Spring edition

We’d like to thank you for your ongoing commitment to your research, your patients and your community. Your dedication to advancing research and translating it into meaningful, real-world outcomes is deeply appreciated.

In this issue, you’ll find updates, opportunities and resources to support your work and help maximise your impact. As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas to ensure the content remains relevant and valuable to you.

On Tuesday 26 August, researchers, practitioners and community members gathered at the Manningham Civic Centre for the TROPHI Translation Forum—an evening dedicated to sharing ideas, strengthening collaboration, and bringing research to life. Highlights included:

• Dr Elsa D. Ibañez Prada from Monash University spoke about CREATE, a research project co-designing better training experiences for GP registrars with local solutions that could benefit the whole country.
• Dr Simone McCallum and Regina Cai from Eastern Health shared early findings from their pilot study on integrating general practice into community mental health services, supported by TROPHI Seed Funding.
• discussions on navigating challenges in research implementation and building a strong culture of research translation in our region.

Funding opportunities – apply now

Do you want to develop your skills in research and translation?

Are you seeking funding to support professional development?

Funding is now available to support your research and initiatives. Explore the opportunities currently open for applications below.

Education bursaries
Apply for a $1000 bursary, to support education aligned with TROPHI regional needs (e.g. mental health) or focused on research, translation, education or quality improvement skills.

Eligibility: Primary care or general practice professional, including GP registrars or medical students, working in a patient-facing practice in the TROPHI region (Knox, Maroondah, and Yarra Ranges).

Apply now

Research development bursaries
Apply for a $5000 bursary to support education in research or translation; or to cover costs associated with a supervised research activity.

Eligibility: early-career researchers who are GPs, including GP registrars, or other primary care professionals working in a patient-facing practice within the TROPHI region.

Apply now

TROPHI mentoring program
Apply to the program to  be paired with an experienced mentor, grow your research translation skills and receive a $500 honorarium.
 
Eligibility: GPs, general practice staff and primary health workers in the TROPHI region.

Apply now

 

Exciting Opportunity: Research Translation Fellowship

Are you ready to take your career to the next level and make a real impact in general practice?

The University of Melbourne, in partnership with Eastern Melbourne PHN, is offering a paid TROPHI Research Translation Fellowship. This is your chance to join experienced clinical academics and work on an innovative mental health implementation project shaping the future of primary care.

As a Research Translation Fellow, you will:

• work one day per week for 12 months on a project that directly addresses a regional health need
• play a key role in translating and embedding a new mental health model of care into general practice
• gain invaluable research skills, including the opportunity to co-author peer-reviewed publications
• build your network and learn from leading academics and health professionals.

Support research projects that will improve health in our region

Supporting Parents of Teens with Anxiety and Depression
Partners in Parenting: Peer-to-Parent (PiP-P2P)

Monash University is conducting a randomized controlled trial of the Partners in Parenting: Peer-to-Parent (PiP-P2P) program, delivered by family peer workers, for parents of adolescents with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in 2026 (Ethics ID 46221).
 
The PiP-P2P trial includes an additional coaching component, where parents receive guidance from trained Family Peer Coaches.
 
Participating parents will:

• receive personalised feedback on how they can best support their teen’s mental health
• access evidence-based strategies to respond to their teenager’s anxiety and/or depression as part of a tailored program.

Shortness of breath affects one in ten Australians living with chronic respiratory conditions and significantly impacts quality of life. The Primary Breathe Australia trial addresses this issue through a primary care randomised controlled study.

The trial offers patients with chronic lung diseases and persistent breathlessness either usual care or an education and support package co-designed with patients and clinicians. A study-appointed research nurse delivers the intervention, guided by clinical decision support (Monash University HREC, Project ID 47110).

Participating practices receive reimbursement to cover administration time, and the online education and training package is CPD-eligible.
 
We invite practices interested in becoming trial sites to get involved.
 
Contact vicrenres-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au to find out more.

The CREATE project builds on the collaborative foundations of TROPHI and aims to optimise general practitioners in training (GPiT) at two critical stages: during the in-hospital experience and the transition to the first GP term.

We are now inviting expressions of interest from GPs working in community practice who would like to volunteer as mentors and help guide the next generation of general practitioners. We are looking for:

• GPT4 registrars participating in the Academic Registrar Program, or
• Fellowed GPs within five years of completing training, ideally with experience working in the Eastern Melbourne region.

The mentor commitment is approximately one hour per month for 12 months, flexible based on mutual availability and mentee needs. This is a volunteer role, though coffee vouchers may be provided as a token of appreciation.

Consent-to-contact form

Contact:
Dr Elsa Ibanez Prada: elsa.ibanezprada@monash.edu
Dr Surabhi Kumble Basnayake: surabhi.basnayake@monash.edu

Helpful resources for your practice

Upcoming EMCA Subcommittee Seminar
Date: Thursday 6 November 2025
Time: 6.00–7.00pm AEDT | 8.00–9.00pm NZDT
Cost: Free

Topic:
Tips to Writing Competitive Grants

Grants are fiercely competitive and often, unsuccessful applications suffer from poor readability or weak planning. This seminar, hosted by the EMCA Subcommittee, offers practical advice on crafting grant proposals that are well-designed, engaging, and targeted to the right audience.

Presenter:
Professor Stephen Tong
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne

Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women
Whether you're new to grant writing or looking to sharpen your skills, this session may offer the edge needed to strengthen your next proposal.

Monash University’s Practice-Based Research and Education Network (MonREN) is expanding and inviting new members. MonREN connects GPs, practice nurses, and practice managers who are interested in shaping research that reflects the realities of everyday general practice.

As a member, you’ll contribute to meaningful projects, connect with general practice colleagues, and stay engaged with current research.

Members receive a monthly newsletter featuring research opportunities, from joining research committees, to participating in interviews, to sharing your own research ideas.

Join via the MonREN Membership Form.

TROPHI welcomes partnerships with researchers and other organisations within universities, hospital health services and other settings that  share our aims and are committed to improving primary health care and patient outcomes.

We encourage research and translation within the TROPHI region that is relevant to general practice and aligned with the region’s needs. Learn more about partnering

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact trophi@racgp.org.au