National Primary Care Research Consortium Holds Annual Think Tank

Australia's National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium held its second annual Think Tank at the University of Wollongong in July 2026.

The Consortium brings together over 100 leading primary care clinician researchers from universities across Australia, along with health consumers, peak representative organisations and policy partners, to design and test new models of multidisciplinary healthcare.

The Consortium’s operations team is based in UNSW’s International Centre for Future Health Systems.  The Consortium is led by ICFHS Foundation Director, Professor Michael Kidd AO.

This year’s Think Tank focused on a central question: Where are the evidence gaps, and how can research help shape the future of multidisciplinary primary care?

Internationally recognised primary care researcher, and Green Fellow with ICFHS, Professor Jennifer DeVoe, delivered the keynote address and explored how evidence can drive the development of multidisciplinary care teams that better meet the needs of the communities they serve. 

Mark Roddam, First Assistant Secretary with the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability provided an update on national primary care initiatives including Medicare bulk billing incentives and Urgent Care Clinics.  Richard Nankervis, Chief Executive Officer of the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network, outlined new opportunities for collaboration between primary care clinician researchers and Primary Health Networks.

One of the highlights was the presentation of emerging findings from the literature reviews being carried out by the Consortium’s five Research Fellows.  ICFHS Associate Professor Margo Barr introduced the Consortium's developing Knowledge Bank—an important new resource designed to highlight the current evidence base and research gaps.

Consortium members provided feedback on how the Consortium can maximise its impact over the coming year. A consistent message emerged throughout the day: meaningful progress depends on strong partnerships, consumer involvement and research that is closely aligned with policy and practice needs.