What happens behind the closed door of Australian General Practices?

Nearly everybody in Australia has a general practitioner (GP). Australia's 30,000 GPs are critical to health care in the nation. Their patients range from newborns to those in the last months of their lives. They manage emergencies, preventive care, mental illness and help coordinate the care of Australians living with complex and chronic illnesss. Yet little is known as to how GPs, and those with whom they work, balance the challenges of this broad agenda. How do they they put innovations into place? How they deal with managment dilemmas, manage overwork and balance personal and professional priorities? The answers to these questions have implications for all Australians. Professor Russell's team has developed a methodology to 'look behind the closed door' of GP care. Originally developed in Canada, he has brought the approach, "organisational ethnography" to Australia. His team has used it to study how general practices deal with issues like health reform, patient safety, the COVID pandemic and, more recently, the provision of quality care to university students. A key part of the studies involve co-design with practices and, critically, providing feedback for future practice improvement. This unique opportunity would be suitable for individuals with a passion for health care improvement and a desire to dig beneath the surface to uncover the essence of quality primary care in a unique setting. We have practices ready to participate, and a well honed methodology to implement. Our team based in the Department of General Practice at Monash University has a long history of supporting research students. Honours, Masters and PhD students working with us will gain from the experienced and personalised support within our team. In addition students can benefit from the targeted teaching and peer support of our acclaimed Graduate Research Group program.