Research

All the training, tools and resources you need to develop health services research skills at a time and pace to suit you.

@research can support you to develop a training pathway suited to your needs, no matter where you are or what health services research experience you have.

An introduction to the @research initiative, supporting Health Services Research in regional Victoria

Events

No Upcoming Events.

Presented by Dr Rob Blum & Melissa Loorham, Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre, Bendigo Health

Webinar

Cancer Services redesign for patient and system levels benefit

Webinar

How to improve the health of rural, remote and regional communities with a MRFF grant

“Health services research is concerned with the quality, effectiveness, efficiency and outcome of health care services by examining access, provision, organisation, cost and distribution of heath care.”

Professor Meinir Krishnasamy

“@research is aiming to improve access to education, improve expertise and foster networks for regional nurses, allied health professionals and doctors, leading to greater engagement in research in the workplace. In turn this will mean better health outcomes for regional Victorians who are affected by cancer.”

Associate Professor Craig Underhill

“Nursing research is so broad ranging from formal thesis research to a quality improvement project in a clinical space. Both have the potential to change practice which makes it so empowering to be part of.”

Sue Bartlett
Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Grampians Health Ballarat

“With the expansion of health services research and clinical trials in regional Palliative and Supportive care services, we can provide our patients with excellent, quality and evidence-based care, that is equal to their metropolitan counterparts.”

Miriam Ferres
Palliative Care Doctor

“It is an exciting time to be a part of allied health oncology research, with allied health professionals playing an instrumental role in rapidly moving the needle in the delivery and evaluation of novel, impactful supportive and survivorship care research, improving the outcomes and day-to-day lives of those in our community affected by cancer.”

Catherine Williams
Senior Clinician Physiotherapist & Project Lead, Allied Health Clinical Trials Unit - Oncology (ACT-ONC), Barwon Health

Researcher Spotlight

Narelle McPhee

About

My current position is Cancer Research Manager at Bendigo Health. I started working in health care as a dietitian in rural, regional, and metropolitan settings in Victoria and the United Kingdom. Working as an oncology dietitian at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre provided me with research opportunities and led me to Bendigo Health. I have worked in project management and allied health education before taking on my current position, managing the clinical trials unit at Bendigo Cancer Centre. My current position is so rewarding because of the people I work with, as we all work to improve access to clinical trials outside metropolitan centres. My PhD research centres on improving the understanding of clinical trial participation barriers and enablers for rural Victorian residents.

What drew you to research?

My background in science and dietetics aligns with research, as both fields heavily rely on empirical evidence and data-driven approaches. To balance this, my PhD has exposed me to qualitative research and the richness and complexity captured using these methods. The emphasis on evidence-based practice in dietetics and early opportunities in my career to contribute to research have fueled my interest in exploring and contributing to the existing body of knowledge. Research offers a way to investigate questions, test hypotheses, and discover new insights. Building new knowledge and potentially improving practices for our patients is highly rewarding.