Research and Capacity Building Stream

The Research and Capacity Building Stream aims to provide training and support in primary health care research, particularly among local practitioners. It also focuses on the development and maintenance of a support network for researchers working in isolated settings throughout Australia.

To support research capacity building activities the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health receives funding under the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development Research Capacity Building Initiative (PHC RED RCBI).

The key objectives of this initiative are:

• To increase the pool of primary health care researchers by up-skilling early career researchers, and supporting the advancement of their research careers
• To support early career researchers to undertake more high quality health care research and ensure its relevance to policy and practice by aligning it with identified needs and priorities
• To disseminate and facilitate the uptake of evidence in policy and practice

As part of this initiative the Research and Capacity Stream facilitates educational activities such as research seminars and workshops. Support and mentoring is also provided to novice Primary Health Care researchers in western NSW.

Several workshops are available which introduce various aspects of research. These can be presented in a variety of formats:

• Series of 2-hour sessions
• 1-3 day workshops
• By videoconference
• Face to face

Topics include:

• Introduction to basic descriptive statistics
• Introduction to questionnaire design
• Introduction to critical appraisal of quantitative papers
• Introduction to study types
• Measures of frequency and association
• Introduction to bias
• Introduction to interpreting inferential statistics
• Introduction to grant writing

The Stream also participates in NSW PHC RED State Collaboration activities, National PHC RED RCBI activities, and primary health care research conferences.

The Researcher Development Program (RDP) is also funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation & Development (PHC RED) Strategy. This program aims to develop and enhance research capacity amongst primary health care workers by providing financial support to:

• Undertake primary health care research; and
• Facilitate access to existing research capacity/infrastructure support

The objectives of the program are:

1. to develop a cadre of researchers:
   
   • with knowledge, skills and ability in applied research and evaluation;
     
   • with ability to address primary health care issues in policy and practice; and
     
   • who can work collaboratively with practitioners, consumers, and researchers from other disciplines.
2. to increase the number of primary health care workers, graduates of other relevant disciplines working in primary health care, and consumers, who have research knowledge and skills which they can apply in everyday practice/life.

Through this initiative the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health is able to offer a limited number of Researcher Development Placements to novice primary health care researchers. Placements are offered on a part time basis and usually run for one year. During the placement the researcher works within the Broken Hill Centre for Remote Health Research and receives support and mentoring from research specialists. Access to training and networks and infrastructure is also provided.

The Research and Capacity Stream also facilitates the RuralNet research network. RuralNet is a network of primary health care professionals and researchers in western NSW, which aims to support primary care practitioners to conduct their own research and development, and to encourage and facilitate collaborative research and development in primary care.

RuralNet offers:

• Access to educational opportunities
• Journal discussion clubs
• Research seminars
• Mentoring
• Access to library information service
• Information about and assistance to apply for research fellowships specifically aimed at primary health care
• Assistance with developing research proposals, etc
• Develop links with other researchers
• Support from peers & experienced researchers