Project Title: A multidisciplinary model of primary care to minimise unplanned care transitions in older Australians

Principal Investigator: A/Prof Joel Rhee

Co-Investigators: Dr Jitendra Jonnagaddala, Prof Anna Williams, Dr Stephanie Champion, A/Prof Margo Barr, Dr Rebecca Bilton, Dr Anthony Marinucci, Prof Gideon Caplan, A/Prof Ben Harris-Roxas, Dr Brendan Goodger, Dr Narelle Mills, Prof Nick Zwar, Ms Samantha Edmonds, Dr Shruti Yardi, Dr Amber Ye, A/Prof Russell Pearson, Dr Kate Marshall

Amount: $150,000

Imagine being able to identify older patients at risk before a health crisis occurs. This research will develop an AI-powered tool that uses routine general practice data to help GPs identify older people at increased risk of hospitalisation or entering residential aged care. By supporting earlier intervention and more coordinated care, the project aims to reduce crisis-driven transitions, help older people remain independent for longer, and improve quality of life. Practical tools and training will also be developed to help GPs and practice teams embed this proactive approach into routine care.

Project Title: Digital Environments as a Determinant of Health: Developing Practical Tools for Assessment and Response in General Practice

Principal Investigator: Dr Lilijana Gorringe

Co-Investigators: Prof Mark Cooper, Prof Wayne Warburton, Prof Melissa Kang, Dr Rajneesh Kaur

Amount: $120,000

As digital technologies increasingly shape the lives of young people, this research aims to develop and test practical, evidence-based resources to help GPs recognise and respond to the impact of social media, gaming, smartphones and AI on health, wellbeing and development. Through co-design, expert consensus and testing in general practice, this research seeks to create tools that can be easily integrated into routine consultations. Ultimately, the research aims to support earlier identification of risks, more informed conversations with young people and families, and stronger preventive care to help young people thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Project Title: Hidden CKD, hidden risk: Improving kidney health checks and medication safety in general practice

Principal Investigator: Dr Abira Chandrakumar

Co-Investigators: Dr Amelia Winter, Prof David Gonzalez-Chica, Dr Jessie Edwards, Dr Kedir Ahmed, Prof Nigel Stocks

Amount: $99,524

Chronic kidney disease affects many Australians, yet it is often detected too late. This research aims to understand why people at risk of CKD may be missing recommended screening and whether medications requiring kidney function assessment are being prescribed without appropriate testing. By identifying barriers to best-practice care, the project seeks to support earlier diagnosis, safer prescribing and improved implementation of evidence-based care in general practice, helping prevent avoidable complications and improve patient outcomes.

Project Title: Mapping and Prioritising the Unmet Needs of Diabetes Care in Australian General Practice: A National GP and Patient Priority-Setting Study

Principal Investigator: Dr Marzieh Niknami

Co-Investigators: A/Prof Hassan Hosseinzadeh, Prof Ann Dadich, Dr Kim Kiely, Dr Shanthini Seelan, Dr Mariam Joseph, Mr Benjamin Chahola

Amount: $90,000

Diabetes is one of the most common and complex conditions managed in general practice, yet GPs and patients face growing challenges in accessing and delivering optimal care. This research aims to identify the most important and actionable barriers affecting diabetes care, drawing on the experiences of both GPs and people living with diabetes. By developing a national Diabetes in General Practice Priority Roadmap, the project seeks to guide future research, policy and investment towards the areas of greatest need, ultimately improving access to care, health outcomes and quality of life for Australians living with diabetes.

Project Title: Implementing an Evidence-Based Older Driver Screening Toolkit in Australian General Practice: A Mixed-Methods Implementation Study

Principal Investigator: Prof Katharine Wallis

Co-Investigators: A/Prof Geoff Spurling

Amount: $50,000

For many older Australians, losing the ability to drive can have significant impacts on independence, wellbeing and community participation. This research aims to test an evidence-based approach that helps GPs identify driving-related risks earlier and have more confident, constructive conversations about driving safety. By making fitness-to-drive assessments more practical and consistent in general practice, the project seeks to support safer mobility, maintain independence where possible, and improve outcomes for older drivers, their families and the wider community.

Project Title: Rapid Experience Codesigning an Emotional Resilience Intervention to Improve Rural General Practice Workforce Retention

Principal Investigator: A/Prof Jill Benson AM

Co-Investigators: Dr Shaun Prentice, Dr Adelaide Boylan

Amount: $40,000

GPs often face unique barriers to seeking care for their own health and wellbeing. This research aims to develop and validate a holistic wellbeing tool that supports GPs to recognise potential concerns earlier and identify when support may be needed. Ultimately, the project seeks to promote timely help-seeking, strengthen GP wellbeing and workforce sustainability, and provide a practical resource for GPs caring for GP patients.

Project Title: Digital Resilience in Australian General Practice: How AI Tools Shape GP Cognitive Load, Wellbeing, and Professional Confidence

Principal Investigator: Dr Michael Tran

Co-Investigators: A/Prof Joel Rhee, Dr Jitendra Jonnagaddala, Dr Brendan Goodger, Dr Darran Foo, Dr Janice Tan

Amount: $35,000

As AI tools become increasingly embedded in general practice, this research aims to understand how they influence GP workload, wellbeing, clinical confidence and decision-making. By examining the experiences of GPs using AI scribes, clinical decision support systems and general-purpose AI assistants, the project seeks to identify the factors that support or undermine ‘digital resilience’ in practice. Ultimately, the research aims to inform practical guidance for the safe, effective and sustainable use of AI, helping GPs realise the benefits of new technologies while maintaining professional judgement, workforce wellbeing and high-quality patient care.

Project Title: Understanding general practitioner current practices and support needs for management of pain related to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion

Principal Investigator: Dr Nadia Lusis

Co-Investigators: Prof Danielle Mazza, Dr Sharon James, Dr Deborah Bateson, Dr Freya Davies, Dr Sara Whitburn, Dr John Reynolds-Wright

Amount: $20,000

Pain during IUD insertion can be significant and may affect a patient's experience of care and willingness to choose this highly effective form of contraception. This research aims to understand how Australian GPs and GP registrars manage pain during IUD insertion and the challenges they face in providing best-practice care. By identifying current practices and evidence gaps, the project will inform practical resources, training and clinical guidance to support more consistent, patient-centred pain management. Ultimately, the research aims to improve patient comfort and confidence, reduce barriers to IUD uptake, and improve access to high-quality contraceptive care in general practice.

Project Title: Building a Northern Adelaide general practice workforce pipeline: evaluating the impact of medical school curriculum innovation on students' GP career intention

Principal Investigator: Professor Paul Lord

Co-Investigators: Dr Matthew Arnold, Ms Olivia Girolamo

Amount: $20,000

Communities across Australia depend on a strong supply of well-trained GPs, yet building and retaining this workforce remains a challenge. This research aims to identify how medical education experiences influence students' decisions to pursue a career in general practice and which approaches are most effective in encouraging future GPs. By informing curriculum and placement design, the project seeks to strengthen place-based workforce pathways, helping ensure communities have access to the primary healthcare workforce they need into the future.

Project Title: Developmental Surveillance and Screening in Australian General Practice: Exploring the Barriers, Facilitators, and Future Policy Implications

Principal Investigator: Dr Niamh Dove

Co-Investigators: Prof Charlotte Hespe, A/Prof Elisabeth Murphy, Ms Brenda Tan, Ms Sophie Hay

Amount: $15,000

Early identification of developmental concerns can improve children's health and life outcomes. This research will explore how developmental screening and surveillance can be better supported in general practice by identifying the challenges GPs face and the resources they need to provide these checks routinely. As the Medicare-funded Thriving Kids 3-year-old health assessment places greater emphasis on early identification, this research comes at an important time for general practice. The findings will inform workforce training, service improvement and policy development, helping improve access to timely, equitable and preventive healthcare for young children and their families.

Project Title: Interpregnancy care: a clinical tool for GPs

Principal Investigator: Dr Samantha Hodges

Co-Investigators: Dr Shyamini Naidu, A/Prof Jacqueline Frayne

Amount: $8,864

Timely postpartum contraception and interpregnancy care can empower women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, reducing the risk of unintended or closely spaced pregnancies. This research aims to develop and test a practical tool to help GPs provide consistent, evidence-based postpartum contraception and interpregnancy care. The findings will inform resources and guidance that strengthen postnatal care, support person-centred family planning, and help more women access the right care at the right time.

Project Title: Personalised colorectal cancer screening in primary care: five-year follow-up of the CRISP trial

Recipient: Dr Kirthana Ketheeswaran

Amount: $5,000

Bowel cancer is one of Australia's most preventable cancers when detected early. This award aims to support the translation of research examining whether personalised colorectal cancer risk assessment can improve long term participation in risk-appropriate screening. By sharing findings with national and international experts, the project seeks to inform clinical practice and policy, strengthen research collaboration, and ultimately support earlier detection and better bowel cancer outcomes for Australians.

Project Title: Understanding GP perspectives on abortion provision and referral in NSW

Recipient: Dr Rebecca Drygala

Amount: $1,000

Timely access to abortion care remains uneven across many communities. This award aims to enhance research investigating the experiences of NSW GPs and GP registrars in providing and referring for abortion care, generating stronger evidence about the factors that influence access. By identifying where barriers exist and for whom, the project seeks to support targeted improvements in services, workforce capability and policy, helping ensure more patients can access the care they need, regardless of their location or circumstances.