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New RACGP plan to strengthen general practice research
A new college strategy to enhance GP-led research over the next four years focuses on translation to clinical practice.
The new strategy sets out a national roadmap to support GP-led research, improve translation, and embed evidence across the profession.
The RACGP’s new Research strategy 2025–29 is a comprehensive plan to ensure general practice research is better supported, more accessible, and embedded in clinical practice, education, and advocacy.
Launched this week to coincide with the September issue of Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP) dedicated to research, the strategy focuses on two core goals: to expand high-quality, relevant general practice research, and ensure findings are translated into meaningful outcomes across the RACGP and general practice more broadly, such as clinical care, education and advocacy.
While not limited to academic researchers, the strategy recognises that research is a shared responsibility to achieve a national benefit – whether it is conducting quality improvement projects, leading or participating in studies, or using new evidence in daily practice.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the strategy is a timely and critical step towards strengthening the foundations of general practice.
‘Every year, GPs care for more than 22 million Australians, yet general practice receives less than 2% of national medical research funding,’ he told newsGP.
‘This research strategy is about recognising the real-world questions being asked every day in clinics and building the systems, funding, and culture to help answer them through rigorous, GP-led research.’
The strategy identifies six key enablers to achieving its core goals:
- Funding: increasing investment in general practice research and translation
- Culture: building a profession-wide culture that values research
- Data and infrastructure: supporting ethical access to quality data and research networks
- Policy settings: advocating for research-enabling national and state policies
- Education and training: developing research literacy and skills across the GP workforce
- Capacity: supporting GPs and practices to contribute to, lead and use research
It also includes a strong focus on collaboration with research stakeholders, including GP academics, universities and research institutes, practice-based research networks, primary health networks, Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations, and other primary healthcare stakeholders and patients.
RACGP Expert Committee – Research Chair Professor Dimity Pond said the strategy emphasises the ‘unique strengths and complexity’ of general practice, particularly in rural, remote, and disadvantaged communities.
‘General practice is where patients often present with undiagnosed or multiple conditions, and that’s why research conducted in these settings is vital to improving care,’ she told
newsGP.
‘This strategy ensures GP leadership is embedded in research planning and translation, and that it reflects the values of person-centredness, equity, cultural safety and innovation.’
Professor Pond also co-authored the
AJGP’s
Guest Editorial exploring research in training, clinical care and health systems.
The RACGP is calling on members to engage with the new strategy to help strengthen the profession and GP-led research. For more information contact
research@racgp.org.au
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general practice GP-led research primary care primary care research research research funding
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