Government renews support for the QUM Alliance to tackle major health issues

New Government grants to tackle medicines issues in stroke prevention, osteoporosis, menopause, mental health and multimorbidity.

The Quality Use of Medicines Alliance (QUM Alliance) is hailing the new Australian Government health education and literacy grants as a game changer in helping address some of Australia's most prevalent and pressing health issues. 

Over the next 3 years, the Alliance will implement programs to reduce stroke recurrence, prevent secondary fractures in osteoporosis, increase evidence-based care in menopause, ensure safe use of antidepressants in young people, and improve outcomes for older Australians managing multiple chronic conditions. 

The announcement by the Department of Health and Aged Care on 7 March 2025 marks the second consecutive round of funding to improve health literacy and the quality use of medicines awarded to the QUM Alliance. 

Since its formation in 2023, the QUM Alliance, a collaborative network of peak consumer, health professional and research organisations has grown from 8 to 16 organisations broadening the opportunity to have a collective impact on medicines use. The collaboration brings together GPs, specialist physicians, nurses, pharmacists, Aboriginal health workers and practitioners, consumers and carers to work alongside researchers and education experts. 

This approach will ensure that programs and resources are designed to make a meaningful impact for millions of Australians including priority populations such as First Nations peoples and multicultural communities. 

The health professional education grant, led by Medcast Pty Ltd, will provide high quality evidence-based education and resources through a range of face-to-face and technology enabled solutions. According to A/Prof Stephen Barnett, Director of Medcast, this is an opportunity to build on the previous grant awarded to the QUM Alliance.

Meanwhile, the consumer health literacy grant, led by the Health Care Consumers' Association (HCCA), will ensure the educational programs meet the needs and perspectives of consumers. This initiative will co-design educational resources to address some of the significant medication-related challenges faced by Australians. The consumer resources for eczema and gout from the first round of grant funding have already reached more than 70,000 Australians. 

The QUM Alliance is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology program.