Education and capacity building

Our education programs allow us to review our work and disseminate it to students and those working in the field, while developing the next generation of researchers. We have capacity building programs to develop research skills in health and related services and to support the implementation of our findings work in policy and practice.

Academic and other programs

We supervise PhD and Masters by Research students in areas relevant to our work. Recent and current topics include, for example:

  • Quantifying physical activity behaviour in a primary care setting - an instrument for measuring physical activity change in general practice
  • Ethnicity and health literacy for weight management in non-English speaking migrants attending primary health care
  • From advocacy to action: Utilising Health Impact Assessment as a tool to realise the right to health.

We run postgraduate courses within the Masters of Public Health (MPH) program, coordinated by the School of Public Health and Community Medicine. Subjects include:

  • Principles & Practice of Primary Health Care (the core unit for the Primary Health Care specialisation)
  • Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease
  • Inequalities & Health
  • Health Impact Assessment

We supervise UNSW undergraduate students who are doing an Independent Learning Project (ILP) as part of their medical course and Honours students. Recent topics have included, for example:

  • Transition to ongoing primary health care for asylum seekers in Sydney
  • The impact of sociodemographic factors on change in weight, diet and physical activity in obese patients.

We have developed online learning modules:

  • PHC research methods for GP Registrars, available via GP Synergy
  • Obesity management, available to for PHC nurses as a free CPD course via APNA 

We supervise and mentor primary health care professionals, including academic GP registrars, to develop research skills.

Research capacity building

Community Star (Service for Training and Research) creates opportunities for change in difficult social and environments through supporting workers, creating opportunities for the community, building the evidence base and speaking out with communities on issues of concern to them. Community Star is based in Miller and funded by Liverpool City Council. More information is available here.

PHReNet GP is a research network that supports general practices involved in research. It is managed from the General Practice Unit at Fairfield Hospital.

The Electronic Practice Based Research Network (ePBRN) links the information systems of general practices and Fairfield hospital and so provides a structure for research and quality improvement relating to integration and quality of care.

Research exchange

CPHCE has hosted numerous research exchange events that aim to build the capacity of health professionals, policy makers and others with an interest in primary health care. Recent events have included:

  • ACI Health Care Neighbourhoods and Integrated Care Workshop 1 Dec 2016
  • The CPHCE annual forum
  • A symposium on health literacy for preventive care in PHC settings

Details of these and other events can be found here. You can view a selection of materials from workshops, masterclasses and seminars by clicking here.