Libby Kalucy, PHC RIS

For PHC RIS, 2008 was a year for evaluation and forward planning against a background of health reform and change for policy, research, and primary health care organisations such as the Divisions Network.

In March, both the research and Divisions aspects of PHC RIS were evaluated as part of the PHCRED evaluation undertaken for the Department of Health and Ageing. As 2008 was the final year of a four year funding agreement with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, we developed, with our Strategic Advisory Group, some options for PHC RIS’ future. In July we received a letter of intent from the Department to fund PHC RIS in 2009. Negotiations for a new funding agreement with the Strategic Research and Evidence Section continued until the end of the year, with the options paper forming the basis of the new schedule of work. We worked separately on a contract to provide enhancements to the Divisions Online Reporting System to meet the reporting requirements of the new funding agreement which commenced in July 2008 between the Department and the Divisions Network.

Throughout this time PHC RIS met high expectations by delivering our many information products reliably and promptly, anticipating information needs, responding to requests and continuously improving our operations and systems.