It is with great pleasure that I present the Snapshot of Australian primary health care research 2010. The Australian Government continues to pursue a comprehensive health reform agenda to create a fairer, more sustainable health system.

We recognise that strong primary health care is critical to the success and sustainability of our overall health care system, and acknowledge the vital role primary health care research plays in generating the evidence base for best practice – the foundation for a reformed health system.

The eleven research projects showcased in Snapshot 2010 provide examples of outstanding Australian primary health care research being conducted under the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Strategy that have produced policy and/or practice relevant findings specific to the health reform agenda and to Australia’s First National Primary Health Care Strategy.

The Australian Government has funded the PHCRED Strategy since 2000 to improve Australia’s capacity to produce high quality primary health care research. In building research capacity, the Strategy offers opportunities for research training, support and experience spanning the full researcher development continuum. As these projects illustrate, the PHCRED Strategy supports large and small research projects, researchers at all stages of their careers, and large-scale collaborations between health services, universities and communities.

The Government acknowledges that primary health care research contributes to improving our system through generating insight into factors that influence delivery and access to best practice primary health care. Snapshot 2010 includes studies on exploring the work intentions of GPs, developing health indicators for remote Aboriginal mothers and infants, improving health literacy and the expanding role of practice nurses.

Findings like these can lessen the gap between what we do in primary health care delivery and what we know to be effective. Primary health care when informed by the best evidence can have significant benefits for our wellbeing, and can help to reduce the burden on the hospital system.

Primary health care research is imperative for driving improvements to benefit all Australians, and I applaud the researchers for their work featured in Snapshot 2010.

Finally, I would like to thank Assoc Professor Libby Kalucy for her outstanding work as Director of PHC RIS over the past decade and wish her well for the future.

Nicola Roxon
Minister for Health and Ageing
Canberra