Patients and GPs to benefit from record investment in general practice research

The philanthropic and research arm of the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), the Australian General Practice Research Foundation, has announced $1.1M in research grants designed to improve care for the nine in 10 Australians who see a GP each year. 

The record investment has included grants valued up to $150,000 and demonstrates the RACGP’s commitment to the future of general practice. Research is not only about understanding where general practice stands today, it’s about equipping the profession to lead tomorrow, shape health policy, drive clinical innovation, and ensure GPs can continue to produce better patient outcomes by remaining at the centre of Australia’s healthcare system for generations to come. The RACGP is investing in that future now. 

Applications for the large and general round are open from 11 May until 22 June, and RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the record grant round adds to the profession’s already strong track record of building its own research capability, while underscoring the urgent need for government to step up alongside it. 

“The Australian General Practice Research Foundation was established almost 70 years ago by RACGP members who understood that better research leads to better care. That commitment has never been more important than it is today,” Dr Wright said. 

“Nearly 90% of Australians see a GP at least once each year. General practice is where most people experience the health system, and it deserves a research investment that reflects that reality. 

“We are proud of what we have built alongside our partners, and this record grant round is a clear statement of intent. We are backing GPs with ideas that can improve care for patients and communities right across the country, and we are committed to growing that investment even further.” 

Grants are open to GPs and GP‑led research teams working on questions that matter in everyday practice, including chronic disease management, prevention, rural access, mental health, workforce challenges and more. Projects supported through the Foundation have already delivered measurable impacts on clinical practice, health policy and community health outcomes. 

While the Foundation continues to expand its investment in GP‑led research, the RACGP is calling on the Australian Government to match that commitment with dedicated public funding. General practice accounts for the overwhelming majority of health encounters in Australia yet receives only a fraction of national health and medical research funding. 

“The RACGP is urging government to establish dedicated funding streams for GP‑led research that reflect the true scale and value of general practice within the Australian health system,” Dr Wright said.  

“The Foundation’s record grant round demonstrates what is possible. Federal investment would transform it.” 

See the impact already happening: 
https://www.racgp.org.au/foundation/our-impact-stories 

Find out more and apply: 
https://www.racgp.org.au/foundation/research-funding