At The Hopkins Centre—a joint initiative of the Department of Rehabilitation (Metro South Health) and Griffith University—the Aus-InSCI Translation Project is bridging the gap between research evidence and real-world impact for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI).

This three-year project translates national survey data from the Aus-InSCI Community Survey into practical initiatives designed to improve clinical practice, strengthen community supports, and inform public policy.

Driven by Lived Experience: “Real Voices, Real Change”

Central to the project’s success is its lived experience leadership framework. The initiative is guided by a national 10-member Consumer Advisory Committee working alongside a national Steering Committee. Comprising consumer advocates from across Australia, the committee ensures that community priorities lead every stage of research translation.

Our Spinal Research Institute (SRI) community is proud to be part of this national effort — from Antonio Vecchio, who co-chairs the Consumer Advisory Committee alongside Dr. Johnny Bourke and fellow committee members to ensure research outputs address real-world needs, to Michaela Filipkova, a researcher on the Aus-InSCI Translation Project team and one of SRI’s SCI Collaboration Grantees, reflecting how cross-organisational networks strengthen research capacity and impact across the sector.

Midpoint Outcomes and Key Deliverables

Marking its midpoint, the project hosted a dedicated Hopkins Hour webinar — Advancing the Aus-InSCI Translation Project: Midpoint Outcomes and Reflections. Key project milestones include:

• e-Delphi Study Outcomes: Consolidating expert consensus across clinicians and people with lived experience to define national translation priorities.
• Environmental Scans: Mapping existing services, policies, and community resources to identify gaps and opportunities.
• Resource Suite: Developing accessible Data Summaries, presentation posters, and webinar recordings for advocates, service providers, and healthcare professionals.

From survey data to real-world impact, the Aus-InSCI Translation Project shows what’s possible when researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience share the work of translation.

You can access the growing suite of data summaries, e-Delphi reports, and webinar recordings on The Hopkins Centre Aus-InSCI Translation Project Portal.