STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE THROUGH HEALTH RESEARCH WHERE MOST PEOPLE ACCESS HEALTHCARE, RACGP joins consortium and calls for practice-based research network in primary health
With
Dr Michael Wright GP, President
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) &
Associate Professor,
International Centre for Future Health Systems (ICFHS)
Australian Health Journal segment
Filmed in Sydney | March 2025
In February 2025, the Australian Government committed over $22 million for primary care research, including $5.2m awarded to Professor Michael Kidd, Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems at UNSW and recently appointed Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, to lead the establishment of one of the largest research collaborations in Australia focused on improving primary care.
The Royal Australian College of GPs says a new national multidisciplinary consortium for primary care research is a positive step forward to improve patient care.
The RACGP is a member of the National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium, which involves 100 primary care researchers from 20 universities from across the country.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said: “Every year more than 22 million Australians see a specialist GP for their essential health care, making general practice is the most accessed part of our health system.
“Yet research in general practice is vastly underrepresented and underfunded. General practice receives less than 2% of our national medical research funding.
“This new consortium is an important and exciting opportunity to design, test and innovate models of care to better meet the needs of patients across Australia, and I’m proud the RACGP is a member.
“The RACGP is calling for all political parties to commit to funding a national practice-based research network, like they have in Canada and the United Kingdom.
“These networks have proven to be immensely valuable overseas.
“We’re also calling for funding to test how multidisciplinary practice teams work at full scope in Australia, in order to improve access to care for patients.
“We know people get the best outcomes when their GP works together with their other specialists, and health professionals, and it’s especially valuable for people with chronic and complex illnesses.
Source: Highlights from RACGP media release
-
Pathology technology at a crossroads
The CEO of Pathology Technology Australia, Dean Whiting spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
– Pathology Technology Australia’s key priorities in the coming years
– Current local capability in pathology technology compared to other countries
– How the health system supports change and adoption of pathology technology
– How pathology is perceived by the public and in government as well as how developments in pathology technology are followed and understood
– Observations in the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce ReportIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
-
Nurse led micro-suction earwax removal service continues success
At the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards in February, Earworx was recognised as the National Championing Health Award winner. Lisa Hellwege, the Clinical Director and Founder of Earworx, expressed her gratitude to the entire team and their patients for their trust and support. Earworx specialises in providing professional earwax removal services led by trained nurses using a procedure called microsuction.
-
Access and productivity outcomes with radiology technology in Western Sydney
In Western Sydney, there is currently significant growth accompanied by a notable need for cardiovascular support due to the prevalence of related diseases. It is estimated that the population in this area will reach 6 million by 2041.
With this population growth, there is also a pressing shortage of healthcare professionals in Australia, particularly in the field of radiology, where there are not enough radiographers, sonographers, MRI technicians, and nuclear medicine technicians.
