been 10 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings to date, across the 6 program workstreams, namely governance and leadership, research translation and excellence, commercialisation, infrastructure, workforce and collaborative mechanisms.

Membership on the TAGs encompasses broad WA health and biomedical innovation expertise from across Health Service Providers and Hospitals, Medical Research Institutes, Universities, and other sector stakeholders.

TAGs have provided feedback both in-meeting and out-of-session, focused on surfacing challenges and potential solutions and opportunities that may be provided by a Precinct approach.

Once the PLG has considered this feedback, TAG meetings will recommence, with a refined focus on implementing specific deliverables for the Precinct establishment phase.

Any experts interested in being involved in the TAGs can contact the Precinct secretariat.

If you have any questions or comments please contact DOH.Innovation@health.wa.gov.au.