Background
There are currently limited pathways into a career in health policy research in Australia, due in part to a serious absence of health policy research capability in Australian universities.

Discussion
We define what we consider health policy research and education should comprise. We then examine what is currently on offer and propose ways to strengthen health policy research in Australia.

Summary
This paper, which is part analysis and part commentary, is offered to provoke wider debate about how health policy research can be nurtured in Australia.