Congratulations to our ISPRN members who have recently had their article published in the Health Information Management Journal.

You can read the publication here:

http://him.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/1833358316669888v1.pdf?ijkey=rHvddApZZauoVZf&keytype=finite

Kind Regards

Alyssa Horgan

Dear ISPRN members

We are always delighted to hear about your publication or grant success, or any other news that you wish to share.

If you have some news that you would like to share with other ISPRN members please get in touch with me.

Kind Regards

Alyssa Horgan
ISPRN Program Assistant

Dear all

The RACGP have asked us to circulate  a short survey that helps the RACGP develop a snapshot of the current trends of technology adoption in Australian general practice.

By having your say you will be contributing their experience and assisting the RACGP in understanding what systems are being used, future investment needed, and key technology challenges faced by general practice teams. The RACGP is keen to hear from GPs and GP registrars currently practicing in Australia. As a form of appreciation for their support, all participants who complete the survey are invited to enter a draw to win one of two $50 Coles-Myer gift cards. Participants will also have the opportunity to receive a copy of the survey results when they are published.

The survey can be completed at  https://racgp.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b732P1hyhuoMiQl and closes on 31 October 2016.

I have attached the report from last year’s survey to this message, which informed the development of the new resource mHealth in general practice – A toolkit for effective and secure use of mobile technology.

The RACGP appreciates your support in this important initiative.

This 18 month research project, supported by the University of Wollongong’s practice-based research network ISPRN, is designed to build research capacity within our region’s practices.

In fact, ISPRN will provide research mentoring and supervision by two senior GSM academics, administrative support and research assistance as part of the project.

The research should focus on chronic disease and involve at least two general practices from the region. The project should also be of sufficient enough scope to enable results to be published in a peer reviewed journal but also achievable by a novice researcher within an 18 month timeframe.

Applications are now open and close at 5pm on 18 November 2016.

Download an application form now!

For further information on the application process contact ISPRN Program Assistant Alyssa Horgan on (02) 4221 5819 or amunkman@uow.edu.au

The Translational Research Grants Scheme provides grants to staff within NSW local health districts, the Ambulance Service of NSW, specialty health networks and NSW Health Pathology. The focus is on research questions that will translate into practice change that will directly impact on patient and/or population health outcomes.

Applicants are encouraged to partner with other organisations such as universities and medical research institutes; however research projects must be led by an employee of a host organisation within the health system. To strengthen partnerships and collaboration across the health service, a contact person within each LHD, Pillar and Ministry of Health policy branch is provided in the Guidelines for TRGS applicants.

In the second round $12.8 million will be available; allocated over a two year period.

Following Round 1 the Project Executive and Selection Panel made recommendations for changes to the Round 2. The proposed changes have been incorporated into the revised Guidelines for Applicants, Expression of Interest and Full Application forms.

To increase the capacity of LHDs to align appropriate research methodologies with the research question, the Sax Institute has developed a Translational Research Framework. This Framework will assist LHDs to place their projects on a continuum from innovation testing through to system wide implementation, to identify the relevant research questions for the stage of development and to select the appropriate research designs.

The guidelines provide clear intentions of the program. This will guide to LHDs during their pre-submission assessments of applications.

Research Priorities have changed from Round 1 (refer to EOI)

A new Alcohol and other Drugs Early Intervention Innovation Fund (TRGS AOD) is simultaneously open for applications. While Alcohol and other Drugs continues to be one of the priorities under TRGS Round 2, TRGS AOD invites non-government organisations and host organisations to participate in the new program.

Information sessions by operator-assisted teleconference have been arranged for the dates below. Please register your interest and availability to dial into one of the sessions below by emailing TRGS@doh.health.nsw.gov.au. You can also forward questions ahead of time to the same email address.

In Round 2 the assistance to applicants will be primarily through information sessions and online publication of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or responses to emailed questions which will be discussed at the information sessions and added to FAQS. In circumstances where the project is identified by reviewers as a high priority project, assistance may be provided to help refine the EOI for Full Application.

Host organisations are expected to conduct internal preliminary assessments to ensure that the submitted applications align with the purpose, objectives and intents of TRGS. The total number of applications that can be submitted by a Host organisation is capped at 30.

I strongly encourage you to identify relevant partners who will be actively involved in the delivery of the project/s and implementation of the outcomes. Partnerships can be internal to your organisation, across LHDs or with organisations including universities, medical research institutes, non-government organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and primary healthcare networks.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me directly.

Regards

Dr Kerry Chant PSM
Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary | Population and Public Health
Level 11, 73 Miller Street, North Sydney 2060
Tel 02 9391 9185 | kecha@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
www.health.nsw.gov.au

IHMRI is pleased to announce the second round of the 2016 IHMRI Grant Program.

Career Development Grant Scheme

Two grants of up to $10,000 are available in this scheme to support early career academic or clinician researchers (including health professionals) to develop their skills, expertise and research track records. See application form attached for more detail regarding eligibility and selection criteria.

Collaborative Project Grant Scheme

Two grants of up to $25,000 are available in this scheme to support collaborative research projects co-led by an academic and a clinician researcher (including health professionals) that target important health issues within the Illawarra community and address medically-relevant questions. Research can be conducted at IHMRI, The Wollongong Hospital, other ISLHD sites, or any combination of the three. Selection criteria and more details regarding the scheme are outlined in the application form attached.

Both grant schemes will be reviewed by a panel comprising the IHMRI Executive and key IHMRI clinician and academic researchers. Successful applications for each scheme will then progress to a second stage where they will have an interview and discussion with the IHMRI Executive. Grants are awarded for a 12 month timeline and expenditure is expected by the end of 2017.

Please see timeline below for submission, review and announcement for both grant schemes.

Please direct any enquiries to Sally McNeill (4221 4809) or Bethany Pye-Respondek (4252 8940).

Applications are due by 31 October 2016.

W  www. ihmri.uow.edu.au

Dear ISPRN members,

Please find link below to the latest ISPRN newsletter which showcases our latest research projects.

Final ISPRN Newsletter 2016

Congratulations to everyone who has been involved for all of your  hard work!

We welcome any comments or queries.

Program Assistant
Alyssa Horgan
amunkman@uow.edu.au
(02) 4221 5819

The School of Medicine welcomes you to attend its next Research Seminar

Thursday, 18 August, 2016 | 3:30 – 4:30pm
Lecture Theatre, GSM Building (28.101)

There will be two talks from the ISPRN network.

Dr. Russell Pearson will discuss a proposed multisite study seeking the views and experience of patients, their families, RACF staff and GPs, in relation to how the delivery of the high standard of medical care to this cohort of patient seems to rely upon a high degree of communication and cooperation between all involved.

Russell is Regional Academic Leader: Shoalhaven for the Graduate School of Medicine, a GP VMO in Palliative Care at Karinya (David Berry Hospital) and a general practitioner based in Gerringong , NSW.

Dr Munther Zureigat is a GP in Wollongong and Milton with interest in General Dermatology.  She will discuss her study, of which the main aim is to improve the outcome of acne patients seen by general practitioners by identifying the barriers and facilitators encountered within the GP setting.

Hope to see you there!  Feel free to forward to anyone else who may be interested.

Dear ISPRN members,

Please find links below to recent media articles on Dr Fiona Williams’ research project.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-01/overprescription-of-sleeping-tablets-for-seniors/7676926

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4066279/silence-continues-harmful-sleeping-tablet-cycle-study/

https://news.agedcareguide.com.au/2016/08/05/study-finds-a-circle-of-silence-surrounds-sleeping-tablet-prescription-18/

http://media.uow.edu.au/releases/UOW218902

Kind Regards

Alyssa Horgan
ISPRN Program Assistant

AHSRI Short Courses 2016

Health Services Research and Development

2016 sees the continued reinvigoration of the AHSRI Education Program, including a comprehensive series of short courses available to the professional community with an aim of developing skills in a health services research context.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THESE COURSES?

• Primary care networks
• Health or hospital districts
• Policy, planning and public health units of health agencies
• Universities
• Health research units and centres

WHERE AND WHEN ARE THE SUBJECTS TAUGHT?

The courses will be offered at the University of Wollongong’s Sydney Business School, currently conveniently located in the Gateway Building, at 1 Macquarie Place, Circular Quay in Sydney’s CBD, or at the Australian Health Services Research Institute, located in Building 234 (iC Enterprise 1) Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong.

WHAT COURSES ARE ON OFFER?

AHSRI is offering the following courses and the short course guide will be available to download shortly.

Casemix and Performance Analysis for Health Service Transformation
Associate Professor Janette Green and Ms Jenny McNamee
Sydney Business School
TBA

Funding and Governance of the Australian Health Care System
Professor Kathy Eagar
Sydney Business School
TBA

To express interest please contact:

Julie de Clouet
Australian Health Services Research Institute
University of Wollongong
Phone: 02 4221 3464
Email: juliedc@uow.edu.au

http://ahsri.uow.edu.au/shortcourses2016/index.html