The Regional Health Research Alliance (RHRA) will distribute more than $44,000 amongst 18 health research projects in Central Queensland.

The grants have been allocated under the Alliance’s Research Skills and Micro-Grant Program, which aims to encourage and support health research in the region.

Amongst the successful projects is a research study looking into weight loss strategies of overweight professional health care workers. The project is being conducted at the Gladstone Mater Hospital.

Other projects include research into Aboriginal women’s self-care, mental health consumers’ recovery, psychologists’ role in the mental health service, efficacy of pedometers on in-patient rehabilitation, and Aboriginal children’s oral health. A full list of projects to obtain grants can be viewed via www.ahs.cqu.edu.au/hhp/rhra/success.htm .

The projects will be undertaken with the support of key organisations including Queensland Health, Rockhampton Hospital, Queensland and Rockhampton District Mental Health Services, Rockhampton Women’s Health Centre, Wahroonga Counselling Centre, Gladstone’s Mater Hospital, Hellem Yumba, Central Districts Oral Health Services and CQU.

The RHRA Research Skills and Micro-Grant program is collaboratively funded by Central Queensland University, Queensland Heath and Mercy Health and Aged Care (the Mater Hospital).

“The program aims at building research capacity within the health region by means of a collaborative education process,” CQU Director of Social Science Research Professor Kerry Mummery said.

The Alliance’s motto is Improving Health through Local Science.