Department of General Practice and Primary Care UniMelb

SPCR wrapped up another annual writing retreat last October — three days in Dandenong with eight grad researchers focused, writing and keeping a much-loved tradition going.
Big thanks to the GSA for supporting the retreat through their Special Grant. Can’t wait for the next one. ✍️🌿

Meet Dr Kelly Fitzpatrick, our new Research Fellow – Sexual and Reproductive Violence.
Her research explores how abuse patterns emerge and escalate, helping to identify early warning signs of coercive control.
📄 Read more: doi.org/10.1177/1745...

#IPV #ResearchForChange

It is with enormous sadness that we announce the passing of our dear colleague, Phyllis Lau on 9/11/25
Phyllis was a valued member of our Department with a strong reputation for the energy, passion and enthusiasm she put into all her work. She was a determined force building primary care research.

FREE SEMINAR
Creative Arts and Dignity in Mental Health
3/12/25
12:30pm - 2:00pm
ESJ King Lecture Theatre
L3 West, Medical Building, University of Melbourne
Mode: In-person and online (registration is essential)

Late lunch and networking after the event

BOOK NOW go.unimelb.edu.au/wcn2
#freeevent

Dr Suzie Harte is passionate about bringing primary care research to regional, rural and remote Australia. As National Program Manager, she helps ensure meaningful studies reach the communities that need them most.

Learn more 👉 go.unimelb.edu.au/svn2

#PrimaryCareResearch #RuralHealth

Reforms are underway to improve mental health + wellbeing for kids (0–12) and their carers across Australia.
This new paper shares a co-designed model of care developed with 235+ children, families, carers, service providers, First Nations + CALD communities.
👉 go.unimelb.edu.au/7xqp
#MentalHealth

🌿 Green it and they will come! From a few pots to 104 thriving plants, our greening project has transformed our office into a more welcoming, connected, healthy place to work. All achieved with shared effort, creativity and no big budgets — just propagation, donations and community spirit. #Plants

If you work in adolescent health and would like to gain valuable tools, techniques and evidence-based strategies to help you diagnose and manage youth mental illness in primary care then this micro cert is for you. Starts 6 Oct. Completely online.
go.unimelb.edu.au/337p #mentalhealth #youth

Lung cancer screening saves lives. Speak with a doctor or healthcare provider to see if you are
eligible.
Find out more: www.health.gov.au/lung-cancer-...
#lungcancer #lungcancerscreeningsaveslives

More than 979,000 applications for medicinal cannabis prescriptions were approved in Australia in 2024. The current prescribing landscape has been described as confusing, inequitable and difficult to regulate. Read Dr Christine Hallinan's new article in The Conversation. lnkd.in/gcn3gCWC
#cannabis

Wonderful to welcome Charla, Rifyal & Mirfa from Universitas Gadjah Mada 🇮🇩 to Melbourne! They're here on an elective with our Dept of General Practice & Primary Care, exploring teaching and research.

#MedicalEducation #InternationalCollaboration #PrimaryCare

Dr Rebecca Starkie brings a unique blend of academic leadership, clinical experience and research expertise to General Practice at the University of Melbourne. As Academic Coordinator, she plays a key role in guiding the next generation of doctors.
Learn more about Rebecca: go.unimelb.edu.au/vd9p

Syphilis rates in Australia have surged with 3,602 cases already this year. New research explores using multiplex PCR testing in GP clinics to boost early detection.
More here: lnkd.in/gN8ffFNE
#sexualhealth #primarycare #research

We're thrilled to welcome Jasmine Purches to the Dept of General Practice & Primary Care @ UniMelb as WEAVERS Project Officer. She’ll support the WEAVERS lived experience group as part of the SAFE program. Jasmine brings invaluable admin, community and lived experience to the role. Welcome, Jasmine!

Over 30,000 people in Victoria are homeless — 2 in 5 are under 25.
It’s not just rough sleeping — it’s couch surfing, cars, unsafe housing.
GPs see the health impacts daily: chronic disease, mental illness & preventable conditions.
Everyone deserves a home.
Learn more: go.unimelb.edu.au/5cgp
#HW2025

It’s Loneliness Awareness Week. This year’s theme: Moments Matter.

Even a smile or brief chat can make a big difference.

Have you had a moment of connection recently?
💬 Share your story or read others' here: lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au

#MomentsMatter #LonelinessAwarenessWeekAU

🖤💛❤️ Today we celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.

This year’s theme — “Little footsteps, big future” — honours the strength of culture, community and Country in shaping young lives.

👣 Proud. Strong. Connected.

#LittleFootstepsBigFuture #SNAICC #FirstNations

A web-based sexual health application using AI to identify the risk of a lesion being an STI from a photo is currently in development, however, the usefulness, accessibility and acceptability of this technology to potential users are unknown. Read more👉 go.unimelb.edu.au/cc7p
#research #sexualhealth

👋 Meet Chloe Dawes, our new GP Liaison & Placement Coordinator at the Dept of General Practice and Primary Care! She’s helping coordinate placements for MD students and working with 350+ clinics across Vic through VicREN.

Welcome, Chloe! 🙌

🔗 Learn about VicREN: go.unimelb.edu.au/647p

Meet A/Prof Kylie Vuong in our new “Get to Know Us” series! She researches how GP–patient trust shapes shared care, especially in cancer treatment.
Learn more on this topic: go.unimelb.edu.au/je7p
#PrimaryCare #PatientCentredCare #CancerCare

What are the factors that need to be considered to genuinely progress mental health lived-experience research?

Find out in this latest research: go.unimelb.edu.au/sn5p
@profmbanfield.bsky.social
@victoriajpalmer.bsky.social

#mentalhealth #research #livedexperience #primarycare

Congrats to Dr Amita Tuteja on receiving the 2025 RANZCOG Award! This award recognised her PhD research on developing culturally sensitive consent processes and creating a best practice resource for healthcare practitioners working with interpreters in refugee contexts.
#success #research #impact

The Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic has been updated! A recent symposium covered key changes, including sepsis and penicillin allergy updates. Catch up via our article and watch all 12 presentations here 👉 lnkd.in/gHRxkKtr
View the new guidelines 👉 lnkd.in/gv5H9mCg
#antibiotics #primarycare

It’s been over a decade since paediatric care quality in Australia was last reviewed. This new study examines changes in GP care and low-value interventions for 5 common childhood conditions.

Read more:https://go.unimelb.edu.au/q7fp

#childhealth #generalpractice #primarycare #intervention

GPs provide the most care to Aussie kids yet we lack data on what conditions GPs manage and refer. Understanding this could improve training, address inequities and support better models of care close to home. Read this article by Prof L Sanci & Ors
#primarycare #childhealth
go.unimelb.edu.au/y7fp

1 in 3 Australian men report using intimate partner violence — a confronting finding from the latest report from the Ten to Men study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

🎧 Tune in to hear Prof @kelseyhegarty.bsky.social insights on ABC AM Radio
👉 lnkd.in/gXCC6smT

#ipv #dfv #primarycare

Australians have had access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) for over two decades, yet only 10.8% of Australian women use it compared with France (27%) and Austria (23%).

To find out more, read the latest article: obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#sexualhealth

GPs need sustained support to continue providing high-quality, accessible care. This goes beyond adequate funding or minor workforce adjustments. First-class care demands real investment, long-term commitment and the will to deliver lasting solutions.
#primarycare #generalpractice #familydoctor

It's International Clinical Trials Day!

Thank you to all the patients, practitioners and researchers across Australia who make this work possible. Your dedication and participation drives progress, informs policy and saves lives.

#ClinicalTrialsDay #CTD2025 #Research #PrimaryCare