SureStep-inspired proposal wins national public health Think Tank Award

Melody Leung, PhD Candidate from the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health (University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District), was awarded the 2026 Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) National Student Policy Think Tank Award for a proposal inspired by findings from the SureStep implementation project.

The PHAA Think Tank Competition is a national competition that encourages students to develop innovative solutions to major public health challenges. In 2026, participants were asked to identify a public health issue and propose a systems-focused redesign that promotes prevention, equity and wellbeing.

Drawing on insights from the SureStep project, Melody’s proposal advocated for an inpatient funding reform to prioritise physical function and prevent hospital-acquired deconditioning. It suggested that funding reform could support more equitable implementation of hospital interventions, such as the standing balance circuit class developed and evaluated by Dr Daniel Treacy, which improved balance and mobility, and reduced healthcare costs in South Western Sydney Local Health District.

SureStep, led by Dr Marina Pinheiro, Professor Cathie Sherrington and Professor Peter Youssef, aims to adapt and implement the standing balance circuit class across other acute and rehabilitation settings. Funded by the Ramsay Health Care Research Foundation, the project involves a large multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, patients and family members. More than 100 stakeholders participated in co-design adaptation activities across public and private health services, helping identify implementation barriers and opportunities for improving patient mobility in hospital settings. Influenced by these co-design experiences, Melody’s Think Tank proposal aimed to highlight the broader system-level barriers limiting equitable access to programs particularly for long-stay patients in hospitals awaiting discharge support, and explore how funding reform could help bridge the gap between evidence and equitable implementation.

As part of the award, Melody and members of the SureStep team were invited to present the proposal during the Plenary Awards Session at the Australian Public Health Conference 2026 in Geelong.

This recognition highlights the potential for implementation science and co-design approaches to contribute not only to improvements in clinical care, but also to broader health system reform and public health influence.

The SureStep team now looks forward to the implementation of the adapted program and exploring future opportunities on how these findings and work can support equitable and sustainable implementation of programs promoting patient mobility and function within hospital settings.