Who we are and what we do
Sustainable solutions. Powered by evidence.
The Sax Institute is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that improves health and wellbeing by driving better use of evidence in policies, programs and services.
Our work
The Institute’s mission is to improve health and wellbeing by driving the use of research in policies, programs and services.
We are an Evidence Specialist working collaboratively to embed research into the fabric of policy, program and service delivery decisions. We develop, test and deliver best-practice approaches to working at the interface of research and health decision-making.
Supported by our extensive national network of more than 60 public health research organisations, we work with governments, health organisations, research organisations and a network of experts nationwide to analyse policy problems and find the best evidence-based solutions.
The Sax Institute is fully independent and our commitment to making a positive impact has put us at the forefront of knowledge translation internationally for 20 years.
Ways to work with the Sax Institute
Our work helps policy makers, researchers, and many others to find, use and apply evidence, in many different ways. We develop, test, and deliver best-practice approaches to working at the interface of research and health decision-making.
Our values
- Collaboration: We treasure our partnerships as an essential part of how we work and acknowledge them as central to our success
- Independence: Our overriding allegiance is to the evidence and what it tells us
- Innovation: We constantly seek new and better ways of working that increase the likelihood of beneficial change
- Impact: We are committed to making a positive contribution that helps bring about measurable improvements
- Respect: We listen to all points of view and work constructively to ensure communities, clients and stakeholders are actively engaged.
Our history
The Sax Institute was established in 2002, initially as the Institute for Health Research. The Institute changed its name in 2005 to honour Dr Sidney Sax, who helped pioneer the use of research in health policy making in Australia.
Born in South Africa, Dr Sax migrated to Australia in 1960, working as a physician and deputy medical superintendent before becoming Director of Geriatrics for NSW in 1964.
As the first Director of the division of research and planning in the NSW Department of Health, he created data sets that for the first time allowed basic health services planning, including the beginnings of the hospital morbidity data collection.
In 1982, under the Imperial system of honours then used in Australia, he was appointed a Commander of the British Empire for his services delivery. Dr Sax also played a key role in developing Medibank, Australia’s first universal national health insurance scheme.
Dr Sax died in 2001. The Sax Institute continues to honour his contribution to developing a national system of health services on evidence-based principles.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Funding statement
The Sax Institute is a company limited by guarantee (ACN 095 542 886).
