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What is PHCRED and CAPRE?

PHCRED (Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development) is a national strategy funded federally by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing aimed at encouraging and supporting research and evaluation capacity building in primary health care (including General Practice). The Discipline of General Practice at the University of Newcastle has been allocated research capacity building funding until 2009. The local PHCRED program is known as the Capacity Building in Research and Evaluation Program (CAPRE). This funding allows us to support and develop research capacity in primary health care in the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and the North West regions of NSW.

Program Goals

The objectives for the National PHCRED strategy for 2006-2009 are to:

Expand the pool of Primary Health Care researchers
Enhance the amount and relevance of Primary health care research
Improve the extent to which policy makers and health practitioners use research. The CAPRE Program utilizes an annual Business Plan and Reporting cycle. Within the CAPRE Business Plan for each objective, there are several strategies for focusing activity during 2007, many of which began from 2001-2005 under Phase One.

Past Activity

Over the past 5 years the CAPRE Program has funded a number of major activities. These activities included:

An annual regional General Practice and Primary Health Care Research Conference.
Annual CAPRE Writing Retreat providing attendees with tips on writing for publication and protected writing time.
The instigation of regional Primary Health Care Research Networks.
A number of research skills workshops and seminars for regional PHC stakeholders.
The submission of several grant applications for research projects with a multidisciplinary primary health care focus.
Research mentoring with individual practitioner research and evaluation advice, training and support.

Our Current Focus

Our work in 2007 and beyond will build on our previous capacity building activities and focus on embedding and supporting a research culture in PHC. The activities will include a focus on research networks, supporting practitioners to conduct practice-based research and evaluation projects; and supporting individuals to explore options for undertaking PHC research including research higher degrees.

Join a Research Network

The establishment the Research Networks is part of our comprehensive research capacity building program. There are currently two research networks that are supported in the region.

The Health Evaluation and Research Network (HEARNet)

HEARNet is open to any primary health care professional within the local area who has an interest in research and wishes to be involved in collaborative projects and sharing of research and evaluation information.

Join as a HEARNet member and receive regular communications regarding capacity building activities and reports of local PHC research and evaluation projects via the regular newsletter, HEARNet News.

HEARNet News Editions

2008	2007	2006
Volume 7, Number 1	Volume 6, Number 1	Volume 5, Number 1
Volume 7, Number 2	Volume 6, Number 2	Volume 5, Number 2
	Volume 6, Number 3	Volume 5, Number 3
	Volume 6, Number 4	Volume 5, Number 4

The Network of Research General Practices (NRGP)

The NRGP is being established in the Hunter, Central Coast and New England regions of NSW. PHC practitioners (GPS, practice nurses and allied health staff) who are interested in being supported to conduct research and evaluation projects within their own general practice setting are invited to join. Please see the NRGP information flyer for further details.

What the CAPRE Program Offers

Research support and advice (eg. Reviewing grant applications, advice on preparing Human Research Ethics Applications, writing research questions, study design and method advice).
Research skills training workshops and seminars - view calendar and registration form
Possibility of fractional research fellowship appointments for PHC early career researchers under the Researcher Development (RDP) Program.
Participation in a Critical Appraisal Journal Club - view information and registration form
Opportunity to present research projects and network at Regional PHC Research Forums.
Individual membership of the Health Evaluation and Research Network (HEARNet).

CAPRE Program Staff

Dr Parker Magin
GP Research Academic

Ms Susan Goode
Program Coordinator

Dr Terry Joyce
Research Academic

Ms Georgina Cotter
Project Officer

Ms Debbie Mutton
Research Administrator

Contact Details

Ms Susan Goode
Ph: +61 2 4968 6737
email: Susan.Goode@newcastle.edu.au

Links:

Primary Health Care Research Information Service (PHCRIS)
http://www.phcris.org.au/

New South Wales Primary Health Care Collaboration (NSW PHC)
http://www.nswphc.unsw.edu.au/index.htm