The Bupa Health Foundation is one of the leading charitable foundations dedicated to health in Australia.
We are committed to improving the health of the Australian community and ensuring the sustainability of affordable healthcare.
Through our collaborative partnerships, we play a leading role in nurturing new ideas and approaches that can improve the health of all Australians. Our work is directed towards encouraging innovations and pioneering efforts through:
Since our inception in 2005, we have invested around $22 million across our five focus areas:
To further our commitment to improving health, we foster a collaborative approach to our partnerships. Through active engagement with our partners and by sharing the incredible resources of Bupa, we help translate ideas into reality.
We are proud to have invested in over 90 partnerships across the country and remain committed to contributing to a strong economy by helping promote and ensure better health for all Australians. The Bupa Health Foundation 2012 Highlights Report (PDF 33.2Mb) showcases a range of initiatives that are doing just that.
Current Wellbeing Initiatives
The Bupa Health Foundation supports programs that encourage people to take up and maintain healthy behaviours - at home, at school, and in the workplace.
Despite a doubling in the rate of caesarean delivery and increases in the rate of operative births over the past decade, and some evidence of poor outcomes in the first years of life, very little is known about the long-term effects of caesarean section on the health and developmental outcomes of children.
This study will be the first in Australia to examine the influence of different modes of birth on a wide range of child health and developmental outcomes across early and middle childhood (0-11yrs), using population-representative data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.
Three in every five Australians are overweight. This includes around three million obese Australians, including around one in ten children. Obesity puts people at increased risk of diseases including heart disease and stroke, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and sleep apnoea.
The Bupa Health Foundation has partnered with Obesity Australia to achieve a change in the perception, prevalence and treatment of obesity through developing and advocating for practical solutions to help to deal with this growing health problem. In 2012 the Bupa Health Foundation was a Principle Partner for the first Obesity Australia Summit - bringing together stakeholders to commit to collective action to tackle obesity.
Further to this initial Summit, it is anticipated that a National Action Plan, reflective of key recommendations and policy actions, will be delivered in 2013.
Oxytocin nasal spray can powerfully impact a range of social cognition and social behaviour variables relevant to the diagnosis of autism. Previous research of the Brain & Mind Research Institute suggests substantial variation in response to the spray across individuals in regards to observed benefits. This project employs a 12-week open label trial of oxytocin nasal spray in children with autism to identify patients who benefit from this treatment and the associated neurobiological changes that predict such changes. Outcomes provide the necessary leap in knowledge to advance oxytocin as a treatment for autism and our knowledge of the nature of improving social dysfunction. If proven, this project could significantly enhance the quality of life for children with autism and their families.
This is a longitudinal study of 1600 women in Victoria diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Over a period of at least five years, these women give us an insight into their lives following treatment by providing information through annual questionnaires to follow the physical, psychological and socio-economic consequences of breast cancer, looking at the broader outcomes of treatment beyond simply surviving.
The women were recruited both directly from the community and through the Victorian Cancer Registry in their first year after diagnosis. The findings will help provide a basis for the development of targeted management strategies to address issues affecting women with breast cancer. It will also guide further specific research where issues of significant need or poorer than expected outcomes can be identified. Other issues that may not otherwise have been considered significant may also be discovered.
This is the first Australian study to evaluate the broader health and social outcomes as well as women's needs after their breast cancer has been diagnosed and treated. It is also one of only a few studies worldwide that tracks women in this way from early diagnosis through subsequent years.
The study has been extended to explore the long-term health outcomes 3-5 years post treatment.
From a public health perspective, efforts to prevent depression are crucial if we are to reduce costs and improve health in the whole community. However few trials have tested interventions aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing depression.
Following studies which show that fish oils may prevent depression and suggestions that they are an acceptable remedy to older adults, this initiative is the first to investigate whether omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplements are effective in reducing rates of depressive symptoms, reducing incidence of new cases of major depressive disorder and reducing cognitive decline associated with ageing. The study also looks at whether brain changes in those risk factors for vascular disease are reduced by administering fish oil.
The CSIRO has developed a blood-test that can diagnose CRC at an early stage when the chance of cure is 80%. This blood test could also significantly improve CRC screening participation and compliance in the Australian population. The project will evaluate this non-invasive blood test with current screening programs for CRC to ascertain the following: 1. Determine its usefulness as a secondary screening tool to stratify patients for colonoscopy, or to reduce the number of unnecessary colonoscopies, thereby decreasing health costs; 2. Confirm that this test is superior in performance to faecal occult blood testing (FOBT).
Targeted for upper primary school children, this project aims to empower children in the identification and management of anxiety. Very recent evidence suggests that children who learn to overcome fears prior to adolescence have a reduced risk of these disorders. This project will develop, pilot and evaluate an online program to teach children to be brave in the face of adversity that can be accessed by primary school children, their parents and teachers. The short term success of the program will be evaluated in a randomised control trial.
This collaborative project between Deakin University, The University of Melbourne, Barwon Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital extends a study initiated in 2002, which demonstrated that maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level during late gestation was associated with infant long bone length at birth. The infants in this birth cohort turn 9 years old from late 2011 though to 2013, which presents a novel opportunity to investigate the relationship between gestational vitamin D levels and important indices of childhood growth. These include body size, proportions and composition, adiposity, muscle mass, and bone geometry, density and estimated bone strength.
Current Chronic Disease Initiatives
The Bupa Health Foundation is proud to be partnering projects that will help to tackle health challenges affecting many of us including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Our work is focused on helping people to manage their conditions, improving patient outcomes, and reducing health costs.
The project involves the development, testing and rollout of an online training tool for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory conditions. It aims to provide them with easily accessible information relating to the self-management of their disease, and to help them increase their understanding of their condition, reduce the number of exacerbations and improve their overall quality of life. This tool will also provide the benefit of increasing access to patient health information for those in rural and remote settings, in addition to supporting those with community access difficulties.
is common in people with diabetes mellitus. Although the links are not well understood, it is clear that poor mental health can have a significant impact on people's ability to manage their illness. For example, depression can present a major barrier to effective and sustainable behavioural change in diabetes patients with obesity.
Treatment approaches in this context tend to make the mistake of separating the physical illness and the patient's emotional reaction to it. This initiative adopts a 'whole-person model' in developing and evaluating an integrated 'chronic disease self-management' education program for people with type 2 diabetes, obesity and depression.
The program, constructed around a patient manual, provides key information about disease management and skills training designed to help facilitate self management. Patients are encouraged to consider how their body, thoughts, feelings, and their health behaviours are all connected.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder. Up to 24% of men and 9% women may have clinically significant OSA, which estimates conservatively to nearly 2 million Australians. Prevalence is increased (30-40%) in people living with chronic diseases e.g. type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension.
However, there is still limited awareness of OSA and other sleep disturbance problems, and their impact on individuals and the national budget through health, workplace safety and other costs, by health professional and the public.
Undiagnosed OSA is a major problem due to this lack of awareness and limited screening access. We aim to develop a more accessible and less costly pathway for screening.
Squamous epithelial cancer is the most common cancer in Australia. Professor Ian Frazer, the inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine, is leading this initiative to examine skin cancers and their precursor lesions for genetic signatures of viruses, and for protein signatures of specific immune responses, which might predispose patients to developing squamous skin cancer. Understanding the link between immune status and the development of skin cancer, and targeting certain viruses could hold the key to developing preventions and treatment options for people who develop or have a predisposition to develop skin cancer. This could include the development of a potential skin cancer vaccine.
In partnership with the University of New South Wales, Flinders University, Monash University, Bond University, University of Queensland, the Royal College of General Practice (RACGP) and National Heart Foundation of Australia, this 4-year project is investigating how to improve chronic disease management in general practice. It is the first time that such a partnership has been formed to prevent chronic disease in Australian general practice.
This project is evaluating the efficacy of metformin, a treatment that enhances insulin sensitivity, in mitigating the development of insulin resistance (IR) and hence diabetes in its preclinical phase in obese, euglycaemic women in the early postmenopausal years.
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joint for which there is no cure. It can affect any joint in the body as the joint tissues break down. In time the joint may lose its ability to move smoothly. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness of the joints.
The Bupa Health Foundation and Arthritis Australia have partnered to develop an easy-to-use website for Australians experiencing joint pain as a result of osteoarthritis.
Launched in March 2012, Myjointpain.org.au is an evidence-based support tool for consumers, allowing them to take a proactive role in managing their osteoarthritis.
The website will help reduce and manage chronic pain, using guidelines endorsed by a committee of experts in key areas of medical, surgical, allied health and consumer advocacy. The website has the capability to deliver a personalised osteoarthritis report card, unlike any other tool available in the world.
Chronic disease is one of the biggest challenges facing health services. This program is evaluating an approach to patient self-management of their illness based on telephone health coaching from nurses and other professionals.
Managing a chronic condition more effectively can lead to considerable gains for the patient and health system by helping to avoid emergency hospital admissions that are both undesirable for the patient and expensive to maintain. This study compares different groups of patients, some of whom will be offered telephone health coaching, to evaluate and establish its impact on managing chronic diseases.
Current Healthy Ageing Initiatives
Australia's population is ageing at a rapid rate and is likely to continue to do so in the coming decades.
The health, independence and wellbeing of older people are therefore becoming issues of increasing importance. The Bupa Health Foundation supports a range of initiatives that aim to help realise the potential of healthy ageing.
From a public health perspective, efforts to prevent depression are crucial if we are to reduce costs and improve health in the whole community. However few trials have tested interventions aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing depression.
Following studies which show that fish oils may prevent depression and suggestions that they are an acceptable remedy to older adults, this initiative is the first to investigate whether omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplements are effective in reducing rates of depressive symptoms, reducing incidence of new cases of major depressive disorder and reducing cognitive decline associated with ageing. The study also looks at whether brain changes in those risk factors for vascular disease are reduced by administering fish oil.
More people over the age of 80 are agreeing to surgery in the belief that it will restore them to full health. But because these patients are older, recover less quickly and often have other ongoing health conditions, their post-operative quality of life may not be the same as before.
However, research is yet to confirm this. Given the cost and risks associated with these procedures, research is urgently needed to assess whether patients enjoy an improved quality of life two years after cardiac surgery.
This study assesses 120 cardiac surgery patients, both clinically and via questionnaire, at three, six, 12 and 24 months following surgery, to find out about their quality of life and how well they function in day-to-day life.
The outcomes of this study will help patients decide between cardiac surgery and alternative options to manage their condition. It will also help hospitals understand the cost-effectiveness of these procedures.
The aims of this research are to:
The project will identify gaps in health care for around three million Australian women aged 40-65 years and develop best practice guidelines for Australian health practitioners.
An often-neglected aspect of treating people with dementia is making plans for the end of life. This project empowers people with dementia, their families and carers, to make informed end-of-life decisions through a better understanding of their legal rights and care options, including palliative care.
This will be achieved through:
Every year over one million people over the age of 65 are given anaesthesia during a health procedure. While there is laboratory evidence showing that anaesthesia promotes the risk of Alzheimer's disease, the extent of any relationship between the two is currently unknown.
This project compares the incidence of Alzheimer's in elderly patients who have previously received anaesthesia with those who have not been anaesthetised. It is aimed at helping researchers understand whether there is an association of anaesthesia with Alzheimer's disease, which, potentially, has far reaching consequences for medical practice across the world.
This initiative is trialling a model of GP employment in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The project will demonstrate impacts in terms of resident outcomes and health care resource utilisation in an Australian context. This can provide valuable information for policy makers in terms of determining the viability of a model.
This project has the potential to drive a radical change in the way care is delivered in the Australian aged care sector and systematically addresses the escalating problems with providing quality care to increasing numbers of residents in aged care facilities.
Everyone knows that an unhealthy lifestyle can contribute to health problems later in life. Poor diet and lifestyle choices can lead to oxidative stress – which can adversely affect cells in the body that are associated with ageing and degenerative diseases.
Evidence shows that oxidative stress is a major underlying factor in brain cell degeneration, and this study investigates the primary causes of oxidative stress in the brain, and its impact on the vital systems that keep us healthy.
It also seeks to identify factors that may be helpful in treating and preventing diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as developing strategies to help maintain brain cell function into old age.
Current Empowering People about Their Health Initiatives
For many, healthcare used to be a case of 'doctor knows best'. But it's now recognised that people can help look after their own health if they are empowered with information and confidence.
The Bupa Health Foundation is investing in work that empowers Australians in looking after their health in areas where the need for empowerment is greatest.
There is a pressing need for treatment innovation for depression. One promising potential avenue to increase access to treatment and to enhance therapeutic outcomes in a cost-effective manner is by combining a new form of technology known as Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) with internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT). This project will extend current work by further evaluating a novel internet-delivered CBM intervention when combined with an existing iCBT treatment with demonstrated efficacy for depression.
This project will develop and test an integrated e-health system to help support and enable cancer survivors to achieve and maintain health and wellbeing, and achieve better cancer outcomes. The e-system will contain tools and resources to help cancer survivors monitor, assess and self-manage their own health needs through the delivery of standardised assessment tools and tailored, evidence-based self-management information.
In late 2011, Bupa Health Foundation embarked on a partnership with ARACY as an exclusive partner in the development and implementation of a national blueprint to improve the health and wellbeing of young Australians.
The result is The Nest, an initiative to improve the health, wellbeing and life opportunities of young Australians through bringing together government, other agencies and the wider community in a coordinated National Action Plan for Young Australians (prenatal to 24 years). This plan of action aims to deliver a resource of evidence-based investments that governments and others can make to help young Australians achieve their potential. It has involved a unique national consultation with young people to match the evidence base and existing policies against their needs and aspirations.
The National Action Plan will be released in December 2013.
Consumers regularly raise concerns with the Consumers Health Forum (CHF) about a lack of informed consent and/or informed financial consent, when receiving healthcare. This project will review current evidence about consumers' knowledge of processes for informed consent and informed financial consent; consult with consumers across Australia about these issues and identify areas for improvement; scope existing resources to support informed consent and informed financial consent and develop new resources to fill gaps; and work with health professional organisations to improve practice.
Ultimately it is hoped that this initiative will empower consumers through providing resources to support their participation in healthcare decision-making.
The project aims to develop a cutting edge, innovative digital 'centre of empowerment' for adults with acquired disability. Featuring tips and techniques for everyday activities, information, interactive self directed rehabilitation tools and finders for local support and assistance, it will provide people with the 'how' of living with disability. The platform will use a shared decision making approach, engaging users to help shape its content and functionality, ensuring a highly interactive and responsive solution centre. The platform will be built for use by different groups, representing diseases that result in acquired disability, with the pilot phase outlined here built around stroke recovery.
Royal Far West (RFW) provides research and health care services for children from rural and remote NSW to ensure that country children have the opportunities to access specialist clinicians. RFW Speech Pathology unit has developed an innovative therapy program which uses technology mediated solutions to address the chronic problems of access and consistency in speech therapy. The program draws on the clinical delivery of speech services through tele-health solutions in partnership with local schools and community based therapy aides. The evidence obtained will assist in the knowledge of delivery of speech pathology care services within the rural health context.
Post Natal Depression (PND) is common, but is rarely dealt with until after it has become a problem, with negative consequences for mothers, babies and other family members. PND is strongly linked to sleep difficulties for mother and child.
In this project, expectant mothers are randomly allocated to normal prenatal classes, or classes that offer additional education and support for sleep. Other pregnant women are given information about sleep through their local pharmacy. These groups will be compared to see which approach is more effective in improving sleep after a baby is born, to reduce the risk of PND.
The aim of the project is to increase awareness and provide parents with effective strategies to support sleep during pregnancy and following the birth of their child.
In Australia, children and parents are constantly exposed to food industry marketing and promotions that encourage them to buy and consume unhealthy foods that are aimed at children. Despite strong community support for tighter restrictions on food advertising to children, little has been done to change the way these foods are promoted.
This project tests the responses of parents and children to a counter-advertising intervention designed to debunk misleading food promotions and empower consumers to evaluate advertised foods more critically and accurately.
This initiative aims to develop resources for an interactive oral health intervention program harnessing new user-friendly multimedia web technologies. Material will be specifically designed with and for the use of older people, rather than helping them to use programs designed for younger generations.
It aims to improve oral health knowledge and attitudes, and encourage people to do the things that help promote good oral health. Resources will be developed to support five of the nine oral health information seminar/sheets (ORHIS).
These resources will be based on a tested oral health promotion model, employing digital storytelling techniques, quizzes, question-and-answer facilities, and pathways to access further information and services. Facilitated by a trained peer-educator, the program will be piloted in social clubs and community centres. It has the potential to provide a stronger evidence base for future community-based oral health promotion activities for older Australians.
Based on the latest scientific research that links brain health and a reduced risk of dementia, to a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, BrainyApp is the world's first dementia risk reduction App designed to help people monitor and improve their Brain-Heart health.
BrainyApp was developed by Alzheimer's Australia and Bupa Health Foundation to raise awareness of the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, and to help people live a 'brain healthy' life. There are 267,000 Australians currently living with dementia, with this number anticipated to increase to around 580,000 within the next 20 years. There is something people can do, however, to reduce their risk of developing dementia: that's where BrainyApp comes in!
The app is an evidence-based tool that uses the 'BrainyApp Survey' to find out how brain healthy people are and offers activities for the user to complete to help increase their 'brain health score'. It's never too late or too early to start, as brain function can be improved and protected at any age. To date, there have been over 280,000 downloads of BrainyApp. www.brainyapp.com.au
The TEXT ME study targets people who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Participants receive semi-personalised messages via their mobile phone about living a healthy lifestyle with advice, motivation and support to quit smoking (if relevant) and engage in healthy diets and exercise.
The study is evaluating the feasibility, acceptability and effect of these messages on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. With the rising ownership of mobile devices both in Australia and globally, this intervention has the potential to be a cheap, safe and simple way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in millions of people.
Current Promoting Affordable Healthcare Initiatives
Bupa Health Foundation is exploring initiatives that may help ease the increasing financial burden on healthcare services and strengthen the sustainability of Australia's mixed public and private health system.
This study assesses the impact of routine mental health and psychosocial risk assessment of pregnant women and new mothers. Its objective is to refer women identified 'at risk' for additional support and treatment.
Despite increasing investment dedicated to perinatal (just before birth) mental health in Australia, information is still lacking about how many women participate in psychosocial assessments and its impact on their health.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people 50 years and older in Australia and is a major public health concern. The aim of this project is to conduct the first multi-centred randomised controlled trial of a new treatment to slow the progression of early AMD. This will be of significant community benefit by helping to improve the quality of life of older Australians and decreasing the level of care required. Further, the healthcare cost savings are potentially very significant. This project has the potential to substantiate a major breakthrough in the treatment of AMD.
Radiation proctitis is a debilitating condition causing rectal bleeding, faecal urgency and pain. It occurs in 5 – 15% of all patients who have had pelvic radiotherapy for treatment of cancers.
There is some anecdotal evidence that suggests oral vitamin A supplements assist in improving the symptoms for radiation proctitis. This study examines the evidence in a simple trial that could provide a solution to the problem that is significant for a small number of cancer patients.
There are approximately 17,000 new hip fractures in Australia each year. A hip fracture can be a devastating event for an older person as it can lead to poor functional outcomes, loss of independence, impaired quality of life, entry into Residential Aged Care Facilities and for some, death. Currently, many fractured hips are not recorded on the hip replacement registry. This project aims to address this gap in Australian data.
The primary goal of this project is to:
In Australia, over 90,000 admissions to hospital each year are considered potentially preventable, costing the healthcare system an estimated $330 million annually.
Using administrative health databases, it is now possible to identify and routinely monitor those hospitalisations that are preventable. Although clinical indicators of medication-related hospitalisations have been developed internationally, none have been developed specifically for the Australian setting.
The aim of this study is to develop and validate Australian clinical indicators of potentially preventable medication-related and primary care-related hospitalisations. Once developed the prevalence of hospitalisations based on these indicators will be examined in a population based administrative health database.
Despite the prevalence of evidence-based clinical guidelines and level 1 evidence, studies show considerable gaps between care regarded as appropriate and care received. This study will, for the first time, identify the appropriateness of healthcare delivered to children in Australia and barriers that prevent appropriate delivery, and test novel interventions to ensure appropriate evidence-based care can be delivered. In addition this project will examine the frequency and nature of adverse events involving children in our healthcare system, offering a unique opportunity to address safety deficiencies. The ultimate aim is efficient, safe and effective delivery of healthcare to children in Australia.
Weakening and expansion of the main abdominal artery (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, AAA) is a common problem in older Australians. This project is designed to evaluate the efficacy of telmisartan, a promising new medical treatment, in a carefully designed randomised pilot study.
Surgery is currently the only treatment available for AAA. It is expensive and associated with significant complications, and has also failed to benefit patients with early stage or small AAA. The five, small, randomised controlled trials examining the role of medications that have been published worldwide have failed to identify an effective treatment that has translated into clinical practice.
Preliminary data suggests that telmisartan could reduce the growth rate of small AAA by 50%. Such a treatment could reduce the number of patients requiring costly surgery; reduce the number of surgery-related deaths and complications; and provide a therapy more suited to the rapidly expanding group that typically develops AAA.
To be eligible, nominated researchers must be:
Only one application is permitted per person.
Who can nominate?
Nominations must be completed by research supervisors and/or department heads who are directly involved in the work of the researcher. Organisational approval of nominations is required.
What are we looking for in a nomination?
Nominations should clearly detail information about the Emerging Researcher, their area of interest, an overview of their research area and its potential impact on the health of Australians.
How can I make a nomination?
Nominations for the Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher Award 2013 are now closed.
Nominations open Monday 19 August 2013
Nominations close Monday 16 September 2013 (11.59pm AEST)
Download the nomination form. (Word doc, 148Kb)
Completed nomination forms should be emailed to foundation@bupa.com.au
What is the prize?
A total $25,000 (AUS) will be offered to the winner to pursue their chosen area of research. This will be presented as a cheque after the event.
In addition, profiling of the winner and the nominating organisation will take place across internal and external media.
How is the winner announced?
Selected finalists will be invited to attend the annual Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher Award event where the overall winner will be announced.
The Foundation is interested in funding innovative replicable interventions and projects that:
Grants range from $100,000 to $500,000 for up to three years.
The Foundation invites expressions of interest that meet the following criteria:
Inclusions
Exclusions
Based on the assessment criteria for applications, please make sure your Expression of Interest includes the following variable requirements:
To apply for Foundation funding, your organisation must be one of the following:
Expressions of interest are assessed by the Foundation's review panel, with the participation of relevant third party experts where required.
Please make sure your application has addressed the following questions:
Once a shortlist of applications has been decided, each application is then given an overall merit ranking that takes into consideration the threshold and variable requirements. This ranking will also consider whether the initiative is regionally or nationally based.
Final decisions regarding Bupa Health Foundation investment rest with the Bupa Health Foundation Board of Directors. To be eligible for funding support, the initiative must fall within the Foundation's objectives and strategy. See our Frequently Asked Questions for further information.
The Bupa Health Foundation funding round is now closed.
The Foundation anticipates a similar schedule again in 2014 so please check back in October 2014 for details.
31 October 2013
Expression of Interest Opens
16 December 2013
Expression of Interest Closes
17 December 2013 – 31 March 2014
Assessment Process and Approval
Applications assessed against criteria and recommended initiatives proposed to the Foundation for discussion and approval. Application outcomes will be advised by email.
April 2014
Formal announcements and Media release
Apply
Please complete all the information in the application form ensuring.
Download the application form. (Word doc 158kb)
Completed application forms should be emailed to foundation@bupa.com.au.
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions for further information.
If your query is not answered here please email foundation@bupa.com.au
The Bupa Health Foundation Board of Directors will decide which initiatives will receive funding. A formal announcement will then be made regarding the successful applicants, with a media release.
Successful applicants will be recognised at the annual Bupa Health Foundation Health Awards.
