Research

The Experience and Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals towards Genomic Newborn Bloodspot Screening

Take part in the research study titled "NEWBORN GENomic SEQuencing in screening: Therapy Ready and Information for Life," also known as the TRAIL study. 

The TRAIL study is exploring the use of Genomic Newborn Bloodspot Screening (gNBS) as a complement to routine Newborn Screening Programmes. gNBS uses the same dried blood spot card collected 48-72 hours after birth. Similar studies in Australia and Internationally have demonstrated the capacity to screen for over 500 conditions at once - compared to about 25 conditions in routine newborn screening using a single genomic test. This approach enables earlier detection of a wider range of treatable childhood conditions and may also provide important insights into family health.

GP, Practice Nurse and Staff Perspectives on Dementia Risk Assessment

Researchers working with Professor Kaarin Anstey at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and The University of New South Wales (UNSW) are conducting a project aimed at exploring attitudes and opinions of clinicians and practice staff on the implementation of dementia risk assessment, and an online dementia risk assessment tool (CogDrisk) in primary care settings.

The study would involve either an hour-long online focus group or interview, to the preference of the GP, practice nurse, or practice manager. 

GPs Needed: Share Your Expertise in Breast Cancer Survivorship Care

We are seeking GPs to share their expert insights in a short (up to 30 minutes) telephone or video interview for a research project led by Ms Lisa Hanlon, supervised by academic GP A/Prof Carolyn Ee and A/Prof Kate McBride. 

This study is exploring how weight gain among breast cancer survivors is currently managed in primary care, the challenges and barriers GPs face, and opportunities to strengthen support through policy, training and resources.

Your perspective will directly contribute to shaping more cohesive, evidence-based models of care for this important patient group. Participation is voluntary, and as a thank you for your valuable time, all interviewees will receive a $100 gift voucher. To learn more or register your interest, please see the Participant Information Sheet or contact Lisa directly at 16169539@westernsydney.edu.au

Seeking General Practitioners to Participate in a UTS Research Study

Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are inviting Australia-based General Practitioners (GPs) to take part in a brief study exploring ways to better support people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds living with or beyond cancer.

This study aims to understand the barriers and facilitators GPs experience when implementing behaviour change strategies to support CALD patients affected by cancer. Insights from this research will help inform future programs and resources designed to improve culturally appropriate cancer care in general practice.

Insights from the Australian mental health workforce

The University of Melbourne are seeking mental health professionals to share their insights on supporting Muslim clients bereaved by suicide. The aim is to better understand workforce needs and inform culturally and religiously sensitive training.

Who can participate?

• Mental health care providers in Australia
• Psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, GPs, social workers, nurses, etc.
• Minimum of 2 years’ professional experience

What’s involved?

• A 10–15 minute online survey
• Questions about knowledge, skills, training needs, and experiences

Why take part?

• Contribute to research aimed at improving culturally safe support
• Option to enter a draw to win one of ten $30 gift vouchers

Participation is anonymous and confidential.

GPs Needed: Share Your Expertise in Breast Cancer Survivorship Care

Seeking GPs to share their expert insights in a short (up to 30 minutes) telephone or video interview for a research project led by Ms Lisa Hanlon, supervised by academic GP A/Prof Carolyn Ee and A/Prof Kate McBride. This study is exploring how weight gain among breast cancer survivors is currently managed in primary care, the challenges and barriers GPs face, and opportunities to strengthen support through policy, training and resources.

Your perspective will directly contribute to shaping more cohesive, evidence-based models of care for this important patient group. Participation is voluntary, and as a thank you for your valuable time, all interviewees will receive a $100 gift voucher.

To learn more or register your interest, please see the Participant Information Sheet or contact Lisa directly at 16169539@westernsydney.edu.au]16169539@westernsydney.edu.au.

Guideline currency study

The aim of the study is to capture the views of Australian community members and clinicians about the currency of clinical guidelines, and their views about living guidelines.

You will be asked to answer a series of questions on this topic, via a 10-minute online survey. At the end of the survey you will be invited to leave your email address, if you would like to be contacted with a copy of the results.

Ethically approved targeted health service survey regarding Post-Sepsis Models of Care in Australian Healthcare settings.

Survivorship after sepsis is a national healthcare priority with more than 70% of sepsis survivors (45 and up) readmitted to hospital within 1-year post-discharge. 

The survey aims to identify what post-sepsis services exist within the Australian health system. 

We want to hear from health staff who know of health services that provide:  

• Follow-up post-sepsis or post-critical illness care/support after discharge from an acute care setting for survivors, parents, carers, and families. 
• Services for all age groups (neonate, paediatric, adult, maternity, aged care).   
• Bereavement services for those who have lost a loved one to sepsis.  

If you have any questions, please email sepsissupportstudy@georgeinstitute.org.au

You can find out more about the SEPSIS SUPPORT research program here.  

Research Opportunity: GPs and Climate-Related Health Risks

The University of Sydney is seeking general practitioners (GPs) to take part in a research project exploring how GPs discuss climate-related health risks with patients.

The study aims to better understand current practices, challenges, and support needs in providing advice on environmental and climate-related health impacts such as heatwaves, air quality, and extreme weather events.

We are interested in hearing from GPs regardless of whether you currently discuss these issues in your practice.

What’s involved?

• A Zoom interview (up to 45 minutes) at a time that suits you

• An opportunity to contribute to research that may help shape future GP support, education, and policy

Who can participate?

• GPs currently practising in Australia

Participants will receive a reimbursement for their time.

Is a client with ADHD sitting in your waiting room?

Researchers from the University of Melbourne are running an online survey about health professionals’ experiences of ADHD identification, diagnosis, and treatment in Australia. We are looking for responses from both ADHD specialists and general health professionals.

To participate in this study, you will need to be:

• Working in a medical, nursing, allied health, or other health-related profession in Australia,
• Currently involved in any of the following stages in ADHD clinical care:
  • Identification, screening, and/or referral,
  • Assessment and/or diagnosis,
  • Planning and/or providing medication, therapies, and/or other support services.

This survey expires 31/12/2025

Primary Care Research & Education Network

The General Practice Academic Unit at UOW has launched the Primary Care Research and Education Network (PCREN) to support medical student education and practice-based research in primary care.

PCREN provides access to research updates, medical education resources, events, and opportunities for collaboration via its Microsoft Teams platform and regular email updates.

Replacing the Illawarra Southern Practice Research Network (ISPRN), PCREN continues to build research capacity in primary care and support clinicians supervising students in practice settings.

If you are interested in becoming a member or would like further information, please contact gsm-research@uow.edu.au.

Supporting Healthy Futures research trial

Supporting Healthy Futures research trial to improve the implementation of annual Health Checks for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients in mainstream general practices.

The research trial is now open for recruitment. 

They are seeking to recruit mainstream general practices who meet the eligibility criteria below:

• Located in NSW
• Currently using or willing to use CAT4 (aka PenCAT) to enable research data collection
• Have at least 40 active clients recorded as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

Is your practice interested in quality improvement for antimicrobial stewardship?

General practices and doctors are invited to join the OPTIMAS-GP implementation trial of an intervention targeting the quality use of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections, funded by the Medical Research Futures Fund (ID: MRF2029531). Participation in all study aspects is reimbursed and GP training is CPD accredited. For details, click here to express interest and access the Participant Information Sheet (PIS). COORDINARE is supporting the University of Wollongong with this research project. Access the Medcast promotional video here.  

Seeking GP Practice Managers to participate in a national research program

Study to better understand the experiences of health professionals who use IAR-DST

Researchers at InsideOut are conducting a study hoping to gain a better understanding of how people with mental health concerns are directed quickly to the care they need.

The study invites practitioners to provide detailed information about their experience using the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) in primary care. Knowing this will help provide clear recommendations to government on how to improve access to treatment.

Who can participate?

• Practitioners who have experience with the IAR-DST.
• GPs, commissioned service providers or anyone else who uses the IAR-DST in their clinical practice for any type of mental health illness or concern.

To complete the survey, click here.

National survey on cancer care in general practice

This study aims to assess GP and GP trainee comfort with providing cancer survivorship care in adult cancer survivors.

The survey has been developed by a team of Australian and international GPs together with allied health and nursing researchers, including A/Prof Joel Rhee, A/Prof Kylie Vuong, and Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko.

The survey should take no more than 12-15 minutes to complete. All participants are offered the chance to win one of three $100 gift vouchers of their choice.

To complete the survey, click here.

Study on childhood obesity prevention strategies in primary health care policy and practice

Sydney University is seeking primary health care practitioners to undertake an online interview on obesity prevention strategies in early childhood (birth to 5 years) in primary health care policy and practice. 

Participants will be compensated for their time with a shopping voucher.

Please contact Dr Emalie Rosewarne, Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health, emalie.rosewarne@sydney.edu.au if you would like to participate in this study or if you would like further information about the study.

NCIRS Genomics Study

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is seeking participants for a study that will investigate the role certain genes may have in predicting which individuals might experience adverse events of special interest (AESI) after COVID-19 vaccination.

Participants who have had a COVID-19 vaccination and did not experience any serious adverse events are invited to submit a saliva sample via a self-collection kit for genetic analysis. The kits will be posted to participants at home and can be returned via reply-paid postage. Contact NCIRS for more information.

Building public confidence in the secondary use of GP data

Researchers at the University of Wollongong are seeking GPs from across Australia to participate in a study investigating General Practitioner (GP) views of the use of information from general practice records for research in Australia. This project is part of a larger study examining how we can use general practice data for research in ways that the public, GPs and other stakeholders will find ethically justifiable and acceptable. 

If you would like to take part in this study, please email Dr Heidi Green hgreen@uow.edu.au to register your interest.

Wearables integrated technology to support healthy behaviours in people with Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers from Bond University and the University of Newcastle as seeking General Practices to participate in a MRFF funded research project to improve health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. The project seeks to test integrating wearable devices within a diabetes self-care management plan. Wearable devices will measure blood glucose, blood pressure, and physical activity.

For more information and to register for the project click here.

PANDA trial

Cardiometabolic diseases are among the most commonly managed conditions in primary care, affecting around a quarter of Australians 45+. Physical activity, including walking, aerobic and resistance training, is key. However, current physical activity prescriptions and programs can be undermined by low uptake and adherence.

The Physical Activity in Nature for Cardiometabolic Diseases in People Aged 45+ (PANDA) trial is seeking volunteers to take part in a focus group interview about your experiences of nearby natural settings and their capacity, opportunity and motivation to spend time there and reflect on barriers and potential remedies.