Throughout 2009 the Primary Health Care Research & Information Service engaged with and learned from stakeholders so that we could generate, manage and share information about Australian primary health care.

Generate

PHC RIS:

• Sent out PHC RIS eBulletin weekly to 1 839 subscribers
• Undertook an applied research project to establish the contribution of primary health care research to health reform processes in Australia
• Completed three rapid response research projects for the Department on topics of policy relevance
• Evaluated the extent to which the Researcher Development Program impacted on knowledge, attitudes and practice in relation to research
• Published the bi monthly newsletter PHC RIS infonet, which was sent to over 1 000 hard copy subscribers and over 1 200 electronic subscribers
• Produced Summary Data Report of the 2007-2008 Annual Survey of Divisions of General Practice
• Produced the first Divisions Performance Indicator reports by analysing data from National Performance Indicators and the Annual Survey of Divisions.

Manage

PHC RIS:

• Continually updated and enhanced the design and functionality of the website which, in 2009, had average monthly hits of 39 864, over 8 000 more than the monthly hits in 2008
• Merged ROAR profiles with ROAR projects and 2009 GP & PHC Research Conference abstracts, bringing the total number of ROAR profiles to just over 2 500
• Responded to over 2 000 enquiries from stakeholders by phone, email and in person
• Supported Divisions Networks and State Based Organisations by enhancing the planning and reporting on-line system.

Share

PHC RIS:

• Produced and distributed over 500 copies of the Snapshot of Australian primary health care research 2009, which alsohad 434 downloads from the PHC RIS website
• Convened the GP & PHC Research Conference with the theme, Driving Change, in Melbourne 15-17 July 2009. Over 450 delegates attended to hear from 150 speakers (Australian and overseas) about primary health care research, evaluation and development.
• Published five peer reviewed journal articles
• Conducted and evaluated a knowledge brokering project for the Department as the basis for further work, in collaboration with the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI)
• Conducted a stakeholder survey to assess awareness and usefulness of PHC RIS paper-based and web-based resources
• Produced seven electronic issues of RESEARCH ROUNDup
• Organised five consultation workshops around Australia for phase 3 of the PHCRED Strategy
• Facilitated an exchange of information and knowledge between researchers and policy advisors through three knowledge brokering events.