Health Promotion and the Importance of Translating Research Into Policy, Practice and Societal Impact

As the official journal of the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA), the Health Promotion Journal of Australia (HPJA) addresses health promotion issues; advances the health promotion profession; and supports positive system changes that benefit population health. The HPJA publishes high-quality research and critical perspectives from academics, decision-makers and practitioners and aims to improve knowledge and evidence for the health promotion field. This editorial introduces a new dedicated manuscript category, The Research to Policy Translation Brief, to provide a focus on research translation. Given that research and policy often operate in silos, and there is limited incentive for collaboration, there is a critical need for an accessible platform where the two systems can come together to collaborate and exchange ideas. The new Research to Policy Translation Brief will provide such an opportunity, promoting evidence-informed practice and policy-making. Evidence informed policy and decision making is crucial to tackle societies' health and wellbeing challenges. The HPJA's unique position in reaching researchers, policy actors and practitioners makes it an ideal vehicle for this initiative. This editorial also explores the common challenges that researchers, policymakers and practitioners face when collaborating, emphasising the importance of providing a platform to share lessons and evidence on successful and less successful research translation strategies.