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Optimising impact - 2006

By far and away the best general practice research conference in Australia and when compared to overseas conferences, . it's a very high standard and as good as a conference can be.
- Researcher, Rolling survey response (January 2007)

The annual General Practice and Primary Health Care (GP & PHC) Research conference is a significant event for the primary health care sector in Australia. It brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and consumers to debate the latest developments in research, practice and health policy in Australia.

The 2006 GP & PHC Research Conference - Optimising impact was held 5-7 July, at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. For the first time in its 13 year history, Perth was the host city for this exceptional event. During the three day conference, the program was able to boast 120 paper presentations and 58 poster displays, three plenary sessions, six pre-conference workshops, two breakfast sessions, 24 concurrent sessions (three more than in 2005), a poster session, integral social engagements, and countless impromptu meetings.

Three hundred and twelve delegates, from Australia and overseas, converged on Perth to be inspired, challenged and provoked. The international guest speakers, from the USA - Professor Larry A Green, MD, Senior Scholar in Residence at The Robert Graham Centre in Washington, DC (sponsored by APHCRI); from the UK - Professor Martin Roland, Director of NPCRDC and Professor of General Practice at Manchester University; and from the Netherlands, and - Professor Andre Knottnerus, Professor, Department of General Practice, Maastricht University certainly delivered on this promise as indicated by the conference evaluation.

The Call for Abstracts was, for the second time, fully automated through the website, which again proved to be a most reliable, efficient and user friendly system. In response to the Call for Abstracts, a pre-selected scientific review committee of 19 general practice and primary health care research professionals used a blind peer review process to review the 192 abstract submissions.

This conference was again the result of the collaboration between AAAGP, APHCRI and PHC RIS. AAAGP awarded two Distinguished Paper Prizes, convened a plenary session, hosted a members' gala dinner event, and convened their Annual General meeting. APHCRI convened a plenary session, facilitated a workshop, and provided generous sponsorship to bring out keynote speaker, Professor Larry Green from Washington DC.

With funding received from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, PHC RIS not only planned and delivered on the conference requirements, but was able to provide sponsorship to 20 delegates, for varying requirements to the tune of over $21,000. This essentially facilitated the attendance of delegates who would not under other circumstances have been able to attend.

Plans are underway for the 2007 GP & PHC Research Conference - Working together to be held in Sydney from 23-25 May.