The year began with AIPC’s focus turning to the changing academic environment at La Trobe and more broadly, with the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor in April and the Research We look forward to a consolidated and challenging 2008. Quality Framework then extant. The need to identify practical strategies for securing AIPC’s position within the Faculty of Health Sciences was paramount in Institute Management Committee deliberations during 2007. AIPC reviewed its role and function with the aim of increasing its more traditional research outputs of publications and competitive grant funds, and, as it continued its core consultancy work, the Institute took on responsibility for postgraduate course work programs in Gerontology.

One major undertaking for 2007 was the instigation of a quality improvement framework for the Institute—to take AIPC beyond the Australian Universities Quality Agency accreditation process undertaken by the broader institution.

In July, the Vice-Chancellor released a Green Paper that focused on repositioning La Trobe for the following ten years. A consultation process was established and AIPC contributed to these deliberations. One element of the Green Paper that pertained to the work undertaken by the Institute was community engagement. In its day-today activities, AIPC engages the sectors of interest to the Faculty—health service organisations and relevant government departments (particularly the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and the Victorian Department of Human Services). Its focus is on applied and commissioned research—we work very closely with the sector and assist in the development of policy and practice.

Another element of the Green Paper of particular interest to the Institute was a proposal to establish cross-faculty research institutes. AIPC had been involved in discussions with other researchers about setting up a university research institute on ageing. These negotiations and discussions are ongoing.

In October, the Acting Dean of Research in the Division of Health Research, Professor Anthony Smith, addressed a meeting of AIPC staff on the issues facing the University, the Division, the Faculty and AIPC. A follow-up meeting of staff was held to consider the need to fi nd commonality of interest and be active in responding to the agenda set within the Division, without compromising the work AIPC currently undertakes.

These discussions provided a background for the next iteration of the AIPC Strategic Plan.

The more immediate work of the Institute included its schedule of seminars, which covered a variety of themes, including such issues as ‘the right to health in international human rights laws and ethics’ and ‘do older people eat their vegetables – or do they only think they do?’

The Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group within AIPC established the E-network for health literacy in 2007. The Victorian Department of Human Services agreed to fund Cochrane for three years to establish a Centre for Health Communication and Participation. This centre is to comprise three programs: the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group, the Health Knowledge Network, and Effectiveness Research. The centre’s mission will be to develop and promote the use of evidence-based communication with, and particularly by, consumers and carers in health.

The Victorian Primary and Community Health Network continues to be coordinated through AIPC. The Network hosted a well-attended one-day forum in March entitled ‘General Practice & Community Health: Adding Value’. This was structured around the themes of inequalities, general practice and community health, and workforce issues. The Network’s awards for Excellence and Innovation in Community and Primary Health were announced following its conference in May.

The National Primary and Community Health Network, also coordinated through the Institute, held the ‘Integrating the Social Determinants of Health into Primary Health Care’ conference in Adelaide in November.

Subscription numbers for the Australian Journal of Primary Health increased during 2007—the core of which were from institutional subscriptions from the Australian General Practice Network. The journal’s special issue in 2007 focused on comparative approaches to primary health care and lessons for Australian primary health care policy- making. In the course of the year, AJPH was successful in its application for coverage in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).

Dr Cathy Mead was appointed Adjunct Professor with the Institute, and Angela Herd gained her PhD. Delwyne Stephens was awarded AIPC’s inaugural graduate scholarship for her work on ‘Clients and carers waiting for a Community Aged Care Package’.

Dr Colleen Doyle travelled to the US and the UK on an Alzheimer’s Australia Travelling Fellowship, benefiting her work in leading the consortium evaluating the Australian Government’s National Dementia Initiative.

Finally, in its push for increased promotional and marketing activities, AIPC rolled out its re-branded livery and revised its website during 2007.

I take this opportunity of acknowledging the excellent and dedicated work of the AIPC staff. We look forward to a consolidated and challenging 2008.

Associate Professor Peter Foreman
Director