Background: The Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Strategy includes funding for universities to build research capacity. As part of its implementation, the University of NSW consulted widely with Divisions of General Practice, GPs and representatives from Community Health Services to determine current research capacity.
Objective: We summarise the results of this consultation, and outline implications for the PHCRED Strategy.
Discussion: Divisions reported low research capacity, and welcomed the opportunity to develop it further. GPs with an interest in research were particularly focused on clinical areas, and saw their role in providing patients and collecting data, rather than initiating and developing ideas. Workers in Community Health Services were keen to be involved. There was considerable support and enthusiasm for the concept of capacity building and the activities proposed, despite perceived low levels of research skills. The overall aim of the PHC-RED Strategy may need to be clarified to successfully build on this enthusiasm.