How can your clinic get involved?

Are you part of a clinic or osteopathy-related business that wants to engage with ONZ’s research mission? There are more ways to contribute than you might think - from data gathering in collaboration with other clinics, to conducting a small study, to disseminating relevant research findings within your team.

You do not need to be running a formal research project to get involved. Many clinics are already doing this work - measuring outcomes, mentoring students, collaborating with other health professionals - without calling it “research.” ONZ wants to recognise and support that.

Ways to get involved

Data gathering in collaboration with other clinics
Conducting or hosting a small study
Disseminating relevant research findings within your team
Participating in ONZ pilot programmes (e.g. the PROMs Pilot Study)
Being recognised as an ONZ Research Champion Clinic (see below)

Building New Zealand Osteopathic Evidence: From the clinic up

Osteopathic clinics play a central role in building the evidence base for our profession. Through patient feedback, outcome measures, participation in research, reflective practice, student support, peer learning, and quality improvement, clinics help us better understand the value osteopathy provides within New Zealand healthcare.

This work strengthens patient care, supports education, improves public understanding, and helps position osteopathy within the wider health system.

You do not need to be a researcher to contribute to research. You can be a part of building the evidence.

RECOGNITION OPEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

ONZ Research Champion Clinic Recognition

ONZ is inviting clinics to submit an expression of interest to be recognised as an ONZ Research Champion Clinic.

This recognition acknowledges clinics that are actively contributing to evidence-informed practice, New Zealand-based osteopathic data, professional learning, and the development of the profession.

Who can Apply

This recognition is open to clinics of all sizes and stages of research engagement - solo practitioners, small teams, multi-disciplinary clinics, and osteopathy-only practices alike. Whether your clinic collects patient outcomes, supports student placements, participates in quality improvement, or contributes to the wider healthcare community, you may already meet the standard.

The seven criteria

Clinics meeting 4 of the 7 criteria below will be recognised as an ONZ Research Champion Clinic. If your clinic meets more than four, you're welcome to provide evidence against additional criteria.

Patient Outcomes - Measure patient outcomes to support continous improvement
Evidence-Informed Practice - Integrate current evidence into everyday clinical care
Learning & Professional Development - Support lifelong learning and continuing professional development
Student & Graduate Development - Mentor and develop the future
Research & Quality Development - Participate in research or quality improvement initiatives
Collaboration & Community Engagement - Work collaboratively and contribute to the wider community
Innovation - introduce new ideas that improve patient care or service delivery.

Example - Patient Outcomes: How your clinic helped with patient outcomes research, wha was involved, and how it contributed to building evidence within NZ Healthcare.

How to take part

The expression of interest is designed to be straightforward and takes approximately 15–20 minutes to complete.

Brief written responses (maximum 100 words per criterion selected)
Optional supporting evidence - one file per criterion
A final reflection: What makes your clinic a Research Champion? (maximum 150 words)
You can save your responses and return later before submitting

Before submitting, applicants confirm a short declaration: that the information provided is accurate to the best of their knowledge, that ONZ may contact the clinic to verify details if required, and that they consent to ONZ acknowledging the clinic publicly if successful.

Clinic and Business Partnerships