How can researchers engage and co-develop care economy research partnerships? Insights from the Australian care service leaders

Organisations across the care economy face common challenges like workforce shortages, burnout, limited funding, and fragmented data systems. While there is strong interest in using research to improve services, many providers lack the time and resources to engage effectively. Collaboration is often hampered by competition for funding, siloed sectors and a disconnect between research and frontline needs. Rural and culturally diverse communities face extra barriers, highlighting the need for place-based approaches. Strengthening partnerships, investing in workforce development, and focusing on practical, co-designed research including people with lived experience will be critical to driving meaningful improvements across the care economy. This study synthesises perspectives across aged care, disability, community health, and policy, offering a novel contribution cross-sector map of shared bottlenecks rarely analysed together. We translate themes into system-level actions to support ongoing care-economy reform in Australia.