Partnering to prevent chronic disease: reflections and achievements from The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.

OBJECTIVES: To accelerate the use of evidence in policy and practice through cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary partnership research, founded on shared governance and coproduction. Type of program or service: A National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Centre for Better Health.

METHODS: We present our views and experiences based on the first 5 years of operation of The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.

RESULTS: We have undertaken an ambitious and complex 5-year program of work taking a systems approach to prevention research, and have grown the size and reach of the collaboration to become a focus for prevention research in Australia. We have progressed towards reaching our objectives. However, there have been challenges including trust building between stakeholders, the complexities of incorporating coproduction into every research project, and the production of research that is implementable within different policy environments.

LESSONS LEARNT: Working within the partnership model has provided the time, resources and flexibility to coproduce policy-relevant, timely research.