GGT UDRH 'Greater Health' e-News
Issue 1: 31 August 2009
The GGT UDRH's 'Greater Health' e-News is issued every six-months. More information on featured articles and education and training events can be accessed by using the embedded links.
Please send any comments and/or items for inclusion in future issues to: sandi.elliott@greaterhealth.org
From the Director
Exciting news for the Department with the recommendations of a recent evaluation seeing the Australian Government UDRH program now a long-term initiative with increased funding levels. The additional funding is in recognition of the increasing workload of UDRHs and the number of health science students undertaking rural and/or remote placements. Importantly the program will no longer be a lapsing one which means that we will be able to attract and retain staff more easily. We can be optimistic about the future!
Our research programs continue to move from strength-to-strength. More details about our recent NHMRC grant can be found below. Recruitment of staff to this study began in January this year and study participants are currently being enrolled. This grant saw the Department establish our fourth UDRH office, another co-location with Deakin University.
Our education and training program continues to offer students and health professionals a wide range of training programs - you can read more about it below - and in the last six months alone we supported 291 students for 1139 weeks of placement in the region.
Enjoy reading this inaugural issue of 'Greater Health' e-News!
Professor James A Dunbar MD FRCPEd FRACGP FFPH
Melbourne Diabetes Prevention Study
This study is funded by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011. Its aims include evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness along with undertaking an economic assessment of a structured primary care-based diabetes prevention program (Life! Taking Action on Diabetes) being implemented in Victoria for people over 50 years of age who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes.
Dr Debbie Rankins was appointed in June as Project Manager and recruitment of participants is now the major focus of the study, with the first intervention group commencing around September.
Staff News
The latest hub of GGT UDRH researchers was established in Melbourne in early 2009. This office is co-located with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Science's Population Health Research, Evaluation and Policy Cluster on Deakin University's Burwood Campus. This office was established in response to the need for staff working on our collaborative grants, including the Melbourne Diabetes Prevention Study, to be located closer to the health services and other researchers involved in various projects.
View a list of our Melbourne-based staff
Recent Refereed Publications
View a complete listing of GGT UDRH publications
Successful Grants
Media Releases
National Primary Health Care Strategy Submission Workshop: APHCRI@work, ANU Issue 1. 2009
GPs urged to measure up: The Australian, 21 March 2009
Area leads the way in diabetes research: Warrnambool Standard, 1 April 2009
Study reveals students drawn to region's education opportunities: Penola Pennant, 22 April 2009
Future for aged care: Terang Express, 11 June 2009
Living locally, happily: Terang Express, 18 June 2009
Recent Visitors
Professor Erkki Vartiainen and Tiina Laatikainen, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland, 2nd-3rd February 2009
Dr Colin Greaves, Dr Paul Bennett and Dr Dr Afroditi, Strachi University of Exeter, United Kingdom, 23th-24th March 2009
Peter Brown, National Rural Health Alliance, 23rd April 2009
Dr John Gillies, Selkirk Health Centre, Scotland, 11th-22nd May 2009
Professor Frank Sullivan, University of Dundee, Scotland, 20th-22nd July 2009
Upcoming Events
Population Health Seminar, Mt Gambier, South Australia: 29 September & 20 October 2009
Population Health Seminar, Warrnambool, Victoria: 8th September, 27th October & 10th November 2009
SPSS Training Course, Warrnambool, Victoria: 16th - 19th November 2009
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