WA Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation & Development Conference a success

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Summer 3-12-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle Campus

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

Reported by Statewide Coordinator for PHCRED, Mrs Lyn Brun

The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus was a buzz of activity at the end of November as over 40 early to mid-career researchers assembled to discuss their latest findings.

It was fitting that the conference was staged at Fremantle this year, as it was four years ago that the new graduated entry program for medicine began at Notre Dame with the first cohort of graduates from the School of Medicine due to graduate on Saturday 13 December, 2008.

Topics were varied and covered a number of interesting and current Primary Health Care issues related to the theme of ‘Primary Health Care MATTERS!’

Delegates travelled from across the State, as far a field as Albany and Margaret River in the south to Geraldton and Broome in the north.

Delegates were impressed with the School of Medicine as a venue ant the opportunity to hear topics as varied as the prevalence and severity of surfing related injuries in the South West to the implementation and evaluation of palliative rural respite service.

Professor Tom Brett, Director of Notre Dame’s General Practice and Primary Health Care Research Unit, explained, “ Research into primary health care generally tends to be poorly funded but the PHCRED program, who convenes these annual get -togethers, has been successfully adopted by the three units (UWA, CUCRH & UNDA) and is reflected in the numbers of attendees at the event.”

Speaker, Associate Professor Lyn Henderson-Yates, Coordinator of Aboriginal Studies at Notre Dame’s Broome Campus, provided an indigenous perspective on primary health care. Practice – based research networks were also a hot topic of discussion as keynote speaker, Professor Nick Zwar from the University of New South Wales, discussed the need for more research in general practice and primary health care as a whole.

Attendees consisted of general practitioners, registrars, nurses, medical students, allied health professionals, consumer group representatives, physiotherapists and other health professionals. Statewide Coordinator for PHCRED, Mrs Lyn Brun said, “This conference provided a great opportunity for researchers from across the State to share what they have learnt and gained through this vitally important funding program.”

PHCRED provides fellowships and bursaries resulting from funding of research into key areas for Primary Health Care with an addition focus on rural and indigenous health.

Mrs Brun added, “The research findings will go a long way to assisting doctors and health professionals across the State in providing a better level of service and more targeted programs.”

Media contact: Michelle Ebbs (08) 9433 0610 / 0408959138

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