Beyond implementation- what it takes to sustain clinical and public health initiatives

Sustaining the delivery of evidence-based innovations in clinical and community settings is critical to achieving long-term health impact. Yet, many programs fail to continue beyond initial implementation, resulting in wasted resources and missed opportunities for population health improvement. This presentation will explore why sustainment matters, what factors influence it, and how to design and deliver programs that last. Drawing on implementation science theory and real-world trials, it will share practical strategies for building sustainment into program design, identifying when and why programs are at risk of discontinuation, and applying targeted solutions to support long-term delivery. The session will also highlight key evidence gaps and future directions for sustainability research and policy.

Associate Professor Nicole Nathan is a leading implementation scientist at the University of Newcastle and Deputy Director of the National Centre of Implementation Science. She leads a nationally and internationally recognised program of research focused on sustaining chronic disease prevention programs in clinical and community settings. Nicole has led multiple large-scale implementation and sustainability trials and currently leads a $4.8M MRFF grant testing strategies to support the sustained delivery of health promotion initiatives in Australian secondary schools.