10.2 Increasing health equity and research capability in rural Australia: The PARTNER Network
Tracks
Crown Ballroom 3A
| Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| 5:05 PM - 5:35 PM |
| Crown Ballroom 3A |
Details
Format: Academic or scientific verbal presentation (30-minute)
Speaker
A/Prof Andrew Kirke
Head of School - Rural Clinical School of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
Increasing health equity and research capability in rural Australia: The PARTNER Network
5:05 PM - 5:35 PMAbstract Overview
Australians living in rural areas experience significant healthcare inequities. Clinical trials are essential to addressing these disparities, yet rural communities have limited access. The PARTNER Network aims to bridge this gap by establishing a national rural practice-based research network, embedding clinical trials within rural primary care. This presentation will detail the network’s collaborative model, highlight key findings including challenges and opportunities, and discuss implications for sustainable rural health research.
Biography
Associate Professor Dr Andrew Kirke is the Head of the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia (RCSWA) at The University of Western Australia, based in Bunbury. Since joining RCSWA in 2006 and becoming Head of School in 2019, he has overseen significant expansion in rural medical education, including the development of final-year placement programs across multiple regional sites.
Dr Kirke is a general practitioner with interests in obstetrics, rural health, and medical education. His research focuses on gestational diabetes, primary care, and familial hypercholesterolaemia. He is also a principal investigator in the PARTNER Network, a national rural practice-based research initiative enhancing clinical trial access in regional Australia.
Dr Kirke's leadership has strengthened rural healthcare training and contributed to building a sustainable rural medical workforce in Western Australia.
