> About us > Annual Report 2006 > Year in review

The Primary Health Care Research and Information Service was an exciting place to work in 2006, at the always changing interface of primary health care, research and information. Primary health care has seen much activity in areas such as workforce, team work, prevention, chronic disease management, quality improvement, information technology and funding. Assessing research quality and impact has been high on the research change agenda. Information changes in 2006 encompassed the novel Web 2.0 as well as old narrative methods becoming new again because of their power in getting memorable messages across. PHC RIS endeavoured to keep up with the way such changes affect primary health care researchers, policy advisors and the Divisions Network, so we could continue to provide up to date and timely services and information in the best possible way to suit our stakeholders' diverse needs.

This annual report illustrates PHC RIS' achievements in 2006 as a result of our creative and energetic staff members working productively on the substantial business plan we negotiated with the Department of Health and Ageing. The focus of PHC RIS' core business is the activities and outcomes of the Divisions of General Practice Network and primary health care research. To achieve our first aim, PHC RIS generated a great deal of knowledge about these activities and outcomes, and for our second aim we managed and facilitated access to data and information about them. For PHC RIS' third aim, we increased and promoted sharing of information and knowledge among the people from the three main groups (policy, research and the Divisions Network) involved in the activities and outcomes of the Divisions Network and primary health care research. Finally, PHC RIS' achievements in 2006 have only been possible with effective governance, management, communication and marketing.

The technology of communication is one major component of PHC RIS' work. Readers will see that PHC RIS has developed a number of innovations to make the most of the flexibility of the internet and email. As a result, PHC RIS stakeholders in 2006 were able to receive, by email, weekly bulletins of filtered information, take advantage of 'self service' data and information about Divisions, respond to surveys by the internet, read newsletters designed for their computer screens, and search details of current research and researchers in Australian primary health care.

Communication between people is the second major component. As people make up the essence of primary health care research, policy and practice, one of the most important events in our annual calendar is the GP & PHC Research Conference which we convene for the Department of Health and Ageing. This friendly event brings together the people who produce and use primary health care research in Australia, to get to know each other, learn and share ideas. For those unable to attend, much of the program is captured via the internet.

A matter for ongoing consideration by PHC RIS is promoting itself to an ever changing community. We believe our value lies in contributing to an effective Australian primary health care research community. We link the Divisions Network, policy and research sectors through our major role of collecting Divisions information. Last but not least, PHC RIS makes it easier and quicker for people to obtain what they need, to continue their own work, in policy, research or practice.