Our research
Our research has four themes: Indigenous health, chronic disease prevention and management, patient safety and health service delivery. Our multidisciplinary research team combines extensive experience in allied health, primary care and mental health services with high-level expertise across a broad range of research disciplines.
Our researchers are investigators on over 20 currently funded projects, with a total value exceeding $14 million, in addition to an increasing cohort of postgraduate researchers and embedded researchers in regional health services. We have a rapidly growing Category 1 income for projects focused on prevention of chronic diseases in primary care, as well as Category 2–4 projects spanning all of our research themes and involving close collaboration with Victorian health services, state governments, NGOs and a range of leading Australian and international research organisations.
Indigenous health
Theme leads: Associate Professor Vincent Versace and Mrs Hannah Beks
The research agenda for this theme is developed through direct and active engagement with Aboriginal people, local health services and representative organisations in our region, with the express intention of collaboratively supporting their goals around health and healthcare. Ongoing activities include action research to develop community models of healthcare, support with program evaluation and the conduct of systematic reviews that synthesise our current understanding of the evidence base for Indigenous research.
Chronic disease prevention and management
Theme lead: Associate Professor Kevin Mc Namara
Our research focuses on conditions that contribute significantly to the rural burden of disease, including diabetes, multimorbidity, cardiovascular disease, mental health and dementia. Our overall aim is to develop and implement patient-centred interventions and service models that increase uptake of screening and prevention, and which improves the quality of care and healthcare experience for people with established chronic diseases.
Learn more about chronic disease prevention and management research
Health services
Theme lead: Associate Professor Anna Wong Shee
Our research aims to improve health service delivery and increase capacity of regional health services and individual health professionals. We use a range of study designs to support improved health service delivery including co-design, health service trials and program evaluation. We also employ survey and qualitative methods to identify the needs of health professionals and health services to increase their clinical research and knowledge translation capacity.
Patient safety
Theme lead: Dr Andrea Hernan
This theme explores the factors involved in the delivery of safe, high‐quality care to patients and opportunities to improve the delivery of care. Our research in patient safety is notable for its practical solutions, particularly the development of interventions and resources for general practice that lead to the delivery of high‐quality care to patients. Our work in western Victoria has influenced research and practice at a local, national and international level.
Nursing and Allied Health Graduate Outcome Tracking (NAHGOT) study
The Nursing and Allied Health Graduate Outcome Tracking (NAHGOT) study aims to understand why nursing, midwifery and allied health graduates choose to work in metropolitan or rural, regional or remote settings. We want to explore the factors that influence their decisions about where they work, including:
- where they grew up (metropolitan or rural)
- location and duration of clinical placements while at university
- intention as a student to practice in a metropolitan or rural setting
- intention as a graduate to practice in a metropolitan or rural setting.
The NAHGOT study was first initiated in 2017 by Monash University and the University of Newcastle. This collaboration has since expanded to include Deakin University, the University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland and the University of South Australia.
This longitudinal prospective cohort study links student data routinely collected by each university, to
- survey data (student experience survey, graduate outcomes survey, NAHGOT graduate survey); and
- graduate practitioner data collected by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
There is an urgent need to address the shortages of nurses and allied health professionals in rural and regional Australia. NAHGOT study findings will be used to inform both education programs and workforce planning, particularly in non-metropolitan settings. These will support better health service planning and ultimately improve health outcomes for regional, rural and remote communities.
Findings
Preliminary sub-studies found:
- Students from a rural background are over four times more likely to have had rural placements than students from non-rural backgrounds. They are also likely to have had multiple rural placements and more rural placement days.
- Students of rural origin have nearly four times the odds of practising in a rural location after graduation compared to non-rural students. Completion of a rural placement is also associated with rural practice location.
Partners
Monash Rural Health - Founding partner
Southern Queensland Rural Health (The University of Queensland and University of Southern Queensland) - Joined 2021
University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health - Founding partner
University of South Australia Department of Rural Health - Joined 2021
Graduate research opportunities
The NAHGOT study provides a range of opportunities for graduate research students looking for rewarding honours, masters or PhD projects.
Please contact Professor Vin Versace to learn more about potential projects
Publications
Deakin Rural Health team has contributed to many valuable publications across our areas of expertise.
Connect with our research
We're committed to conducting high-quality research on key health issues to deliver meaningful health outcomes for regional Australia. We welcome partnerships with health services and industry as well as students interested in studying honours or higher degrees by research.
Partnering with health services and industry
Our multidisciplinary research team combines extensive experience in allied health, primary care and mental health services with high-level expertise across a broad range of research disciplines. For health services or industry looking to conduct research we have expertise in:
- process evaluation
- implementation research and quality improvement
- systematic reviews
- primary care intervention research
- qualitative research
- data linkage
- geographical information systems.
For further information about how we can work together on research, contact Associate Associate Professor Kevin Mc Namara.
Supervising research students
With a focus on building capability and capacity for the next generation, we welcome higher degree by research students. If you're a prospective honours or higher degree by research (PhD and MPhil) student, you can search for a suitable project in the research projects booklet.